HotelChatter

These are HOSPITALITY selections

and not normal items on the room service menu. Many hotels have a section in the back for guests who want to hold a reception or small party in their suite... say the Parents of the Groom after a wedding, a vendor at one of their clients functions, or even a corrupt lobbyist hoping to pocket a few elected officals.

This is not part of the room service menu that the average hotel guest would order off of to satisfy a midnight snack craving. Most of the items listed are available to be prepared in large quantities and that's why the advance notice is necessary.

The average line cook who makes your burger and fries has no training in artfully arranging a fruit and cheese tray for 50. They also may not have the time in between cooking for the restaurant, the bar, and other room service orders.  

In the hotels where I have worked, Hospitality items would be handled in the Banquet Kitchen. At my current hotel this is at the other end of the building from the kitchen that services the dining room and in-room dining. Depending on the time of day and the business of the hotel that area might not even be staffed and the hotel would have to take extra time to fill your request.

I'm sure the time is probably a worst case senario. What it basically means is that you probably won't be able to get it within 30 minutes. Did the guest acutally try to place an order and see what kind of time was quoted? I bet a pound of nuts or a cheese plate for two would not fetch such lengthy prep times. Now if they started to cater a whole party for their room, the preparation time would start to go up dramatically, im sure.  But if you are spending enough money, any hotel will move mountains for you.