Home and Auto We need to fix hotel housekeeping. Let's brainstorm. - Page 3

**Rain Man** · 08-29-2021, 10:31 AM

I've been on a long business trip, and am reminded of a longstanding problem in hotels. We need a solution to this problem.

When I'm in a hotel, I'm generally working. Mornings are great for that. Checkout is at 11 or 12, and I check out on time. But from 9 to 11 I'm on my computer or in meetings or something.

But I consistently have a housekeeper knocking on my door before I check out. Then they never hear me telling them that I'm still in the room and after several knocks and me telling them at increasingly louder volumes to go away, they then open the door and I have to repeat again that the room is still mine. On this recent trip, I've had it happen as early as 8:30, and in one case they tried to come in three times while I was on business calls. I finally had to get curt with them and tell them not to come back.

I understand that it's in the hotel's best interest to get rooms cleaned early. But I also figure a lot of people check out early. It seems like there should be plenty of rooms to clean without knocking on the doors of guests who are still in their rooms. Does housekeeping not know who's checked out and who hasn't? Right now, the operations model is based on disturbing people who still have a right to be in the room, and it's also probably not pleasant for the housekeeping staff who get scowled at by half-naked guests. Nobody likes this system.

So how do we fix it?

An easy solution is the old "make up this room/do not disturb" sign, but I've seen more hotels recently that don't offer those signs. If such a sign is available, I always put it on the door immediately and leave it there until I depart.

There should be a sign that says, "checked out/still in room". But I recognize that half of guests wouldn't switch the sign out when they leave, and we have to plan for all scenarios.

Maybe we have a little LED light near the door that glows red when the guest is still checked in and green when they've checked out. There's a slot in the room where you put the key when you check out that activates it. Also, do most people tell the front desk when they check out? With modern keys you don't have to return the keys, so maybe not. I always tell the front desk, but maybe this isn't universal.

I've half-pondered getting my own magnetic sign that says, "When this sign is up, I'm still in the room and don't need housekeeping." But it'll cost me ten bucks to make and I figure I'll forget it at some point.

So let's put our collective minds to this task. How do we solve this major first-world problem?

**Rain Man** · 08-30-2021, 09:48 AM

As an update, I'm in a hotel room now. 15 minutes to checkout. Do Not Disturb sign up. Housekeeper knocked on the door.

In fairness, she apologized and said that the DND sign had fallen off, and that's quite feasible as it fell off earlier when I made a foray from the room.

**Bearcat** · 08-30-2021, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eDave

They aren't buying their room cleaners iPads.

I would fully expect business hotels to pass along the cost to their customers... what's another $10/night for that $200/night room that's probably getting reimbursed along with the $20 breakfast of bacon and eggs and $10/day wifi, etc?

eDave · 08-30-2021, 10:04 AM

When I was going to Coachella every year, I requested late checkout at checkin. Never a problem. I also make my reservations with the sirname Dr..

Little secret of mine that pays off with room upgrades all the time.

**srvy** · 08-30-2021, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eDave

When I was going to Coachella every year, I requested late checkout at checkin. Never a problem. I also make my reservations with the sirname Dr..

Little secret of mine that pays off with room upgrades all the time.

Perhaps most people wouldn't want to use a title they haven't earned.

BWillie · 08-30-2021, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eDave

When I was going to Coachella every year, I requested late checkout at checkin. Never a problem. I also make my reservations with the sirname Dr..

Little secret of mine that pays off with room upgrades all the time.

That is genius.

I make Amazon send me mail under the sir name "Lord" just for shits and giggles

08-29-2021, 10:31 AM
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-482449 VARSITY	We need to fix hotel housekeeping. Let's brainstorm. I've been on a long business trip, and am reminded of a longstanding problem in hotels. We need a solution to this problem. When I'm in a hotel, I'm generally working. Mornings are great for that. Checkout is at 11 or 12, and I check out on time. But from 9 to 11 I'm on my computer or in meetings or something. But I consistently have a housekeeper knocking on my door before I check out. Then they never hear me telling them that I'm still in the room and after several knocks and me telling them at increasingly louder volumes to go away, they then open the door and I have to repeat again that the room is still mine. On this recent trip, I've had it happen as early as 8:30, and in one case they tried to come in three times while I was on business calls. I finally had to get curt with them and tell them not to come back. I understand that it's in the hotel's best interest to get rooms cleaned early. But I also figure a lot of people check out early. It seems like there should be plenty of rooms to clean without knocking on the doors of guests who are still in their rooms. Does housekeeping not know who's checked out and who hasn't? Right now, the operations model is based on disturbing people who still have a right to be in the room, and it's also probably not pleasant for the housekeeping staff who get scowled at by half-naked guests. Nobody likes this system. So how do we fix it? An easy solution is the old "make up this room/do not disturb" sign, but I've seen more hotels recently that don't offer those signs. If such a sign is available, I always put it on the door immediately and leave it there until I depart. There should be a sign that says, "checked out/still in room". But I recognize that half of guests wouldn't switch the sign out when they leave, and we have to plan for all scenarios. Maybe we have a little LED light near the door that glows red when the guest is still checked in and green when they've checked out. There's a slot in the room where you put the key when you check out that activates it. Also, do most people tell the front desk when they check out? With modern keys you don't have to return the keys, so maybe not. I always tell the front desk, but maybe this isn't universal. I've half-pondered getting my own magnetic sign that says, "When this sign is up, I'm still in the room and don't need housekeeping." But it'll cost me ten bucks to make and I figure I'll forget it at some point. So let's put our collective minds to this task. How do we solve this major first-world problem?
Posts: 145,278

08-30-2021, 09:48 AM	#31
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-482449 VARSITY	As an update, I'm in a hotel room now. 15 minutes to checkout. Do Not Disturb sign up. Housekeeper knocked on the door. In fairness, she apologized and said that the DND sign had fallen off, and that's quite feasible as it fell off earlier when I made a foray from the room. __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
Posts: 145,278

08-30-2021, 10:04 AM	#33
eDave Banned Join Date: Jan 2013 Casino cash: $9998560	When I was going to Coachella every year, I requested late checkout at checkin. Never a problem. I also make my reservations with the sirname Dr.. Little secret of mine that pays off with room upgrades all the time.
Posts: 53,803