Heads in Beds

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

By: Jacob Tomsky

Narrated by: Jacob Tomsky

Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

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 has worked in hotels for more than a decade, doing everything from valet parking to manning the front desk. He's checked you in, checked you out, separated your white panties from the white bed sheets, parked your car, tasted your room service, cleaned your toilet, denied you a late check out, given you a wake-up call, eaten M&Ms out of your mini-bar, laughed at your jokes, and taken your money. And in Heads in Beds, he pulls back the curtain on the hospitality business, revealing the crazy yet compelling reality of an industry we think we know. It is an incredibly funny, authentic, and irreverent chronicle of the highs and lows of hotel life and boy, is there a market for it: in 2010, the American lodging industry generated $127.7 billion in revenue. Prepare to be amused, shocked, and amazed as he spills the unwritten code of the bellhops, the antics that go on the valet parking garage, and the housekeeping department's dirty little secrets.

Prepare to be moved, too, by his insightful honesty about the profession; employees are often poorly paid and frequently abused. However, Heads in Beds is more than just a memoir. Jake explains the secrets of the industry, offering easy and legal ways to get what you need from your hotel without any hassle - from scoring late check-ins and upgrades to getting that pay-per-view charge knocked off your bill. This book will give you the knowledge you need to get the very best service from any hotel or property, from any business that makes its money from putting heads in beds. Or, at the very least, it will keep the bellhops from taking your luggage into the camera-free back office and stomping the crap out of it.

©2012 Jacob Tomsky (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Jacob Tomsky is a star. The kid writes like a dream. Heads in Beds is hilarious, literate, canny, indignant and kind - revealing an author who manages somehow to be both a total hustler and a complete humanitarian. I love this book. Keep an eye on this writer. I'm telling you, he's a star." (Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia)

Fine, but not worth going out of your way for

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would not - it has a couple good tips which I could tell them myself, and is not worth the ten hours of listening or whatever.

Would you ever listen to anything by Jacob Tomsky again?

Only if it was short.

What about Jacob Tomsky’s performance did you like?

He really knows his accents

Did Heads in Beds inspire you to do anything?

Steal from the minibar? I'm already generally very nice to hotel staff...I thought it would be more concise and filled with tips about what to do in hotels generally. It had a few tips but really, hearing about someone's work life is not my bag.

Any additional comments?

I'd bought this because Dan Savage raved about it on his podcast and then asked for tips about getting with a hotel worker...stuff like that was totally missing from the book, and in fact it was only mildly interesting.

finished in two sittings

highly entertaining, could not stop listening. chose it over the Internet.
listen to this book!

Outstanding...

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

I worked at a 5 diamond 4 star Hilton hotel for 8 years, and this book is spot on. My favorite part is how accurate the exchanges between the staff are. I am telling you all, that is really what it is like.

What other book might you compare Heads in Beds to and why?

My life.

What does Jacob Tomsky bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He tells it like it is, and he does so with grace.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Best Movie Ever

Any additional comments?

Its awesome.

Funny and informative...

This book is a million times better than "Waiter Rant." It's smart, funny, and tells me more than I want to know about the hospitality industry.

Amazing

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

I have never read the print version of Heads in beds and thus cannot say which would be better, However the narration of the book was amazing (most likely as it was done by the author himself and thus could accurately portray the feelings) I would highly recommend the audible version.

What other book might you compare Heads in Beds to and why?

It's like nothing i've read before although you could compare it to Kitchen confidential in many ways (Which is also a great read by the way) as they both describe the Behind the scenes of certain industries.

What about Jacob Tomsky’s performance did you like?

Everything, his narration was lovely.
His tone, his anger, his sadness his mild annoyance or even his boredom could be felt throughout his narration. It was impeccable.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"The front desk knows all your secrets."

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend.
see for yourself.

very funny book

I want more books like this raw and true, about somebody's interesting job and the secrets inside the job

Entertaining & Revealing

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

I definitely recommend the book. The information was presented in a fast moving humorous style by a talented young man.

Has Heads in Beds turned you off from other books in this genre?

no

Which character – as performed by Jacob Tomsky – was your favorite?

Thomas.............the author

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

I had many chuckles throughout the book

Any additional comments?

I wish I could find more books like this

Enjoyable back story with tips about tips

I enjoyed this behind the scenes look at the hotel industry. Also about unions and their important role in keeping workers sane (ie, unions are flawed but the best thing going for workers). I abhor air b&b and really enjoy hotels (small boutique are best), and this made me see the employees in a new light, helpful to all of us imho. Easy read/listen.

Hospitality Professionals Required “Reading”

To those working in the hospitality industry, I hope, like me, this helps you to find the patience, the wherewithal, and the humor in the things you can’t control, as well as satisfaction in things that you can (wink, wink). Thanks to the author—this was therapy similar to meeting with my coworkers after a shift and debriefing the good, bad, and the ugly.

Eye Opening

This book was entertaining and enlightening from the very beginning. The author uses a bit too much crude language for my liking, but he does a great job with the story and throws in lots and lots of little tips along the way. I will never ever check into a hotel the same again. I will never look at the front desk clerk the same again.

For seasoned travelers, watch out, you might see yourself in this story! But if you pay attention at all, you should be able to improve your future hotel stays. This inside look at the hospitality industry is probably more gritty and detailed than the industry is comfortable having exposed, but that's what makes it great. Peppered liberally with doses of humor and a very light, quick paced storyline, this book was over far too soon. Very well done and if Jacob "Thomas" Tomsky wants to write "Heads in Beds 2", I'll be at the head of the line to grab it.