Lobby Rules

The book

After twenty letters, his grandson Henry asked whether there was a short version, for the friends he works with who have nobody writing to them. This is it: from the first paycheck and the first lease to the dinner where you aren’t sure who’s paying and the night the trip goes wrong.

Each tip is one line with the reason under it. About one in three comes with a short scene from his forty years in hotel lobbies, and 66 come with the exact words to say. Every chapter ends with the one line to keep if you keep nothing else.

Thirteen chapters

1. OneThe Night Auditmoney habits
2. TwoThe Back of the Housework and pay
3. ThreeThe Rack Ratenegotiation
4. FourOn the Dayreputation and trust
5. FiveThe Dining Roommanners and dinners
6. SixThe Tailor’s Chalkdress and grooming
7. SevenThe Fourth Floorhome and hosting
8. EightThe Bell Standtravel
9. NineThe Lobby Clocktime
10. TenThe Handover Booklearning
11. ElevenThe Kitchen Tablerelationships and family
12. TwelveThe Unsigned Envelopegiving
13. ThirteenDo Not Disturbthe quiet hours

Three of the 126 tips

Have your saving leave on payday, before the money reaches the account you spend from.

Never sign at the table; take the papers home and answer in the morning.

Speak to the waiter exactly the way you speak to the person who invited you.

“For Henry, who read the long version first. And for whoever is new at the desk tonight.”