Heads in Beds

A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality

By: Jacob Tomsky

Narrated by: Jacob Tomsky

In the tradition of Kitchen Confidential and Waiter Rant, a rollicking, eye-opening, fantastically indiscreet memoir of a life spent (and misspent) in the hotel industry.

Jacob Tomsky never intended to go into the hotel business. As a new college graduate, armed only with a philosophy degree and a singular lack of career direction, he became a valet parker for a large luxury hotel in New Orleans. Yet, rising fast through the ranks, he ended up working in “hospitality” for more than a decade, doing everything from supervising the housekeeping department to manning the front desk at an upscale Manhattan hotel. He’s checked you in, checked you out, separated your white panties from the white bed sheets, parked your car, tasted your room-service meals, cleaned your toilet, denied you a late checkout, given you a wake-up call, eaten M&Ms out of your minibar, laughed at your jokes, and taken your money. In Heads in Beds he pulls back the curtain to expose the crazy and compelling reality of a multi-billion-dollar industry we think we know.

Heads in Beds is a funny, authentic, and irreverent chronicle of the highs and lows of hotel life, told by a keenly observant insider who’s seen it all. Prepare to be amused, shocked, and amazed as he spills the unwritten code of the bellhops, the antics that go on in the valet parking garage, the housekeeping department’s dirty little secrets—not to mention the shameless activities of the guests, who are rarely on their best behavior. Prepare to be moved, too, by his candor about what it’s like to toil in a highly demanding service industry at the luxury level, where people expect to get what they pay for (and often a whole lot more). Employees are poorly paid and frequently abused by coworkers and guests alike, and maintaining a semblance of sanity is a daily challenge.

Along his journey Tomsky also reveals the secrets of the industry, offering easy ways to get what you need from your hotel without any hassle. This book (and a timely proffered twenty-dollar bill) will help you score late checkouts and upgrades, get free stuff galore, and make that pay-per-view charge magically disappear. Thanks to him you’ll know how to get the very best service from any business that makes its money from putting heads in beds. Or, at the very least, you will keep the bellmen from taking your luggage into the camera-free back office and bashing it against the wall repeatedly.

Entertaining

Great listen and well worth the credit. Not a family road trip book but it will make you laugh, as long as you don't get offended by tough language. I am glad the author did the narration because it would not have been the same coming from someone else.

Great book

i I really enjoyed this book. It was humorous, informative and all-around enjoyable to listen to.

Amazing!

As a former hospitality worker (bellmen/valet) this book is amazing. Relatable, and a great guide for the hotel guests!

Good audiobook about hotels, lots of insider info

Interesting tale of someone who worked in several departments of luxury/business hotels in New Orleans and New York -- from valet to housekeeping management to front desk. Some good content for frequent hotel guests seeking to maximize their experience (and learn more about the processes and politics within the hotel).

The audiobook is particularly good, as it was read by the author.

Entertaining & Informative.

Gotta baby brick for the next front desk agent who checks me in to my hotel.

Lively, laughs, learned something.

What did you love best about Heads in Beds?

I value really good service in all parts of my life. This book offered valuable insights regarding how to express my appreciation for good service more effectively, for the benefit of the employee and for my own benefit. And nothing dry about the lessons learned: very colorful stories and anecdotes made this a page turner. The story did start to wear thin on me towards the last quarter, but then I have a short attentions span.

Loved it, funniest thing I've read in a long time!

Would you consider the audio edition of Heads in Beds to be better than the print version?

The audio version was great because the author himself read it, and he is a great orator. A real personal spin that adds to the book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Heads in Beds?

I love cheap thrills, so the "after-shave/cologne" scenario left me laughing out load.

What about Jacob Tomsky’s performance did you like?

He is a great story teller and excellent speaker. Seems very comfortable with himself and that comes out in his narration.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book wasn't heavy, just entertaining in a cheap laugh's kind of way. Laughed out load a few times, funny, funny, funny!

Great story

Loved it! Couldn't stop listening to it. Full of fun stories and industry insight that you can't stop listening to

If you've EVER stayed in a hotel...

This highly entertaining book gives a good insight into the machinations behind a hotel's front desk. The narrator, who is also the author, does a terrific job of moving it along and making you want to find out what the heck could happen next. Educational as well as amazing, he lets you know what you should never do, plus what you can get away with. Fast paced and fun, this book gets a strong recommendation from me. Give it a try!

Interesting insider peek into the hotel world

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes -- it will stick with you next time you travel.

What did you like best about this story?

It was fresh and original.