HospitalityLawyer.com Blog

Let’s all remember this year that just because something makes money, doesn’t necessarily make it the right thing to do.

Today, with the intense pressure on the bottom line, we need to remember it more than ever.

One example of such a marketing initiative in hotels is the Room Service for Breakfast Door Hanger.

These rascals have lots of good information on them. 

In addition to the menu selections, typically, the hanger asks for how many people the service is for, and the time the delivery should be made. Then the hanger is placed on the exterior door handle, ostensibly for Hotel Staff to come by and pick it up at some point.  

There are a few potential problems with this protocol.  First, the guest has no idea if the hotel actually picks up the hanger. Second, the hotel has no idea if a guest put a hanger out on their door.

Accordingly, neither party knows if a 3rd party came by and removed it from the door.

I hope you see the service and security issues that arise when this occurs. If a prankster picks it up, the service equation is seriously interrupted.

If a person with criminal intent picks it up, they are now loaded with intelligence:  a good probability that someone is alone in the room (assuming the guest indicated service for one), and a time frame when the occupant is expecting a delivery in the early morning…so the occupant’s guard may be down.

I am suggesting that if the hangers were ever safe, that with today’s technology, they have certainly outlived their usefulness.

It is time to stop using room service for breakfast door hangers and if you want to continue a room service for breakfast program, then have the guest place the order directly with room service, via voice mail, the television or internet.

Safe Travels to you and yours.