Attributes of a Good Hotel
Wednesday, December 7th, 2011What defines a good hotel? There are as many points of view to consider when answering that question. Many types of hotel and levels of quality exist in the hotel industry. Answering the question from the point of view of a hotel rating association may not be the best way to identify a good hotel.
Regardless of any hotel quality ratings, there are some important basic requirements. The following areas apply to any good hotel, regardless of quality rating that hotel may proudly inform prospective guests they have achieved.
Security
A hotel needs to have physical facilities and operational procedures to ensure the security of guests, the staff and the physical plant of the hotel. Any hotel not meeting this important minimum standard should not be licensed by local authorities.
The source of food and beverages used in hotel catering programs also needs to be vetted carefully. All suppliers must have their own security programs and procedures in place. Contamination of food served to guests is obviously something to be prevented.
A good hotel needs to have a coordinated action plan with local police and / or military authorities in case of direct, indirect or nearby security problem events.
Any guest coming to a good hotel, upon calling home to their family and friends, should feel confident to report they have never felt safer. Safety and security are of utmost importance.
Cleanliness
Procedures ensuring food is prepared and served in the cleanest possible manner is one of the most important attributes of a good hotel. Nothing ruins a stay in a hotel more than becoming sick from food poisoning.
Hotel housekeeping personnel need to project the culture of the hotel as far as efficiency, cleanliness and professionalism. This is often a difficult thing to carry out successfully. Housekeeping staff must be properly trained to know and execute the highest possible standards of cleanliness.
Efficiency
From the first moment a guest walks in the door on arrival until checkout and final departure a good hotel is efficient at all points of contact with the guest. This is the most important attribute in defining a good hotel.
Hotels that are consistently secure, clean and efficient, will find customers returning repeatedly, choosing them over other hotels that may even rate better in quality. The number of stars a hotel has earned means nothing if the guest does not feel safe and served most efficiently.