Belgrade, Serbia–As a frequent traveler and remote worker, finding the right environment to stay productive while on the road is crucial. As you know, us remote workers have our little rituals to help us get the job done. Sadly, my one ritual (drinking Starbucks coffee) is frowned upon where I’m staying – very frowned upon. I checked into the Mama Shelter Hotel in Belgrade, Serbia, with high hopes for a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. Known for its trendy design and lively common areas, it seemed like the perfect spot to blend work and leisure. In many ways – it is!
However, my experience took a frustrating turn when I was informed that I couldn’t have my Starbucks coffee cup on the table while working in their common areas. According to the hotel staff, the presence of an external brand’s coffee cup was deemed detrimental to their marketing image. This happened TWICE when I was working on time sensitive projects.
This policy not only disrupted my workflow but also left me questioning the hotel’s stance on supporting remote workers. In an era where digital nomads and remote work are increasingly common, such rigid policies can be quite off-putting. I was told that I could not drink out of my venti Starbucks coffee cup because it’s “Bad for Mama Shelter’s Marketing”.
In my opinion, hotels should aim to create a welcoming environment for all guests, including those who rely on external sources of comfort and productivity, like their favorite coffee. After all, a productive guest is a happy guest. Mama Shelter Belgrade’s approach, however, seems to prioritize their marketing image over guest convenience. Of course, the guests don’t stay here to “market” your hotel. We’re not models in your advertising campaign. And BTW – the breakfast is free for guests – as is their coffee – so I wasn’t even taking away from their ability to sell me their own coffee. The host poured 1/5 of my Starbuck’s cup into their tiny coffee mug, and told me I could not have my Starbuck’s cup on the table after that. I’m not kidding.
For remote workers and travelers, this experience serves as a reminder to verify hotel policies before booking. While Mama Shelter may excel in many areas, its approach to supporting remote work leaves much to be desired.
So, now I’ll market for Belgrade’s Mama Shelter – but not in the way they wanted. So – I hope you enjoy this article Mama Shelter – because YOU ASKED FOR IT.