One dark stormy night, an elderly couple hurried into a hotel and asked whether they could be put up for the night.“I'm very sorry，”the clerk on night shift said politely，“We are all booked tonight. But you could stay in my room if you don't mind.It's not exactly a suite, but it's clean.As I'm on duty, I’ll be staying up in the office anyway, and I can do some bookkeeping business there.”The young man gave the sincere advice.
The elderly couple accepted his offer with gratitude. They apologized for the inconvenience they had caused him.The next day, the rain stopped and it cleared up.When the old gentleman went to pay his bill, the clerk behind the counter was that same helpful young man.“The room you and your wife stayed in is not a proper guest room in this hotel, so you don't need to pay，”said the clerk, with the same friendly smile.
The old gentleman nodded in appreciation：“You are an employee that every boss in the hotel business would dream of.Perhaps someday I’ll build a hotel for you.”The clerk was amazed but, deciding that the guest must have been joking, he gave the remark no more thought.
Two years later, the young man received a registered letter from the old gentleman, in which he recalled the experience of that dark stormy night. The letter also enclosed a formal invitation and a round-trip air ticket to New York, asking the young man to pay a visit.
At a street comer in Manhattan, the young man met his former guest. The old gentleman, pointing to a magnificent new building towering over the crossroads, said，“Look, that is the hotel I promised to build for you.I hope you will manage it for me.Remember what I said then?Well, I was serious about it.”
Overwhelmed with surprise, the young man stammered，“But……will there be any conditions, sir?Why do you choose me?And who are you?”
“My name is William Aster. There's no condition whatsoever.Like I told you before, you are the best employee I could ever dream of！”
This building was none other than the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. This hotel has been a symbol of supreme status and honour in the city of New York, the number-one choice for visiting state leaders from various countries.The young man who became its first manager was George Boldt, the man who turned Waldorf into one of the most glamorous hotels in the world.
-gratitude [ˈgrætɪtjuːd]n.感激，感谢
典型例句
She felt eternal gratitude to him for saving her life.
她终生感激他的救命之恩。
最常用法
gratitude to sb.for sth.因某事感谢某人
联想记忆
thankful adj.感激的
-inconvenience [ˌɪnkənˈviːnɪəns]n.不方便，麻烦，打扰
典型例句
He apologized for the inconvenience he had caused.
他为打扰了人家而道歉。
最常用法
the inconvenience of（doing）sth.（做）某事不方便
联想记忆
convenience n.方便，合宜
convenient adj.省力的，方便的
-appreciation [əˌpriːʃɪˈeɪʃn]n.评价，感激
典型例句
Please accept this gift in appreciation of all you’ve done for us.
多蒙鼎力协助，谨备薄礼，敬请笑纳。
最常用法
show/express appreciation 表达感谢
联想记忆
appreciate v.评价，感激
-magnificent [mægˈnɪfɪsnt]adj.壮丽的，宏伟的
典型例句
The scenery is magnificent.景色壮丽。
联想记忆
brilliant adj.光辉的，灿烂的
glorious adj.壮丽的
-overwhelm [ˌəuvəˈwelm]v.压倒，制服
典型例句
With gratitude, he fell to his knees.
他感激万分，跪倒地上。
最常用法
be overwhelmed by sth.被某物所制服
be overwhelmed with sth.为某物所制服
联想记忆
overwhelming adj.压倒一切的，势不可挡的
-supreme [suːˈpriːm]adj.最高的，至上的
典型例句
After a year without defeat, the team now reigns supreme as the finest in the country.
该队一年来所向无敌，现已称雄全国。
联想记忆
utmost adj.极度的，最大的
-glamorous [ˈglæmərəs]adj.富有魅力的，迷人的
典型例句
The south coast is less glamorous but full of clean and attractive hotels.
南海岸魅力稍逊，但却有很多干净漂亮的宾馆。
联想记忆
glamor n.魅力，诱惑力
一个风雨交加的夜晚，一对老夫妇急忙走进一家旅馆，要求住宿一晚。旅店的夜班服务生礼貌地说：“非常抱歉，今天的房间已经订满了。不过，你们可以待在我的房间，它虽然很简陋，但还是挺干净的。我要值班，可以在办公室休息，顺便处理有关账务的问题。”这位年轻人很诚恳地提出这个建议。
老夫妇大方地接受了他的建议，并对造成服务生的不便致歉。第二天，雨过天晴，老先生要前去结账时，柜台前仍是昨晚的那位服务生。服务生依然亲切地说：“昨天您住的并不是饭店的客房，所以我们不会收您的钱。”
老先生点头称赞：“你是每个旅馆老板梦寐以求的员工，或许改天我可以帮你盖栋旅馆。”服务生觉得有些受宠若惊，但是因为这个说法实在太夸张了，所以他只把它当成一句玩笑。
两年后，这位服务生收到老先生寄来的挂号信，信中说了那个风雨交加的夜晚所发生的事，另外还附一张邀请函和来回纽约的机票，邀请他到纽约一游。
在曼哈顿的一个路口，服务生再次遇到了当年的旅客，老先生指着路口矗立着的一栋华丽的新大楼说：“这是我为你盖的旅馆，希望你来为我经营，记得吗？我在当时曾提出这样的建议，告诉你吧，我可是认真的。”
这位服务生惊喜万分，说话都变得结结巴巴：“你是不是有什么条件？你为什么选择我呢？你到底是谁？”
“我叫做威廉·阿斯特，我没有任何条件，我说过，你正是我梦寐以求的员工。”
这栋旅馆就是华尔道夫饭店，这家饭店是纽约极致尊荣的地位象征，也是各国高层政要造访纽约时下榻的首选。当时接下这份工作的服务生就是乔治·波特，一位奠定华尔道夫成为世界上最迷人的酒店地位的人。