As a professional speaker I spend an enormous amount of time in hotels and conventions centers around the world … and not always in the nicest ones… however, if you really want to accelerate the productivity of yourself and the hotel staff there are several things you can do to make your stay more productive … for them!
If you have ever read the funny book on the hospitality industry, Heads in Beds, you will never look at a hotel room the same again (definitely recommended travel reading for all my fellow road warriors).
Here are 10 ways to make your stay more pleasant for the hotel staff:
Be friendly – it goes without saying, and yet when checking in we hear so many rude, unpleasant, weary travelers. Please always be courteous to every person you meet when traveling (no matter how tired and grumpy you are).
Minimize linens – use only the towels you need. Imagine if you were doing your laundry, would you really use every towel? Once you are finished with all your lines, face washers, towels and robe; throw all the dirty ones in the bathtub to make it easier for housekeeping to clear.
Use only one trash container – although your hotel room has many, just use one; make it easier for the team to quickly clean your room.
Use recycling – if offered in your room, take an extra second to decide which trash container it is in and be a responsible environmental traveler.
Replace the hairdryer – wind up the cord, put it back in the fabric bag and hang it up – it only takes a moment of your time. Can you imagine how many hairdryer cords the team must wind in a day?
Replace remote – simple really; pop it back where you found it so it is one less thing for the team to do.
Use only required items – don’t use every towel, all the free toiletries – just what you need. Don’t be greedy.
Put away the iron and board – when you are finished hang it up to avoid any one tripping on it later on.
Wipe it down – if you use the hotel gym we BEG of you to wipe down all the equipment – enough said.
Leave a tip – that’s right, someone is cleaning your room and they have bills to pay like you, kids to put through college, be generous and do it often.
What are your favorite ways to assist hotel staff when you travel? We’d love to hear
your ideas, share them with us here on our blog.
PS. If you want more ideas on how to increase your productivity – check out other blogs here and several eBooks you can share with your team.
