A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to stay in a Ritz-Carlton hotel for the first time. To say the place was nice or that the service was great would be a huge understatement. The experience got me to thinking about what churches (or any other business) could learn from The Ritz. Here are 10 things (there are probably more):

We should learn that…

1. When someone shows up on our property they shouldn’t have to think about where to go.
2. Everyone on our staff should give the impression that they love their job.
3. The cleanliness of our facility speaks volumes about our commitment to excellence.
4. Our people (staff/volunteers) should be strategically placed to be available to our guests.
5. We should not freak out when we’re presented with a question or dilemma that’s not common.
6. Not only should we not freak out, but we should seek to find answers or solutions.
7. No staff person should ever say, “that’s not my area/job/responsibility”.
8. Success is measured by one “satisfied customer” at a time.
9. Going the extra mile for a guest pays huge dividends (well beyond the cost or effort it took).
10. Truly satisfied customers tell others about their experience, which sends more customers our way.

All things being equal, would the experience we offer at our church or business match up to The Ritz? If not, why not?