Originally Posted by
The Road Goes On Forever
IME & IMHO, are corners getting cut now more than ever? Of course they are. How can you properly deep clean, maintain and PM rooms when occupancy is very high yet staffing is permanently cut to different degrees? .
This is the crux of the issue. Some ownership groups are content with cutting (almost) all costs while enduring high occupancy rates.
I stayed at a Homewood Suites last week that was essentially full. Every parking spot full. My room didn't get cleaned and they were short on toiletries. 3 out of the 7 machines in the gym were broken. A/C in my room was broken. (I found out the hotel was almost full when the front desk agent initially said they couldn't relocate me due to broken A/C. I pushed hard and they eventually "found" me a room.) A/C on the entire top floor was out. Manager's reception had been cut back to 1 day per week. Hallway leading to the gym was cluttered with heaps of unwashed laundry, broken A/C units, and old furniture. All this for $180/night. They operate like this because Hilton allows it, I guess.
Conversely, I frequent a central-Florida Hampton Inn that never stopped daily housekeeping during COVID. They also continue to pilot new breakfasts for Hilton Corporate (smoothies, chicken and waffles, etc.) It's one of my top 3 favorite Hamptons in the country. Rates are still exceptionally reasonable, as well.
It all boils down to the ownership group.