A man was left shocked after arriving at a hotel in California, only to discover that there appeared to be no employees on the premises.
The man shared a video on TikTok, opening it by saying, “I have never seen some [expletive] like this in my entire life.” He explained that he was staying at a hotel in San Jose but there were no employees anywhere in sight.
Instead of having employees physically present, the man explained that the hotel was using a kiosk for check-ins. He then filmed a woman standing in front of the kiosk and said, “It’s a check in on a zoom on a kiosk.” He also pointed out that the employee assisting guests remotely was based in India.
“He’s doing a very bad job. She’s very frustrated,” the man said, referring to the remote employee and the woman attempting to check in. He then said that this arrangement was normal in Northern California before filming the employee speaking to the woman through the kiosk. “This is so [expletive] dystopian and weird,” he remarked toward the end of the video, adding that he disliked the absence of on-site hotel staff.
The video left many viewers shocked by the idea of visiting a hotel without encountering a single employee in person. Some expressed concerns about the growing reliance on technology to replace human interaction, particularly in situations where guests might need immediate assistance.
Others questioned how the hotel would handle emergencies or unexpected problems without staff physically present. The situation also raised questions about the future of customer service. This is along with whether businesses were prioritizing cost-cutting over providing guests with a comfortable and reliable experience.
Viewers also criticized the hotel for apparently outsourcing its check-in services to India instead of employing American workers. Critics argued that hotels operating in the United States should provide job opportunities to local employees rather than relying on workers overseas.
Some viewed the arrangement as another example of American jobs being outsourced to countries where labor costs may be lower. However, the video did not establish whether the hotel had actually eliminated any American jobs.
Viewers Call Out California Hotel for Not Having Employees
Many viewers online expressed outrage over the apparent lack of on-site employees at the California hotel. Some also criticized its decision to use a remote worker based in India. “Bring back human interaction!,” one person wrote. Another encouraged guests to avoid businesses that use such arrangements, commenting, “cancel your reservation and go somewhere that respects you as a consumer AND your hard earned money, that actually EMPLOYS your fellow American. Furthermore I hope you made a follow up video and posted the brand to warn others.”
Others continued expressing shock and frustration over the hotel’s check-in arrangement. Some raised concerns about safety and outsourcing American jobs. “Thts a big fat NO from me. I would be furious and feel SO unsafe,” one person wrote. Another wanted to know the hotel’s name to avoid staying there. “Please name the hotel so I know never to book there,” they commented. Someone else related the situation to their own workplace. “My job is outsourcing most of the US employees from India. Us employees are loosing their jobs due to Ai and India,” they said.
The video raised concerns about the growing reliance on technology and remote services in businesses that traditionally depended on face-to-face interactions. It also highlighted broader frustrations over outsourcing jobs overseas. Critics argued that such practices could reduce employment opportunities for American workers and affect the quality of customer service.
