Former FBI special agent says he used a simple trick to get the best hotel rooms in the world-and it's all about showing love to the front desk | Fortune

Former FBI special agent Tom Simon spent 26 years investigating financial crimes and national-security matters across the U.S. He developed a method for securing premium hotel rooms by approaching front desk staff directly, expressing genuine appreciation, and recognizing that front-desk employees are often overlooked despite hospitality training. He places a $20 bill on the desk keyboard, introduces himself, and asks politely for a decent room. The gesture is framed as a way to correct an inequity compared with other tipped roles. The small tip typically yields room upgrades that 'pay for itself.'

"Former FBI special agent Tom Simon, who spent 26 years investigating financial crimes and national-security matters across the U.S., says he has a straightforward philosophy when it comes to business travel: the people who deserve recognition the least often get it the most, while those who deserve it most are routinely overlooked. And so, through much practice, Simon says he's developed a trick to getting some of the best rooms in any hotel, which he calls a "gift" for frequent travelers."

""You look at the valet parking guys, these guys are morons. They can't even fold their wallets at the end of a shift, they're getting tips so much. Meanwhile, you probably have a degree in hospitality, right? Yet no one ever takes care of you. You're on your feet for eight hours a day. You're the front door to this organization. You're running this hotel as far as I'm concerned.""

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