I’ve just returned from a week-long trip to the USA, and I’ve got to say, I’m impressed with the changes I’ve seen in the country. I’m referring to the change in the attitudes of people in service jobs, whether in McDonalds, or at the hotels we stayed in, and even in the folks working at gas stations.
Back in February, I was in Orlando for a conference, and this was when I first noticed a tidal change in the attitude of the service people. The conference was at the Orange County Convention Center, one of the biggest in the country, and one that is typically booked solid all year round. I’ve been to a number of conferences there, and this time we were the only group there – a true rarity. Our group was some 13,000 strong, down from the usual numbers we have, but still a sizable conference to manage (I know from a former life in management in the catering division of a hotel that regularly hosted 10,000+ for conferences).
