Hotel Impossible host, Anthony Melchiorri, presents a red appointment book to the concierge at Gurney’s Inn & Spa in Montauk, NY.
Why in the world would Gurney’s Inn, one of the most well run, beautiful and most luxurious hotels and spas on the face of the earth, need a “makeover” from the Travel Channel?
OH MY GOD I HATE REALITY TELEVISION. IT’S NOT REALITY.
There is a new show on the Travel Channel called “Hotel Impossible” that is basically the same premise as “Kitchen Nightmares” where they have an “expert” walk into a place, yell at people, turn things around and make it better. They usually do it at a family run business to add to the drama.
We all remember the “Kitchen Nightmares” episode at Finn McCool’s restaurant in Westhampton, where Gordon Ramsey and his team literally told one of our interns at Dan’s Papers at the time, to go on camera and complain about the restaurant. She did just that. And at 22 years old, she was demonized by the entire nation when the episode came out. This was not only after she was TOLD to complain, but after our group was given EVERY reason to complain about the dinner there to add to the drama.
Gurney’s Inn does not need any help. Gurney’s Inn is an unbelievably well run, highly respected, and extremely gorgeous hotel in Montauk. The hotel is a leader, drawing celebrities, The Hamptons International Film Festival parties, jet setters, and locals. It’s freaking awesome.
So when I heard about a Travel Channel show about a guy named Anthony Melchiorri who comes into a family run hotel, yells at people Gordon Ramsay style, and turns it around, my red alert alarm went off. Because these shows are so incredibly ass backwards 90 percent of the time.
And it looks like I’m right. Paul Monte, the CEO of Gurney’s and one of the most respected men in Montauk, admits that he didn’t know the premise of the show was going to be a “Kitchen Nightmares” premise, but that it was originally pitched to him as “Mr. Hospitality”, where an expert comes into a well-run hotel to give advice on how to make it even better.
The show airs tonight on the Travel Channel, and I can pretty much GUARANTEE YOU that there is going to be misleading footage in the show, where the guy makes a huge deal out of something that never happens at Gurney’s and was staged to add drama to show.
It pisses me off because I know the feeling after my experience on Kitchen Nightmares. There is even a scene in that episode where a chicken wing is dropped in the kitchen and then it cuts to a shot of me eating a chicken wing, implying that it was the same food. Watch the full episode of Kitchen Nightmares here. I’m telling you, the entire freaking show is staged and directed. Not a single part of it isn’t planned out in advance, and that is true for ALL reality television.
I can tell you right now, without any hesitation, that Gurney’s Inn doesn’t need any help from anybody when it comes to running a hotel, they have been doing it for over three generations of fine Italian-American hospitality and have been nothing but a beacon of leadership in Montauk.
You can bet your hat my blood pressure is going to go up when I watch this show tonight.
Just started watching – this is bizarre. Getting married there in September – the place is AMAZING – they’ve definitely upgraded the place since this was shot and the host is kinda a dick… Also whoever synced the audio to video on this show did a terrible job
Just started watching – this is bizarre. Getting married at Gueney’s in September – the place is AMAZING – they’ve definitely upgraded the place since this was shot. Wow the host is a total asshole but that’s reality TV for ya. I totally had to Fast Forward cause I was getting upset with that guy bashing Gurney’s. I assume it ends well since the place was Gorgeous when we were out there last August and February….
Also whoever synced the audio to video on this show did a terrible job
I watched and did feel a bit reticent as Anthony came at the Montes a bit harshly but that place could use some sprucing up. I have been a life long Montauker and I love the spa and eat at the sea grille. Best ocean view pedicure, worth every penny. Watch what happens with the spa gal bringing in more ideas.
The show was spot on.
My family owned a unit since the 80′s and we gave it back due to complete mismanagement of the hotel and the inability of management to properly schedule/budget for much needed capital improvement projects.
The spa and restaraunt have always been wonderful. The rest of the place was allowed to decay over the past 20 years.
you are living in a friggin’ dream world if you think Gurney’s is run well. I have owned a unit for 30 years and am VERY familiar with the whole cast of characters. I think the show in fact depicted the whole situation dead on accurate. Paul is the WORST GM ever. the guy is a complete idiot and “mr excuse” the show projected him perfectly. It seems he even has an excuse as to why they were on the show. the best thing that could happen to Gurneys is if he resigned (which will never happen bc he is on the tit big time). Candace who I know also is wonderful- which the show most accurately depicted. Food good- service crappy- again depicted accurately. The phone booths and the pictures of those 2 old timers who nobody gives a crap about should be 86′d from the joint as well.