Category: Uncategorized

On Monday I received an invite from the hotel manager of the hotel I am currently staying in. It was an invite for an informal meet in the lobby bar. The session took place tonight and the purpose was to get feedback from guests. This is a fantastic idea. Not only does this give the hotel an opportunity to show their care, it also facilitates customer relationship management beyond the check in desk and breakfast greeting.

Another hotel I stayed in had one of their account managers contacting me, and ensuring that my accommodation arrangement met my needs.

It seems like the Scandinavian/Nordic school of customer relationship management is still alive. Christian Grönroos and Evert Gummesson in academia. Jan Carlzon in practice. Impressive.

…or food at somebody else’s home. Tonight I had the joy of eating home cooked food in a real home with friends. As my weekday dinner norm is eating alone in a hotel, this was a very pleasant change. Hopefully I will be able to reciprocate once I have a place of my own. Whenever that may happen!

I should just give up making promises of regular blogging. So here the new vow is – I intend to blog irregularly. Whenever I feel like it… (which may not be very often).

I have worked a lot in Sweden this year and it has been exciting being in Stockholm through the build up to September’s General Election. Sweden got a new government, and whether they will be any good – time will tell.

Sometimes I think about death too. Maybe it has got to do with the evenings coming earlier. October really is the month when the days are becoming noticeably shorter.

I wonder if death really is something negative. Not that I have any stress in finding out, but, you know, it could be anything between nothingness and an endless party.

As humans we are pretty good at filling in the blanks.

Well. Here’s to winter. And cake!

Today is a great day. My mother has just finished her final term at school, and will be retiring after a 44-year long career as teacher. Roughly the last 30 years of that career have been devoted to children that require extra support, or just a quiet room to focus. Work has always been very important to her, and I believe that is something we share. I am sure I am speaking for the whole family when I say that I am really proud of her. Happy retirement, mum!