Traveller Review

Author

For nearly two decades, Jordan Majeau has been a leader in the hospitality industry in Edmonton. He is passionate about making space for everyone who is on a journey in one form or another. He considers himself a student of hospitality and he’s on an ongoing journey of learning how to do life and work better. He loves to write about: Hospitality, Leadership, and Faith. You can read his blog at jordanmajeau.com/in-between-things

I was waiting to pick up my luggage at Toronto Pearson International Airport when I learned the exciting news. I had opened the browser on my phone and had done what many hotel general managers did in those days: check for new online reviews that needed a response. I knew our team was close to achieving our goal, but I was surprised at the sense of accomplishment and joy of seeing that our hotel was now Tripadvisor's number-one-rated property in our city. I quickly called home to Edmonton to speak with our front office manager.

This is how the conversation went.

"So hey, I just landed in Toronto for the training session; how are things back home? How did departures go?"

My teammate replied, "Everything's good, Jordan. Check-outs went well."

In the most nerdy way, I asked, "So, um, have you checked our ranking this morning? Would you mind checking for me?"

She took a moment, I could hear her typing, and then I heard a gasp, "Jordan! We're number 1!"

My team and I were all proud of this distinction, and we successfully held onto that position online for nearly two years. Guests loved staying at our hotel. That same year, when we received our quality assurance audit from Hilton Worldwide, we were given an outstanding grade by the brand, identifying us as a top-performing hotel in the Hilton portfolio in Canada. Essentially, we won the Hotel Stanley Cup that year! It worked well for people travelling on business, but it worked equally well for those travelling for pleasure. We had comfortable beds, clean rooms, and other amenities like a pool and gym. But any hotel can have those features. What kept guests wanting to spend their time with us were the relationships they would form with our team.

Today, I am suspicious of online reviews because bots can generate them, and it's tough to understand the algorithms that govern customer satisfaction ratings. However, in those days, review sites were much more authentic and could give curious travellers a more organic sense of what they could experience at any hotel. A potential guest could get an understanding of, "How is this space managed? What will I experience there? What are the people like? How will I feel staying there?"

As we anticipate Easter in the season of Lent, we can reflect on the Kingdom of God and the promise of new life that humanity would experience on earth as it is in heaven. The Psalmist provides us with a review of his experience of what life is as God intended it.

Psalm 84 (The Message)

What a beautiful home, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
    I've always longed to live in a place like this,
Always dreamed of a room in your house,
    where I could sing for joy to God-alive!
Birds find nooks and crannies in your house,
    sparrows and swallows make nests there.
They lay their eggs and raise their young,
    singing their songs in the place where we worship.
God-of-the-Angel-Armies! King! God!
    How blessed they are to live and sing there!
And how blessed all those in whom you live,
    whose lives become roads you travel;
They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks,
    discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain!
God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and
    at the last turn—Zion! God in full view!
God-of-the-Angel-Armies, listen:
    O God of Jacob, open your ears—I'm praying!
Look at our shields, glistening in the sun,
    our faces, shining with your gracious anointing.
One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship,
    beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches.
I'd rather scrub floors in the house of my God
    than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin.
All sunshine and sovereign is God,
    generous in gifts and glory.
He doesn't scrimp with his traveling companions.
    It's smooth sailing all the way with God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

I love this review! With all my heart, I want to go to this place. The Kingdom of God is the promise of peace. In the hospitality industry, what we are trying to do is provide travellers with a sense of peace. The human heart yearns for peace. If you succeed at peace, travellers will come to you, and they will tell fellow travellers to seek you out.

There was a time when I felt like I had to market the Kingdom of God. In reality, God's Kingdom markets itself. Anytime we see equality, service, humility, generosity, hospitality, and peace, we're catching a glimpse at the very present Kingdom of God. I love The Message translation of Psalm 84, in particular, the choice to use the phrase, "I'd rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be an honored guest in a palace of sin." It's almost like he's saying, "Sign me up for housekeeping!" As Christ-followers, that's exactly what we are called to do: give up privilege, get on our knees, and serve so that the Kingdom of God can shine through.

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