I was wondering how many hostels here assign specific beds to guests? In my opinion, the time it saves on housekeeping isnt worth it. a) too many people pick other beds and b) its one more thing to worry about when trying to fit in bookings.
I do understand the appeal and I'm sure if it works well its great but has anyone else just found it to be too much trouble? I've worked in places that assign beds, dont assign (just pick one) and one that used bed tags (attach this to whichever bed you take). What system(s) do other people here use?
I ask not only for my own research purposes but I also want to try and convince the boss here to ditch the idea and try something else.
Any thoughts?
16 years
We never did it at the hostels I worked at. It was hard enough with people changing rooms without notifying the front desk :)
I think that when it's full the last people in get the top bunks. When the bottom bunks check out, the top bunks are often going to move to the bottom. Most guests don't know or can't remember that the front desk should be notified.
16 years
I've never assigned beds at any of the hostels I've worked at - I can't really see the point. Basically it's first come first served as far as the best beds go. Except I hvae been asked to reserve a lower bunk by older guests occaisionally by making it up. I'm happy to do that if asked.
16 years
We have never assigned beds. No bad experience with it at all. Sometimes people ask for a bottom bunk and our answer is always "not our business, please negotiate with your room mates". Everyone finds that fair enough.
I remember what a pain in the ass it was at the hostels where I worked before - because people indeed just take any free bed, then the next who is assigned comes round to the front desk and blames it all on you. You walk upstairs either to find nobody else there (and can´t settle the crisis) or to find the evildoer and have a pointless argument with him. Never again.
Or - people tell you they just took a bottom bunk even if they´re assigned to a top bunk, then you have to change that person´s booking in your software. And the reservation previously assigned to the bottom bunk. When you´re pretty much booked up that can result in an endless cascade of moving around reservations.
Assigning beds is plain silly. IMHO.
16 years
well thank god I'm not alone on this one then. I know the boss reads this, so hopefully...
16 years
Well, we are a silly hostel. ;)
As much silly as we have the assigned-beds-with-assigned-lockers-and-assigned-keys-all-assigned-to-the-booking-system policy... and we keep it in order with no hassles...
At least it makes the paper trail happy. :)
Of course our system would make you all nervous in such size hostels you've got, but it works easily in our small environment! :D
16 years
Hahaha! Well, okay. You are right, in a big hostel with a busy reception lower bunk requests can drive you nuts. In a small hostel though, they could be an appreciated opportunity to get to talk to your guests. You sort out the lower bunk and before you´ll even notice you are already sharing a bottle of wine and debate Hegel, Kant and Nietzsche! :D
16 years
Well... If we don't talk about the great philosophers of Germany, at least we have time to share cca. 20-30 minutes at least per guests for information about the City, history, good tips on restaurants and nightlife without creating a big queue or accumulating any administration work. Also have time to chat and sometimes inquire guests about which cities and hostels they stayed before, where are they heading, and recommending hostels without forcing anything, in a laid back style. ;)
Btw, we even have time to philosophy about such things as all beds should be set up as the legroom should face towards the entrance... as it is a human instinct to watch the entrance in need (probably from the prehistoric times), quite annoying could be to climb at the head room and walk through the bed or turn around in such space. I know it is a very small thing but during the installation it is worth to think a minute and set the beds on the correct way... and if there is a small chance for costumer satisfaction or saving a bed lifetime, I think it is still worth it! :)
If you want to check it out yourself, just visit your rooms at check out times... before the cleaners start working in the room!
Also a recommendation to those other silly hostels who still use the assigned beds system, I'd recommend to group the reservations on the same side of the room, assigning the beds on top-bottom / top-bottom order, if the numbers are unpair, give the bottom ones in groups, top ones for individuals... And explain if they want to change beds, please tell the reception otherwise we will clean off the bed according to our check out list, including everything on the bed and we can't take any responsibility of any belongings... it works for us! ;) For elder travellers it is worth to ask if they want to have bottom beds but usually the bed assign comes as the reservation arrives!
16 years
I put numbers on all of my beds, but I don't assign them. When the guests check in they can take their pick of the available beds, and I write down which one they claimed. That way the housekeeper knows which ones need to be made each day, but the guest still has the freedom to choose the one they want. So far I have not had issues with people changing beds after checking in.
15 years
Well, we are a silly hostel. ;)
As much silly as we have the assigned-beds-with-assigned-lockers-and-assigned-keys-all-assigned-to-the-booking-system policy... and we keep it in order with no hassles...
At least it makes the paper trail happy. :)
Of course our system would make you all nervous in such size hostels you've got, but it works easily in our small environment! :D
There you go! I was feeling bad about my system!!!
I created it! lol!
In fact we remember the names so now we have Alexandre in bed 1.1
The first number is the room number and then the number on the bed. Each room has a color thus a folder...right now I feel like Monica in Friends...but it does work!!! Both beds and lockers are labelled.
Of course I can keep track and remeber 37 names, If you have 400 beds well, it might be a little complicated!
15 years
Well here we assign beds, one because of the system, and two because that way I can track guests down if and when necessary.
But yeah, sometimes we get in trouble with that... I dont know if after reading this discussion here I should change that policy!
Related Pages
Log in to join discussion