How to make people say when they are coming

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Jcam

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Want to say something like if you book early check in its free if you just turn up its £10 - ie to make them say.
Prize winner was guest who when booking said 1-2pm, we email to confirm still 1-2pm she says it will be 2-3pm - actually turned up 10.30am
 
In a way we are pretty flexible on arrivals, check out is 10am and we usually tell guests they can check in between noon and 2 depending on how early folks depart and how fast we work on a given day. If a room is ready I may not mind a guest arriving somewhat early, gets them in and I don't have to worry about them later. I do ask for an expected arrival time, if a guest is not sure I take the step to explain that I'm asking so I won't run an errand and inconvience them, outside of the time they give I may choose to be gone. I do live here, but after bedtime I might depend on how tired I am that day if I hear the bell, of course I glad to make arrangements if a guest plans on a late arrival.
 
Check-out is 10. Check-in is 3.
Like others, if someone shows up a little early and the room's ready, we will get them in to expedite things. If they've been great guests and it takes an extra 30 minutes to get out on the morning, no big deal.
People who show up super early or call and want to check in early can do so if the room's ready - $50 early check in fee.
People who want to stay past checkout? If we don't have someone else coming in behind them, no problem - $50 late checkout fee.
We booked more than $800 in fees last year. Found money.
 
If I am here happy to check people in early but don't want my housekeeping staff pulled away from their work - we have 27 rooms to do so I don't want them disturbing. Its making people understand that using the toilet, leaving their bags or parking their car counts as checking in - its the same amount of disruption to the staff they might as well check you in.
 
If I am here happy to check people in early but don't want my housekeeping staff pulled away from their work - we have 27 rooms to do so I don't want them disturbing. Its making people understand that using the toilet, leaving their bags or parking their car counts as checking in - its the same amount of disruption to the staff they might as well check you in..
Someone suggested we change the verbiage from 'check in' to 'arrival time'.
Guests who show up early to drop of f luggage are not checking in, in their minds they are only dropping off luggage, using the rest room, then leaving again.
Arrival time suggests the actual 'showing up at the door'.
You must be going crazy with all the new rooms!
We have not been able to come up with anything that gets guests to follow our guidelines for check in times. They show up whenever. Including one who knew at 3pm she would not be even getting off the plane until after 9 and only called from the baggage claim to 'mention' she needed to know how late could she check in. Honey, I'm in bed.
 
If I am here happy to check people in early but don't want my housekeeping staff pulled away from their work - we have 27 rooms to do so I don't want them disturbing. Its making people understand that using the toilet, leaving their bags or parking their car counts as checking in - its the same amount of disruption to the staff they might as well check you in..
Someone suggested we change the verbiage from 'check in' to 'arrival time'.
Guests who show up early to drop of f luggage are not checking in, in their minds they are only dropping off luggage, using the rest room, then leaving again.
Arrival time suggests the actual 'showing up at the door'.
You must be going crazy with all the new rooms!
We have not been able to come up with anything that gets guests to follow our guidelines for check in times. They show up whenever. Including one who knew at 3pm she would not be even getting off the plane until after 9 and only called from the baggage claim to 'mention' she needed to know how late could she check in. Honey, I'm in bed.
.
Yes Mort, we switched to "arrival time" about 10 years ago and that cut way back on the unexpected early arrival to drop off bags or say "We're Here!"
We stress all our contacts that we can not accept early arrivals. Period. We are happy to welcome guests ANY TIME after 3:00pm but kindly request that they contact us with an approximate time so we can adjust our schedule accordingly. If guests are arriving from a long distance and driving straight to us we ask them to call when they get over the bridge to our area. If they will already be in the area they usually arrive at 3:00pm, which with only a few rooms works great for us.
 
If I am here happy to check people in early but don't want my housekeeping staff pulled away from their work - we have 27 rooms to do so I don't want them disturbing. Its making people understand that using the toilet, leaving their bags or parking their car counts as checking in - its the same amount of disruption to the staff they might as well check you in..
Someone suggested we change the verbiage from 'check in' to 'arrival time'.
Guests who show up early to drop of f luggage are not checking in, in their minds they are only dropping off luggage, using the rest room, then leaving again.
Arrival time suggests the actual 'showing up at the door'.
You must be going crazy with all the new rooms!
We have not been able to come up with anything that gets guests to follow our guidelines for check in times. They show up whenever. Including one who knew at 3pm she would not be even getting off the plane until after 9 and only called from the baggage claim to 'mention' she needed to know how late could she check in. Honey, I'm in bed.
.
Yes Mort, we switched to "arrival time" about 10 years ago and that cut way back on the unexpected early arrival to drop off bags or say "We're Here!"
We stress all our contacts that we can not accept early arrivals. Period. We are happy to welcome guests ANY TIME after 3:00pm but kindly request that they contact us with an approximate time so we can adjust our schedule accordingly. If guests are arriving from a long distance and driving straight to us we ask them to call when they get over the bridge to our area. If they will already be in the area they usually arrive at 3:00pm, which with only a few rooms works great for us.
.
See we are sort of the reverse - happy to accept early check in's if we know they are coming - ie let us know and you can check in - don't and you can stand on the step.
 
If I am here happy to check people in early but don't want my housekeeping staff pulled away from their work - we have 27 rooms to do so I don't want them disturbing. Its making people understand that using the toilet, leaving their bags or parking their car counts as checking in - its the same amount of disruption to the staff they might as well check you in..
Someone suggested we change the verbiage from 'check in' to 'arrival time'.
Guests who show up early to drop of f luggage are not checking in, in their minds they are only dropping off luggage, using the rest room, then leaving again.
Arrival time suggests the actual 'showing up at the door'.
You must be going crazy with all the new rooms!
We have not been able to come up with anything that gets guests to follow our guidelines for check in times. They show up whenever. Including one who knew at 3pm she would not be even getting off the plane until after 9 and only called from the baggage claim to 'mention' she needed to know how late could she check in. Honey, I'm in bed.
.
Yes Mort, we switched to "arrival time" about 10 years ago and that cut way back on the unexpected early arrival to drop off bags or say "We're Here!"
We stress all our contacts that we can not accept early arrivals. Period. We are happy to welcome guests ANY TIME after 3:00pm but kindly request that they contact us with an approximate time so we can adjust our schedule accordingly. If guests are arriving from a long distance and driving straight to us we ask them to call when they get over the bridge to our area. If they will already be in the area they usually arrive at 3:00pm, which with only a few rooms works great for us.
.
See we are sort of the reverse - happy to accept early check in's if we know they are coming - ie let us know and you can check in - don't and you can stand on the step.
.
Yes but you have a staff who can work to get that room ready. We are small and do all the work ourselves. It's just so much easier on us to know we have to be ready at 3:00, not before.
Size really does make a difference on this issue.
 
Check-out is 10. Check-in is 3.
Like others, if someone shows up a little early and the room's ready, we will get them in to expedite things. If they've been great guests and it takes an extra 30 minutes to get out on the morning, no big deal.
People who show up super early or call and want to check in early can do so if the room's ready - $50 early check in fee.
People who want to stay past checkout? If we don't have someone else coming in behind them, no problem - $50 late checkout fee.
We booked more than $800 in fees last year. Found money..
We have found the magic number for early arrival to be $35. We made over $6000 last year just from early arrivals. The number dropped dramatically when we charged more and became a real issue when we charged less. I know this number might be different depending on where you are located. But we do not have any more work to do than what we had been doing already. We just clean according to arrival times. When people know they are being charged a nonrefundable early arrival charge they show up when they say they are. Its amazing how well this works. We just keep cleaning and when they arrive they call us. We can then go and check them in and then go back to cleaning. No issue at all. Just extra $. Its an easy $6000 a year for no more effort. I recommend it!
 
Check-out is 10. Check-in is 3.
Like others, if someone shows up a little early and the room's ready, we will get them in to expedite things. If they've been great guests and it takes an extra 30 minutes to get out on the morning, no big deal.
People who show up super early or call and want to check in early can do so if the room's ready - $50 early check in fee.
People who want to stay past checkout? If we don't have someone else coming in behind them, no problem - $50 late checkout fee.
We booked more than $800 in fees last year. Found money..
We have found the magic number for early arrival to be $35. We made over $6000 last year just from early arrivals. The number dropped dramatically when we charged more and became a real issue when we charged less. I know this number might be different depending on where you are located. But we do not have any more work to do than what we had been doing already. We just clean according to arrival times. When people know they are being charged a nonrefundable early arrival charge they show up when they say they are. Its amazing how well this works. We just keep cleaning and when they arrive they call us. We can then go and check them in and then go back to cleaning. No issue at all. Just extra $. Its an easy $6000 a year for no more effort. I recommend it!
.
Ah but like today "oh we don't want to check in we just want to park, use the toilet, leave bags" so early check in fee does not apply to me is the problem.
 
I think I may have it - we have been toying with the idea of parking permits as we are very town center and occasionally have problems with people who are not our guests sneeking in. If we went ahead with this we can then say we need to know when you are coming so a staff member is avaliable to give you the required parking permits - we wouldn't want you to get a parking ticket.
Do you think that might do it?
 
Check-out is 10. Check-in is 3.
Like others, if someone shows up a little early and the room's ready, we will get them in to expedite things. If they've been great guests and it takes an extra 30 minutes to get out on the morning, no big deal.
People who show up super early or call and want to check in early can do so if the room's ready - $50 early check in fee.
People who want to stay past checkout? If we don't have someone else coming in behind them, no problem - $50 late checkout fee.
We booked more than $800 in fees last year. Found money..
We have found the magic number for early arrival to be $35. We made over $6000 last year just from early arrivals. The number dropped dramatically when we charged more and became a real issue when we charged less. I know this number might be different depending on where you are located. But we do not have any more work to do than what we had been doing already. We just clean according to arrival times. When people know they are being charged a nonrefundable early arrival charge they show up when they say they are. Its amazing how well this works. We just keep cleaning and when they arrive they call us. We can then go and check them in and then go back to cleaning. No issue at all. Just extra $. Its an easy $6000 a year for no more effort. I recommend it!
.
Ah but like today "oh we don't want to check in we just want to park, use the toilet, leave bags" so early check in fee does not apply to me is the problem.
.
Jcam said:
Ah but like today "oh we don't want to check in we just want to park, use the toilet, leave bags" so early check in fee does not apply to me is the problem.
Thats why we started charging. We had this same issue. This service has value or they wouldn't ask to drop their bags off. Here is what we tell people when asking to come early. "We would love to have you come and drop your stuff off but we are busy getting rooms ready. Plus we do not have a luggage storage area. If you would like we can make sure your room is ready to go for an early arrival. There is an extra fee for this as we have to bring in extra staff to make sure its ready when you arrive at ___. You can then enjoy your room and have extra time or simply have a place you can safety drop your luggage off and head into town for some fun.!" If you do not want to purchase an early arrival its not a problem, we will gladly see you at our normal check in time.
This for us changed our lives for the better in so many ways. You should give it a try. It can only make things better and you might find it to be a blessing to you as well. Jcam try it on a few reservations where they ask to arrive early before you advertise it. See if you like it.
 
I think I may have it - we have been toying with the idea of parking permits as we are very town center and occasionally have problems with people who are not our guests sneeking in. If we went ahead with this we can then say we need to know when you are coming so a staff member is avaliable to give you the required parking permits - we wouldn't want you to get a parking ticket.
Do you think that might do it?.
I like that! Parking permits are a big deal in the beach areas here.
 
I think I may have it - we have been toying with the idea of parking permits as we are very town center and occasionally have problems with people who are not our guests sneeking in. If we went ahead with this we can then say we need to know when you are coming so a staff member is avaliable to give you the required parking permits - we wouldn't want you to get a parking ticket.
Do you think that might do it?.
Great idea - it will work
 
I think I may have it - we have been toying with the idea of parking permits as we are very town center and occasionally have problems with people who are not our guests sneeking in. If we went ahead with this we can then say we need to know when you are coming so a staff member is avaliable to give you the required parking permits - we wouldn't want you to get a parking ticket.
Do you think that might do it?.
Yes, especially since you are in the town center. I would try it!
 
Check-out is 10. Check-in is 3.
Like others, if someone shows up a little early and the room's ready, we will get them in to expedite things. If they've been great guests and it takes an extra 30 minutes to get out on the morning, no big deal.
People who show up super early or call and want to check in early can do so if the room's ready - $50 early check in fee.
People who want to stay past checkout? If we don't have someone else coming in behind them, no problem - $50 late checkout fee.
We booked more than $800 in fees last year. Found money..
We have found the magic number for early arrival to be $35. We made over $6000 last year just from early arrivals. The number dropped dramatically when we charged more and became a real issue when we charged less. I know this number might be different depending on where you are located. But we do not have any more work to do than what we had been doing already. We just clean according to arrival times. When people know they are being charged a nonrefundable early arrival charge they show up when they say they are. Its amazing how well this works. We just keep cleaning and when they arrive they call us. We can then go and check them in and then go back to cleaning. No issue at all. Just extra $. Its an easy $6000 a year for no more effort. I recommend it!
.
Ah but like today "oh we don't want to check in we just want to park, use the toilet, leave bags" so early check in fee does not apply to me is the problem.
.
Jcam said:
Ah but like today "oh we don't want to check in we just want to park, use the toilet, leave bags" so early check in fee does not apply to me is the problem.
Thats why we started charging. We had this same issue. This service has value or they wouldn't ask to drop their bags off. Here is what we tell people when asking to come early. "We would love to have you come and drop your stuff off but we are busy getting rooms ready. Plus we do not have a luggage storage area. If you would like we can make sure your room is ready to go for an early arrival. There is an extra fee for this as we have to bring in extra staff to make sure its ready when you arrive at ___. You can then enjoy your room and have extra time or simply have a place you can safety drop your luggage off and head into town for some fun.!" If you do not want to purchase an early arrival its not a problem, we will gladly see you at our normal check in time.
This for us changed our lives for the better in so many ways. You should give it a try. It can only make things better and you might find it to be a blessing to you as well. Jcam try it on a few reservations where they ask to arrive early before you advertise it. See if you like it.
.
going to try the ticket thing I think - ie its like today was coming back from town couple in the car park all parked wrong - me "are you checkin in" - straight away "no we know its 2pm just want to park the car - quite clearly they wern't going to ring the bell but would have parked badly messing up my weekend and run away till 2pm - its the parking repression which in some ways is the most important!
 
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