Florida La Quinta Outsources Check-in Desks to Sri Lanka - Disaster Follows

Are the rooms cleaned virtually as well?

R1 Yes, to Sri Lankan standards of hygiene.

From the description of the property, are the rooms cleaned at all?

Next up: we will give you 20% of your next stay if you clean your own toilets, change the sheets and make the bed and vacuum the floors.

I've always assumed La Quinta motels are pretty trashy.

I'd prefer to check-in without any human interaction unless there is a problem.

The Sri Lankan hotels I've stayed in were immaculate.

Expect more of this in Trump's nativist, anti-immigrant America.

Ironically, South Asians, live and in person, dominate the mass chain motel industry in the South. Now they will be "virtual."

Late stage capitalism

The only way this type of remote or virtual employee thing will stop is if consumers revolt. Demand to speak to a live person at check in. At the store, do not use the self checkout, and if you have no choice, purposefully stop to ask questions or verify that you are charged the correct price for items. If the store cannot provide a live checkout clerk, do not provide your receipt to the person standing at the door, and if they object, ask them if you are under arrest and otherwise, keep right on walking.

Make automation more expensive for the proprietor. It's the only way they'll rethink their decision.

The Patels are everywhere. They’ve cornered the market in Orange County. Good for them.

Jesus. I can only imagine how the DL Queens who HATE self-checkout will see this. Hell, I don't mind the self-checkouts but this is a next level HARD PASS.

I've stayed in a few La Quintas - albeit over 25 years ago - and they were definitely a huge step up in look and feel from a standard motel.

They have to have some staff for cleaning - maybe not 24 hours, but who does?

The thought of staying overnight in a hotel with zero staff on the premises is very scary. I'd be afraid to leave the room and entering and leaving would be fraught with tension. What do you do if you're in a deep interior hallway and some psycho assaults you?

Why even hire a Sri Lankan? Don't they have AI desk clerks?

Probably cheaper, R14.

I’d prefer La Roach Motel

Some people are SOOOOOOO racist, I can see this triggering a lot of people.

R13 - interior hallways? You don't have to worry about those at most LaQuintas as they have exterior hallways, being a motel. Problem SOLVED!

Like any motel, anyone can walk up the stairs and be right outside your room at any moment.

R18 Most La Quinta hotels I've seen in my sordid life have interior corridors. But it's a big enough chain that it has hundreds of both styles.

I like an exterior door so my tricks and drug dealers can easily come and go.

R19 - yeah I looked them up - seems like the newer ones have interiors like Hampton Inn, which is just better all around.

The drive up and park next to your door is a weird model anyway. I know it was built for road travel, but hearing neighbors packing up their cars and God knows what else right outside your door is disconcerting.

Including R20, who is indiscreetly entertaining paying gentleman callers, with thin wall insulation. Wouldn't even provide a neighbor discount. Harrumph.

R21 It's a significant cost savings, and it doesn't seem to bother many travelers who just want a cheap place to sleep, screw, or shoot up.

R20 is lucky if he can get a John to spring for the Motel 6. More times than not, they end up in a Wendy's dumpster or the church choir's van. But work is work!

If you’re going to go self service why do you need the video call? It’s like combining the worst parts of staff/self-service.

I’ve been to several hotels where you can use self check in kiosks but never one with video (normally threads staff nearby like the self checkouts in stores).

I like the hotels with an app. You can go straight to your room, and use your phone as a room key.

Women especially prefer hotels to motels for security. Having the door to your room right off of a parking lot in an urban area is sketchy. People with know how can pick a lock in seconds. It's also easy to attack someone as they're keying in and force your way in with them.

Cheapass! Never liked her. And Abbott Elementary sucks ass!

" It's a significant cost savings."

How? Hotels are notorious for their low wages. The biggest expenses of a hotel are franchise fees and executive salaries of the management companies that run them.

Desk clerks, maids, maintenance people don't earn jack shit.

[quote] People with know how can pick a lock in seconds.

It's the old grifter's dodge. Wife goes to get ice and ends up in the wrong room.

Patel Motel.

La Quintas used to be among the higher-end budget lodging chains, and I'm sure their corporate offices won't stand for a franchisee trashing their reputation like this.

Oh great, now it’ll stink like curry!

R30, you're 100% right.

Domino's Pizza now outsources to Sri Lanka.

I had an occasion to call and make an order and was promptly helped by Sri Lankan "Carol." She was good though. Probably better than our home-grown Carols.

Why wouldn’t you just order online? Who the hell calls Dominos?

R34, that takes longer. All about the efficiency here.

Guess they can’t be attacked, beat up and tossed into a concentration camp if they ain’t there.

Safer for them.

Whew chile, the ghetto.

R37 Not a white a refrigerator!