His experience led to a debate about the different standards of hospitality in India and the US.
An Indian YouTuber recently took to X to share his disappointment over the lack of hospitality in American hotels. The 22-year-old Indian traveler, who is used to the exceptional hospitality of Taj Hotels in India, was shocked when he was charged a staggering $14.99 (₹1,258) for a bottle of water at 2 a.m. at the iconic Caesars Palace Hotel in Las Vegas. His experience sparked a heated debate over the vastly different hospitality standards between India and the US.
''My biggest culture shock – American hotels. They just don't get hospitality. Funny how they ask for tips but don't even give free water. I've stayed in a 3 star, 4 star AND today a 5 star (Caesar's Palace). Maybe I'm spoiled with Taj hotels in India. But basic things like helping with luggage, being accommodating were lacking. I checked in at 2am, tired from flight, asked for a glass of water, they said “It's $14.99 for a 200ml bottle, you can buy it”. And this is a $200/night hotel! Complete lack of empathy. Unbelievable! I never expected this,'' Ishan Sharma wrote on X.
See the message here:
My Biggest Culture Shock – American Hotels
They just don't get any hospitality.
Funny that they ask for tips but won't even give water.
I have stayed in a 3 star, 4 star AND today a 5 star hotel (Caesar's Palace)
Maybe I'm spoiled with Taj hotels in India.
But basic things… photo.twitter.com/RkB84F69R0
— Ishan Sharma (@Ishansharma7390) August 12, 2024
Responding to his post, many netizens praised the warm hospitality of Indian hotels, highlighting the exceptional service and hospitable nature of hotel staff. They also noted that Indian hotels often go above and beyond to make guests feel at home, from offering complimentary services to providing personalized attention.
A user said: ''Indian hospitality standards are by far the highest. Indian brands should take the lead in this. We can become a global leader in this sector.''
A second noted: ''Indian hotels are 1000 times better than European and American hotels. We get extra free services, and on top of that foreign hotels don't even provide bottled water daily.''
But not everyone shared the same sense of surprise and outrage. Several other X users in India noted that this is nothing new, pointing out that the functional approach to customer service has been the norm in the US and other Western countries for decades.
A third said: “Is someone going to point out the obvious… that you can drink tap water in American hotels, but in India you can only do so at best? So in India, free bottled water is probably mandatory and necessary, while in America, bottled water in a hotel is usually a 'luxury'.”
A fourth added: ''Ishan, America understands hospitality differently!! Be it airplanes, hotels, restaurants, ships etc. It's been like this for decades. Their concept is to provide only the basic amenities, unlike Asia/India where we are spoiled by airplane hotels and such with extras. You pay for everything in the US and their union rules are so strict, it's the law to tip in most states.''
A fifth said: “This is not a new phenomenon. Western hospitality has always been about efficiency and directness. It's not about being rude, it's just a different way of doing things.”
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