GDMSL-115. Recently, one of our chambermaids, Mary O’Sullivan, wrote a sales letter which you may have received. (A privilege that I usually reserve for yourself, as I am rather good at it.)

Dear Mr. Jones: I have

a problem.

It’s like this. Recently, one of our chambermaids, Mary O’Sullivan, wrote a sales letter which you may have received. (A privilege that I usually reserve for yourself, as I am rather good at it.) But, after all, it made her happy, and I’m a big one for employee morale… we have company picnics, bowling leagues, elevator races and all that kind of stuff. Well, the point is, Mary O’Sullivan got 387 replies to her letter including over 100 orders. (We have a quaint custom of calling them reservations instead of orders.)

But her letter talked only of our bedrooms. She didn’t say a thing about the function rooms. (As perfect for Boards of Directors meetings as wedding receptions.) And the fact that we spent $175,000 to restore the unsurpassed beauty of our Ballroom escaped mention altogether. She probably thought you never planned a lunch, speech or special event in your life. It’s not that I have anything against boudoirs, but Mary O’Sullivan simply ignored everything else.

Now tell me… as one business man to another… what should I do?

Fire Mary O’Sullivan? Sentence her to 3 months in the laundry? Bar her from the Persian Room?

I would appreciate your valued advice. By the way, if you have any thorny problems bedeviling you, let me know. I’ll be glad to return the favor and do whatever I can… particularly if your problems involve one of the many services at The Plaza.

Very sincerely yours,

Paul Sonnabend

Vice President and Managing Director