Originally Posted by
twitch76
You bring a perspective that helps us remember that there are lots of travelers outside of our FlyerTalk bubble. Thanks.
However, I’m not sure that your conclusion follows from your data. Unless those customers were consistently asked, in a manner that genuinely invited a “yes,” then I’m not sure that the data means much of anything.
On my recent stays, housekeeping has generally not been mentioned at all during checkin, and I suspect most guests don’t think to ask. If it *is* mentioned, it’s something like, “We’re only doing housekeeping on request, let us know if you need any towels, and you can just leave your trash outside your door.” That’s neither inviting nor hospitable. It also provides no idea how many customers would prefer housekeeping,,, just an idea of how many don’t bother request an exception to the status quo.
Maybe your hotel is consistently offering guests the option of housekeeping, in a manner that genuinely invites a response of “yes.” But if it is, it’s the very rare exception.
(ETA: My theory is that the industry desperately *wants* to get rid of daily housekeeping, so practices and checkin conversations are framed in such a way as to discourage guests from requesting housekeeping. Then the industry can tout numbers like you just did and say, “we’re just giving guests what they want.”)
The industry has wanted to get rid of daily housekeeping for several years. The pandemic has just given franchisees the cover to be able to demand it and pull it off. Even if the parent companies insisted (and they aren't) that all properties bring back daily housekeeping it would be an unfunded mandate since right now people aren't applying for those types of jobs or if they are, they ghost the interview process enmasse. The parent companies have no part in the hiring process and the owner is under no obligation to raise pay rates or to offer benefits.
Nothing is framed. To some degree management companies are going to do whatever they want regardless of what the travelling public wants unless the parent companies drops a mandate in which right now for the most part isn't happening. The owner or the management makes the decision as to what they want offered and that is what's implemented. At my place at check in we put in an insert in every key packet as to what is/is not offered. Do people ever read that? No because the bulk of the travelling public are bumpkins that could care less, but that's what the management company wants so we do it. Every guest is also told what we do and we don't do at check in. Take it or leave it. We've been doing that for nine months and again, very few people ask for housekeeping at check in nor do they reach out and ask during their stay. We tell them it's available and they choose not to avail themselves of it be it a family coming for a lacrosse tournament or a member of the Executive Leadership team at UPS who has lifetime Diamond status with almost fifteen million points.
Does every property do that? Of course not. Unlike the assumption of the poster above you, I've done this for a bit and have friends, prior co-workers and acquaintances at many other properties (PHL Airport Marriott - Daytona Beach Hilton Resort - Lancaster PA Marriott - Indianapolis Marriott East - etc.) that I also talk to and know what they're doing the same as I see the owner for the property I work at and talk with him about what he sees/wants/thinks.
Like it or not, the game has changed. If you're waiting for the industry to bring back what existed prior to COVID across the board you'll be waiting a long time There will always be places that will offer daily housekeeping but we're never going back to a place where it's done everyday at every property, period.