Hotel employees talked about the “alarm signs” that should make you think when staying in one. For example, burnt out light bulbs and dust in common areas can be signs that that accommodation is not clean or well maintained.
Signs to look out for when staying at a hotel PHOTO: Shuterstock
Airbnb is losing customers to hotels, but that doesn’t mean the latter is always a perfect solution. Some hotels are better than others, and there are a few things guests can look for to see how they might compare.
Business Insider asked hotel employees what are the warning signs to look out for at a hotel. Here’s what they said.
Empty parking lots I can report that the hotel is not a popular option. JJ Jones, assistant general manager at the Hilton Garden Inn Albuquerque Uptown, with eight years of hotel and hospitality experience, told Business Insider that guests should always pay attention to a hotel’s parking before checking in.
“The driveway or parking lot will tell you if the hotel is busy. If you don’t see the car park full or you see lots of other people checking in, this may not be the right place to stayJones said.
A lack of luggage carts or assistance indicates poor hospitality. According to Jones, hospitality should be an absolute priority at a hotel, especially when greeting guests at check-in.
“When you enter the building, it’s an alarm if there are no luggage carts available, or someone to help you with your luggage if there are no carts. In the world of hospitality, you welcome guests into your home and you have to treat them like family, which includes taking their luggage to their room if they need help,” he told BI.
The lights are off in the common areas exemplifies a lack of detail and care. Santiago Leon, general manager at The Robey, said guests should check that light bulbs in a hotel’s common areas are working.
“A simple but telling red flag is when light bulbs don’t work in common areas. As insignificant as it may seem, I think it says a lot about how well the hotel is maintained, its budget, management and attention to detail“, said Leon.
No response to pre-arrival inquiries is a major red flag Leon said that every hotel experience begins long before check-in.
If you have made requests or asked questions prior to arrival and have not received timely responses, this could be a red flag.
“When hotels don’t respond to any inquiries prior to arrival, it immediately raises concern, causing guests to feel anxious about their visit instead of excited”Leon stated.
An accumulation of dust and dirt in the entrances shows a general lack of cleanliness. Jones told BI that he always looks for a build-up of dirt and dust on railings and tables in hotel entrances and urges guests to do the same.
“Public areas are used by everyone entering and leaving the hotel, so these areas must remain immaculate. If I find dust, that indicates the staff haven’t touched that area in a very long time, and I wonder what other areas of the hotel they haven’t touched in a very long time.” Jones claims.
Failure to request an identity document upon arrival is a safety issue. Leon says it’s a red flag ‘dif the staff does not ask for identification on arrival”. This is mandatory when checking in to a hotel for several reasons, including safety.
“Security must be an absolute priority for hotels,” he added.
The way your bed is madel can talk about the quality of the housekeeper. Jones said it’s essential to get a good look at the bed before you get on it to get an idea of the quality of the hotel’s housekeeping.
“The way the bed is made can be a big red flag. If they made the bed sloppily, with tired-looking pillows and loose sheets, this indicates that the housekeeper did not clean the room as well as she could”Jones said.
