Below, we’ve offered some tips to help you make your hotel run without any issues. After all, a happy guest makes for a happy hotel.
Use online booking software
Nowadays, the old-fashioned pen and paper method of checking guests into a hotel are long gone. Instead of manually filing your bookings and answering telephone calls, you should use an online booking system to make check-ins a breeze. Tools such as Eviivo allow you check guests in and out, send out automatic confirmations, authorise charges and refunds – and, as an extra, your hotel will be listed on websites such as Booking.com and Trip Advisor.
Double-check your bookings every morning
To ensure that your rooms are not double booked at any time, you should double-check your guest list every morning. By knowing exactly how many guests will be checking in and at what time, you’ll be able to prioritise room allocations and ensure that every guest is accommodated for at all times. By doing so, you’ll also be able to iron out any potential issues that may be caused if rooms have been overbooked, such as by offering refunds or finding alternative accommodation in the local area.
Make sure guests check out early
While you want to ensure that your guests have a comfortable and relaxing stay, you also need to be mindful of the fact that your rooms have to be turned over for the following day. Make sure you set a reasonable checkout policy and make this policy clear when guests check into your hotel. Check out time can vary from hotel to hotel, but Hotels.com writes that the standard time is 11 am. Adopting this checkout time will give you at least four hours before guests arrive at 3 pm for check in, but still give guests enough time to enjoy a lie in.
Create a space for guests to relax
If the unfortunate does happen and guests are left waiting for their room to be turned over, then the best thing you can do is offer them somewhere warm and comfortable to relax while they’re waiting. Turn one of your sitting or entrance rooms into a guest chill-out zone, and provide facilities such as tea, coffee, water and snacks. The more welcoming you can be to your guests, the more likely they are to be at ease about waiting for their room.
There you have it – just some of the ways in which you can organise your bookings without delays. By delivering an efficient and effective service to your guests, you’ll be able to create a great first impression and improve your chances of scoring good reviews and ratings.
