We need to fix hotel housekeeping. Let's brainstorm.

[Rain Man]

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?

[Chief Roundup]

Have you tried notifying the front desk that you will be in the room and taking care of business until check out and that please notify housekeeping as to not disturb you?
Maybe an option is for the person to notify housekeeping directly that they need privacy until a certain time.
A universal solution would be a lock on the door that is similar to those in the bathroom that shows that you are still in the room or that the room is empty.
Also, are you staying at lower or mid level hotels? That might also be a part of the problem.

[Hoover]

I put that little "do not disturb" sign on the door. Like for the entire duration of my stay.

I seriously do not have this issue.

[EPodolak]

Originally Posted by Hoover

I put that little "do not disturb" sign on the door. Like for the entire duration of my stay.

I seriously do not have this issue.

That's what I used to do.

Had enough of hotels, now I stay in a bnb every chance I can.

[TrebMaxx]

Originally Posted by Hoover

I put that little "do not disturb" sign on the door. Like for the entire duration of my stay.

I seriously do not have this issue.

That's what I do. Never had a problem.

[cdcox]

The only thing needed to fix this problem is good training and management. I suspect it doesn't happen at all in well managed hotels. I could forgive one knock, but after that it is clear that they just don't care about you, and they don't care if you know it. I would avoid staying at that chain for a long time, perhaps coupled with a nasty review on their web site.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by cdcox

The only thing needed to fix this problem is good training and management. I suspect it doesn't happen at all in well managed hotels. I could forgive one knock, but after that it is clear that they just don't care about you, and they don't care if you know it. I would avoid staying at that chain for a long time, perhaps coupled with a nasty review on their web site.

It is hard to get much out of minimum wage level workers. Those jobs are dime-a-dozen with no background checks, drug screening.

[scho63]

Maybe a personal
DO NOT DISTURB - checking out at XX:XX

[digger]

Shouldn't they just have a do not disturb app you can tell it when your room with be vacated... The little hotel lady, has a ipad thingy, sees your room will not be vacated until x:xx time, no need to knock, no need for a sign (that they don't read anyway), just the app, for the people that don't check in to it the time would be check out time...


Sounds like a million $ idea...

[bevischief]

Crime scene tape.

[Flying High D]

When the housemaids knocked, I thought that was code for get the helicopter show going.

[srvy]

I just call the front desk if no DND door hanger. They get the message to the staff. If you make your own post-it note you better be fluent in a lot of languages.

Also, that inside door secure security lock works unless they kick it open. You're probably ****ed as you have been mistaken as the hit. A double-tap is about to occur.

[ChiefBlueCFC]

I, too, have noticed more and more hotels do not have the "Do Not Distrurb" door hanging signs any more. I'm not sure why, but I have had to call the front desk of the last 3 hotels to request one and some had them in a storage closet.

I would think the staff would be able to see who is checking out that day, and who hasn't checked out yet. Obviously, they wouldn't be able to see that in real time, but simple communication between the staff would go miles.

Some people - like you - aren't checking out super early - like me - and I would think that the first time they knocked on the door and you told them to come back later, that would mean comeback after checkout time.

[BWillie]

Hotels don't work for me very well. I don't sleep at normal times. I usually sleep from 5am to Noon so the check out at 11 thing is pretty difficult. I've had great success with Air BnB's even if they are sharing a room. Check in is usually quicker, and they are lenient with check out if you talk or ask them about it.

[Bearcat]

I like the LED light thing, but my first thought was a web form or SMS or app (I generally don't download an app for every single hotel or service).... they should ask questions at reservation or check in about needing your room cleaned, towels, etc, and then you can always update it later. And then an iPad or phone for each housekeeper.

And I assume they would have a pretty routine schedule per floor, so communicate that as well.

[eDave]

They aren't buying their room cleaners iPads.