Whenever I travel—whether it’s for a holiday or a conference—I have a small ritual. Tucked into my bag are a few thank-you cards and some simple treats: chocolates, nutmeg sweets or sometimes Malaysian coffee sachets.
It’s nothing fancy. But it’s intentional.
Over the years, I’ve met many kind, hardworking people while staying in Airbnbs and hotels. Housekeepers who greet you with a smile even after a long day. Front desk staff who solve problems calmly despite a queue of impatient guests. People who do their jobs quietly and consistently, often without recognition.
Before I leave, I usually take a few minutes to write a short note in a thank-you card—just a few lines to acknowledge their friendliness, their effort and the care they put into their work. I pass it to them with a small gift.
I do this because I genuinely believe that very few people truly understand how tough some jobs are. Hotel and hospitality staff, in particular, deal with all kinds of people passing through—kind ones, cranky ones, entitled ones and everything in between. Yet they’re expected to remain professional, calm and warm at all times.
Some might ask, “You’ll never see these people again. Why does it matter?”
And they’re right. I may never see them again. But that’s not the point.
What matters is that, in that moment, someone noticed. Someone saw that they did a good job and took the time to compliment them. Being seen and appreciated changes how you feel about your work. When someone recognizes your effort, it often motivates you to show up even better the next time.
I was reminded of this again during my recent trip to Phuket.
I stayed at DoubleTree by Hilton Phuket Banthai along Patong Beach, and one cheerful hotel staff member named Nicky truly made my stay phenomenal. From happily waiting for our conference delegates at the Phuket airport, to making sure my friend and I received our 25% discount for cocktails, he went above and beyond in ways that felt genuinely thoughtful rather than transactional.
He didn’t have to do any of that but he did.
Before I left, I wrote him a thank-you note and passed it to him with some chocolates. I hope he continues to be the sunshine for the many guests who pass through DoubleTree Hilton, just as he was for us.
This practice of appreciation isn’t new for me. More than ten years ago, I once left a positive note and a glowing review for a wait staff at a local café. I didn’t think much of it at the time—it just felt like the right thing to do. The next time I visited the café, I saw her again. She had been promoted to a junior manager position.
Was my note the reason? Maybe. Maybe not.
But it reminded me that small acts of kindness have a way of rippling outward in ways we don’t always get to see.
The power of doing something nice simply because you can is something all of us hold. It doesn’t require a big budget, a grand gesture or public recognition. Sometimes, it’s just a handwritten note, a sincere thank you, and a small token that says, “I see you.”
So the next time you travel, consider packing a few thank-you cards and some sweets or even a packet of Malaysian coffee. You never know who might need to hear that they did a great job and how far that small moment of appreciation might go.