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5 guest types to spot at your breakfast buffet

Just like the waterhole on a savanna the breakfast buffet is an interesting place to study the different species. How they look, behave and most importantly: What they feed on.

Purely subjective and based on observations, not science, here we give you a little anthropological look into our experiences. Maybe you recognize some? No matter what, at least we hope to put a smile on your face next time you spot them at your hotel’s waterhole.

November 22, 2018

The hungry backpacker

With great mobility the backpacker can reach even the most deserted corners of the world. Actually, this is where they prefer to go: Where no one has set a foot before. They have an insatiable appetite for experiences and never say no to anything – in the name of exploration and authentic experiences.

Characteristics

Most commonly you see them in worn-out, sun-bleached clothes, and it’s clear that this species are price sensitive and have an overall goal to save as much as possible. They are always keen on free social events and interested in meeting other species – driven by their curiosity.

Habitat

Can be spotted all over the world, but since their main objective is to travel as much as possible for as little money as possible, you’ll most likely encounter these in cheap hotels and hostels where they will spend a good amount of time filling op their energy levels (and sometimes their pockets) at the breakfast buffet.

Eating habits

The hungry backpacker doesn’t always eat three times a day, so when it’s time for the breakfast, you can be sure to find them there. They love cereals, pastry, fruits and in general things that will give them a lot of energy in one meal such as peanut butter & jelly sandwiches or scrambled eggs with bacon.

The slow-eating senior

They’ve been in the game so long that they are no longer in a hurry. They have seen it all and are not really scared about anything. They mostly prefer a high level of comfort, so you normally don’t see them moving to far away from their watering hole, but since their species exist across the world, you can expect to find them in all places.

Characteristics

They wear practical, comfy and often ironed clothes. Because of their many years together couples move and talk in a way that seems identical. But thanks to those many years together they don’t need to talk too much. They already know what the other one is thinking.

Habitat

You’ll typically find them in midrange to luxury hotels, where they spend hours at the breakfast buffet studying maps and looking in guide books. Not because they have a big appetite (because they don’t), but simply because they love to feel surrounded by other species and all the commotion around the buffet.

Eating habits

The slow-eating seniors not only seem to eat slowly, but also consume smaller servings. Their appetites are not what they used to be. It’s only their need for coffee that cannot be quenched. They feed mostly on continental breakfast – with bread and butter as their primary prey.

The fast-eating mother of three

Characteristics

She always seems a bit on guard. Alert to her children’s location and whether they wander unaccompanied into the elevator. She quickly collects food for her cubs with a determined look at the buffet. She knows exactly what she is hunting for and can even bring food for a whole family back in just one hunt.

Habitat

Families with small children mostly stay in child friendly surroundings, where they don’t have to worry constantly about dangers. Preferably there should be recreational facilities, food and beverage services and the hotel should offer special meals for kids.

Eating habits

She has to make sure her cubs get enough to eat – and the same time get a bit of energy herself. She is a fast eater, because she never knows when her dinnertime is over. When she is not serving food for her offspring she seems deeply concentrated on her food. But don’t be fooled: She is very attentive to all sounds and movements.

Her favourite feast is food that is easy to eat, not messy and easy to share (since her children would want whatever she is eating) such as pancakes, pieces of fruit, bread with butter, pastry and hardboiled eggs. All of which are easy to handle by hand – even hands with small fingers.

The pack of young women

Characteristics

Even though the pack can be really loud at times, they are not to be considered dangerous. Most of this stem from the fact that these women are enjoying each other’s’ company so much that they forget about other guest and thus to keep their voices down. This breed is young and playful and mostly worries about having a good time.

Habitat

You can see her all over the world, but mostly in big cities where her main objective is to stick closely to her friends in the pack. Together they go scouting, exploring and hunting – always in a tight formation where they look out for each other. What they hunt for can be anything from adventure or company to a nice meal or excessive shopping.

Eating habits

Eating in itself is not really important for the pack of young women. For them the social aspect of eating is much more important. Hunting together. That’s the fun part, not so much the intake. And then sharing the meal. That’s why you often see her picking a cupcake apart, just eating small bits. Or breaking of chunks of her pain au chocolate. Or taking a few bites of her apple.

The reserved business man

Characteristics

He doesn’t pay attention to other species by the water hole. Actually, he makes sure to show everyone that he doesn’t care by looking at his tablet, computer, mobile phone or newspaper. He is clearly not there to make friends or look for allies. He is there for business.

Habitat

He typically stays in hotels that are placed centrally or close to mass transit station. He always makes sure that the hotel has the right facilities such as a conference room or business centre – and of course a proper Wi-Fi connection is a must. These species are a big and important customer group for many hotels in big cities, so a lot is done to meet his needs in terms of products, services and a quiet environment.

Eating habits

The businessman is an impatient eater. He is time sensitive and doesn’t like delays in any hotel interaction – and that includes the breakfast buffet as well. He is always in the way to something important, so a long line at the buffet is a really big obstacle for him, since it will result in less time to eat. He is not price sensitive, so often he will sometimes prefer to enjoy his meals in the room in order to avoid the masses and the commotion around the hotel’s waterhole.

He eats healthy to sustain his busy life on the road – cereals, bread with wholegrain, omelettes and fruits are his staple food.