Smarter Week

How to automate it

How to automate “handle guest requests for towels, cribs and extras”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today.

30 min
typically, every day
55%
of the time can be automated
Easy
to set up

Fix 1 of 2

Software featureBest fix

Use a housekeeping app so room status updates itself

Housekeepers mark rooms clean and inspected on a phone, and the front desk sees it live in the PMS. No calls or radio checks to find a ready room.

Typically saves about 60% of the time2 h to set up
  1. 1Check whether your PMS has a housekeeping app or links to one (Optii, Flexkeeping).
  2. 2Give housekeepers the app on phones.
  3. 3Have them tap "clean" and "inspected" as they go.
  4. 4Set early-arrival rooms as priority in the app.

Tools: Your hotel PMS (Oracle OPERA Cloud, Mews, Cloudbeds, Apaleo or similar) · Optii · Flexkeeping

Fix 2 of 2

Software feature

Let a guest messaging tool with AI answer routine questions

Guest messaging platforms answer common questions (wifi, parking, breakfast times, late checkout) by text or web chat 24/7 and send the rest to the desk.

Typically saves about 45% of the time2 h to set up
  1. 1List the questions guests ask most, with answers.
  2. 2Turn on AI replies in your guest messaging tool (Canary, HiJiffy, Duve, Akia) or ask your manager which one you use.
  3. 3Set which requests go to staff (complaints, refunds, special requests).
  4. 4Review replies weekly and update the answers.

Tools: Canary Technologies · HiJiffy · Duve · Akia

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

Hotel housekeeping / rooms operations lead

HourLeak · the 8-minute work audit

How many hours does this cost you?

The free 8-minute check works out where your week goes and gives you your top fixes. The team scan does the same for everyone and adds it up, so you know which leaks to fix first.

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Other common tasks for Hotel housekeeping / rooms operations leads