conversation on telephon

One of my freinds visited me from Japan.
I called her hotel to decide about our meeting ,but I found out that I forgot her
family name. Thesedays, I think I am losing Japanese words inspite of small development in English. I told the receptionist what I knew about her.
" She have been in your hotel since the dey bofore yesterday and she stays with
her mother." The receptionist asked me " what is her mother's familiy name?"
I answered " I think her family name and her mother's family name might be same."
It is a silly question, isn't it?
At night,she called me and I could remember her name as soon as I heard her voice.