Self-Registration

A relatively new concept in front office registration is self-registration. Self-registration terminals are usually located in the lobbies of fully automated hotels. These terminals can vary in design: some resemble automated bank teller machines (ATM), while others possess both video and audio capability. Recent technological advances allow hotels to place self-registration terminals at off-premises locations such as airports and car rental agencies. Regardless of which kind of guest-operated device is used, self-registration terminals can significantly reduce front office and guest registration time.

To use an advanced self-registration terminal, a guest generally must have made a reservation which led to the creation of a reservation record. At the time of self-registration, the guest may need to enter a reservation confirmation number or insert a valid credit card into the machine. The terminal reads the magnetic strip on the back of the credit card and passes the name and credit card number to the hotel computer, which attempts to locate the reservation record. The terminal then prompts the guest to enter additional registration data using the terminal's keypad. Most terminals are interfaced with a computerized rooms management system, thereby enabling automatic room and rate assignment. Some terminals print out registration forms and request the guest to sign and deposit it into a drop box. Customized greetings or messages about special events or promotions can be added to system-generated forms or displayed on the terminal's screen. Some terminals then direct the guest to a guestroom key pickup area. In some cases, the terminal itself may dispense a guestroom key as a result of being interfaced with an electronic guestroom locking system.

Room types

Room Type	Description
Single	A room assigned to one person
Double	A room assigned to two people. The bed is big enough for two. (Size: 54X76 inches)
Triple	A room assigned to three people. May have two or more beds
Quad	A room assigned to four people. May have two or more beds.
Queen	A room with a queen-size bed. May be occupied by one or two persons (Size: 60X80 inches)
King	A room with a king-size bed. May be occupied by one or two people. (Size: 78X80 inches)
Twin	A room with a pair of twin beds. May be occupied by one or two people. (Size: 39 or 42X76 inches)
Double-double	A room with two doubles (or perhaps queens). May be occupied by one or two people.
Studio	A room with a convertible bed. May also have an additional bed.
Mini/junior suite	A single room with a bed and a sitting area. Sometimes it has one bedroom and a separate living room.
Suite	A living room connected to one or more bedrooms.
Connecting room	Rooms with individual entrances and a connecting door in-between. Guests do not have to cross the hallway to go to the other room.
Adjoining room	Rooms which, share a wall, but do not connect through a door.
Adjacent room	Rooms in front of/close to each other positioned across the hallway.

Room status

Room status	Description
Occupied	A guest is currently registered in the room.
Complimentary	An occupied but free-of-charge room.
Stay-over	A room with a guest who will not check out for at least one more night.
On-change	A room that its guest has checked out but it has not been cleaned yet.
Do not disturb	A room with a ‘Do not disturb’ sign on the door.
Sleep-out	An occupied room, guest of which sleeps out of the room tonight.
Skipper	A room, guest of which has left the hotel without settling his account.
Sleeper	A room, guest of which has settled and left the hotel but the front office staff failed to update its status.
Vacant & ready	A room ready for sale. (Clean and inspected)
Out-of-order	A room that cannot be assigned due to maintenance reasons.
Lock-out	A room that is locked until the guest clear with some hotel official.
DNCO	Abbreviation for ‘did not check out’. A room, guest of which has made arrangements to settle but left the property without doing it. (Notice the difference with the skipper)
Due out	A room that is expected to be vacant after the next check-out time.
Check-out	A room, guest of which has settled, delivered keys, and left the property.
Late check-out	A room, guest of which has requested for a late check-out. (Later than the normal hotel check-out time)

Rate categories

Rate categories	Description
Corporate	For guests from a company with rate agreements with the hotel, Some travel agency guests
Complimentary	Free-of charge, often needs endorsement from the general manager
Group	For pre-determined number of guests booked all at a time
Family	For parents sharing room with children
Day	For a day rest only
Package (All-inclusive)	Rates including more items than room and breakfast sold as a package
Frequent guest	For loyal hotel guests
Frequent travellers	For frequent airline frequent flyers, only selected airlines

Дата добавления: 2015-11-16