Bernard, it seems, was upset about the hotel (4)
I believe the answer is:
shaw
'bernard' is the definition.
(I know that bernard can be written as Shaw)
'was upset about the hotel' is the wordplay.
'upset' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'the hotel' becomes 'h' (phonetic alphabet).
'was' written backwards gives 'saw'.
'saw' placed around 'h' is 'SHAW'.
'it seems' acts as a link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for shaw that I've seen before include "Major Barbara playwright" , "writer of plays and critical commentaries" , "George Bernard -, Irish dramatist" , "Irish author" , "making an appearance in Craiglockhart?" .)