SOLAS | Table 4 One!

It was late evening and I had finally arrived at the hotel for my overnight stay prior to joining the ship – which was on it’s final sea day having completed the transatlantic, of which I should have joined, however was diverted to deal with another ship in the fleet, that had been detained by port state officials, thus missing my flight to join a ship from Madeira to St Maarten. Nothing that a quick flight from Amsterdam would not hinder in anyway.

Heading down to the restaurant, I managed to get myself a nice table that overlooked the beach, just as the sun was setting over the ocean. Now having traveled for the best part of my entire career, I was very much used to asking for a table for one, and think nothing of it, or I just enter and find myself the best table and sit down to generally a sumptuous meal, with good wine, a cappuccino and if lucky colleagues that make the overall experience a joy!

Now what if we take a moment to step back and think outside of the box. The hospitality industry is marvelous and ensuring that every guest is looked after, and in some case onboard ships, being a single traveler is something that is not to be sneered at, not looked down upon, in fact the majority of cruise lines, will have guests that almost live onboard throughout the year, as they are either widowed, retired or on their own and sail the world, visiting many different destinations and meeting many different people.

However when we look at restaurants and other hospitality establishments away from the cruise sector, asking for a table for one, is sneered at, laughed at, joked at or even frowned upon, which is embarrassing to hear when your so passionate about an industry.

Take a moment to think, and ask yourself, that no matter what reason someone asks to dine alone, that it should not become the butt of jokes amongst the team.

Early during lock down, we lost a someone close to us, not due to COVID-19, but cancer, which has left a gaping hole. This obviously has meant that dining out is no more a table for two but one, and it is the first time in almost 60 years that the request is asked for! Yet why do those within hospitality / restaurants / bars have to sneer, challenge, and make fun of the individual asking to dine alone! 

The reason being is that they have just been widowed, and are still coming to terms with it, and to have such young twerp snigger does not help at all, one bit at all! In fact it was embarrassing to hear, and I was so furious that I almost called the establishments. I did not however our family and friends shall not be heading back to those places in a hurry nor ever.

Our industry is amazing, and currently struggling, and we need all the support that we can get to survive, so when anyone asks to dine alone, or a table for one, please do not snigger, challenge or make fun of that individual, as you do not know the reason as to why they are asking to dine alone. Be grateful that they have chosen to dine at your establishment, and hopefully will receive great service that they tell others who will in turn come and dine also.

As an industry we are very quick to judge our guests, how they look, how they behave, what they order etc. Yet it is something that we must learn to refrain from and treat each and every guest with the same amount respect that they deserve, no matter who they are, what they look like or how many people are dining within them at the table. Our industry is much better than that, and those who do judge let the entire industry down and do not deserve to call themselves Hospitality Professionals!