Asked to Do More at Check Out Lately?

[mjm1]

Sounds like this started very recently. I'm going to Westin Lagunamar on Wednesday and will report back.

I am wondering about the capacity for a Premium 1BR. I know it says 4 people. Would you mind asking if they will allow 2 adults and 3 kids if one of the kids is under a certain age? If so, what age would that be. Also, I suspect they don't provide a roll-in cot in the case of the small child, but that would be interesting to know too. Thank you in advance.

 

[travellerviajero1]

At Grand Chateau last week there was a letter next to the bed at check in listing all my new jobs

Is there a site where owners or public can see when such decisions are decided on? Thanks

 

[bazzap]

At Grand Chateau last week there was a letter next to the bed at check in listing all my new jobs

I guess like other Owners we received the Grand Chateau General Manager’s Newsletter this week.
Surprise, surprise no mention there listing these “new jobs”

 

[davidvel]

At Grand Chateau last week there was a letter next to the bed at check in listing all my new jobs

I don't recall the bed at check in at GC, that must be new. I also have not seen any listing of jobs for guests, only polite requests that are not mandatory.

 

[rcdcowner557]

In my opinion, this is the latest MVC scandal, to the tune of MVC’s ECO and Green programs (as disingenuous and deceptive, as they come). This one, in my opinion has ulterior motives, from some of the biggest sharks in the business. I would expect this program to have something to do with fewer housekeepers, and MVC’s unwillingness to pay competitive wages and benefits to housekeepers, and to have programs to retain MVC housekeeping staff, including work-quality conditions.

MVC can go pound sand.

I agree that the various initiatives are geared towards keeping down housekeeping costs. However, I'm not sure that is so that MVW can make a killing in profit; I think they are more just trying to stay alive at this point in time.

What MVW is moving towards through accumulation of ownership in the MVC Trust is a system of MVW-controlled hotels comprised of failed condominium projects. Legal issues raised by the Trust structure fiction aside, I believe the real estate cemetery is full of developers and and operators who learned the hard way that the costs of maintaining condominium units to the highest brand standards are not costs the market has an appetite to bear. I believe MVW is already well aware of this, which is why they switched to the points-based business model.

Judging from the volume of "deed" backs on points (see county property records where MVC Trust is based), it appears that many points purchasers come to realize they can stay at similar (or even better) accommodations at a lower cost by just booking/renting whatever, wherever and whenever they want to go on the open market.

If MVW gets to the point where new sales do not keep up with attrition, then the jig will definitively be up. If that happens, MVW will have to liquidate its considerable interest in our building, at which time I will say "good riddance." I never agreed to be a co-owner with MVW; their accumulation of a dominant ownership interest in my building happened well after I purchased, and, had I any control over it (which I wouldn't because it is a condominium project), I would have vetoed the concentration of ownership in any single owner, let alone one whose business practices do not align with my personal values.

 

[MikeM132]

When we first bought a long time ago, I remember we were asked to strip beds before checkout along with running dishwasher. There also used to be a villa inventory sheet in the kitchen. At some point the request disappeared. We continued to do it for awhile though.

It’s like everything else where the consumer is asked to do more and more of a company’s work. I love it at the Walmart self checkout when the display asks for a rating. I always think that I did an excellent job!

Us, too. I've been so many places don't remember where, but we have been asked to put everything into the hot tub including sheets, run the dishwasher and take out trash. We pretty much always do most of this now except bed sheets. I have not seen this resurgence of that old idea yet, but probably will.

 

[clifffaith]

I’ve seen the “put used towels in the tub” instructions several places. Makes my back hurt just reading it, especially in rooms having spa tubs with large surrounds — can’t imagine having to bend over, stretch and scoop to collect linens out of an oversized tub.

 

[vacationtime1]

We have taken the bed sheets and pillow cases off for years in lieu of leaving a tip. I remember reading of that idea here on TUG. However, we usually just leave them piled up in the bedroom. We fold the comforter and leave it on the bed or on the dresser or chair, if available.

I had the same thought -- if I'm doing the housekeepers' work, why should I leave a tip?

But the result is that the housekeeper earns less, I work more, and Marriott gets to reduce its labor costs, all while MF's continue to increase. I see that a loose/loose/loose/loose situation.

I will continue to leave the sheets on the bed and I will continue to tip the housekeeping staff well. I cannot imagine that any housekeeper would not prefer a tip instead of saving three minutes of work.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

I empty the trash, pile the used towels and prep the dishwasher (load soap) but I usually forget to turn it on as I head out the door. Oh well.






.

 

[dioxide45]

I empty the trash, pile the used towels and prep the dishwasher (load soap) but I usually forget to turn it on as I head out the door. Oh well.

That's me with the dishwasher too. I will usually remember it five minutes down the road.

 

[WBP]

The shame of throwing the used towels/bedding/linens in the bathtub/jacuzzi, although, well intended, if the tub was not used, the presence of the used linens in the tub/jacuzzi should prompt a complete “clean” of the tub, which, for the jetted tubs, is a big/time-consuming deal.

For the resorts that have outsourced their villa-cleaning to an independent contractor, those teams are paid, based on production, and the number of villas that they turn. So, I’ll leave to your imagination, the likelihood of their thorough cleaning of the tub, after an otherwise unused tub, has had used towels/bedding/linens thrown in it.

 

[davidvel]

The shame of throwing the used towels/bedding/linens in the bathtub/jacuzzi, although, well intended, if the tub was not used, the presence of the used linens in the tub/jacuzzi should prompt a complete “clean” of the tub, which, for the jetted tubs, is a big/time-consuming deal.

For the resorts that have outsourced their villa-cleaning to an independent contractor, those teams are paid, based on production, and the number of villas that they turn. So, I’ll leave to your imagination, the likelihood of their thorough cleaning of the tub, after an otherwise unused tub, has had used towels/bedding/linens thrown in it.

How would they know if a tub is used or not?

 

[WBP]

How would they know if a tub is used or not?

The housekeepers would not know that. The presence of dirty linen in an otherwise unused tub, would commit the housekeeping staff to a time-consuming event, that could have potentially been avoided. A MVC Housekeeping Standard clean of a jetted tub takes close to an hour; some time during which the housekeepers can be performing other functions.

Hence, an otherwise unused tub, that has had dirty linen in it, becomes a time consuming endeavor for the housekeepers; precisely what MVC alleges to be avoiding (if you believe their rhetoric).

 

[ljmiii]

The housekeepers would not know that. The presence of dirty linen in an otherwise unused tub, would commit the housekeeping staff to a time-consuming event, that could have potentially been avoided. A MVC Housekeeping Standard clean of a jetted tub takes close to an hour; some time during which the housekeepers can be performing other functions.

Hence, an otherwise unused tub, that has had dirty linen in it, becomes a time consuming endeavor for the housekeepers; precisely what MVC alleges to be avoiding (if you believe their rhetoric).

Yeah...but running and cleaning a jetted tub once a week is a really good idea anyway. Actually a good idea for any tub/shower combo.

 

[claraj]

I tend to remember to turn on the dishwasher then find a tumbler I forgot to put in.

 

[rcdcowner557]

Yeah...but running and cleaning a jetted tub once a week is a really good idea anyway. Actually a good idea for any tub/shower combo.

I agree, but if the point is to save housekeepers time, I also see @WBP's point. This ties into a point discussed elsewhere on TUG - didn't I read somewhere that they were eliminating tubs somewhere as part of renovations?

Update: I found the thread - It is the "Newport Coast renovations" thread. Interesting discussion on both preferences for or against tubs as well as maintenance issues with tubs, but another data point in the ongoing battle for hotel operators in general to do whatever they can to cut costs wherever they can.

 

[davidvel]

The housekeepers would not know that. The presence of dirty linen in an otherwise unused tub, would commit the housekeeping staff to a time-consuming event, that could have potentially been avoided. A MVC Housekeeping Standard clean of a jetted tub takes close to an hour; some time during which the housekeepers can be performing other functions.

Hence, an otherwise unused tub, that has had dirty linen in it, becomes a time consuming endeavor for the housekeepers; precisely what MVC alleges to be avoiding (if you believe their rhetoric).

If they don't know whether it was used or not, wouldn't they have to clean it regardless? At Mountainside last week they said to leave all towels on the vanity.

 

[rcdcowner557]

If they don't know whether it was used or not, wouldn't they have to clean it regardless? At Mountainside last week they said to leave all towels on the vanity.

See post #12 in this thread: https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/newport-coast-renovations.372225/
Your own posts suggests that whether they "have to clean it regardless" is beside the point; I would tend to think that as a matter of practice, they probably do not.

 

[NboroGirl]

At Grand Chateau last week there was a letter next to the bed at check in listing all my new jobs

We were there last week and had one of those check-out instructions inside our villa too. Whichever MVC I'm staying at, I've always put the used towels in the bath tub or on the floor, taken out the trash and run the dishwasher, but the stripping-the-bed thing was new to me. Our friends had a much later flight so checked out after us. I told them I wasn't going to strip my bed. We left at 4 a.m. and I wasn't getting up earlier just to do that. I told them they didn't have to strip their beds, either. I don't know if they did or not.

 

[davidvel]

See post #12 in this thread: https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/newport-coast-renovations.372225/
Your own posts suggests that whether they "have to clean it regardless" is beside the point; I would tend to think that as a matter of practice, they probably do not.

I am not sure what you stating/replying to. I was responding to WBP who said that if towels are not put in a jet tub housekeeping would not have to clean it, despite acknowledging they have no way to know if it was used or not even without towels.

 

[WBP]

I am not sure what you stating/replying to. I was responding to WBP who said that if towels are not put in a jet tub housekeeping would not have to clean it, despite acknowledging they have no way to know if it was used or not even without towels.

Sadly, if the tub appears not to have been used, it is not routinely cleaned.

 

[Passepartout]

We have taken the bed sheets and pillow cases off for years in lieu of leaving a tip. I remember reading of that idea here on TUG. However, we usually just leave them piled up in the bedroom. We fold the comforter and leave it on the bed or on the dresser or chair, if available.

Trust me. They would consider this a slap in the face. Leave the beds made and leave a generous tip. Housekeepers deserve it.

 

[GrayFal]

We were there last week and had one of those check-out instructions inside our villa too. Whichever MVC I'm staying at, I've always put the used towels in the bath tub or on the floor, taken out the trash and run the dishwasher, but the stripping-the-bed thing was new to me. Our friends had a much later flight so checked out after us. I told them I wasn't going to strip my bed. We left at 4 a.m. and I wasn't getting up earlier just to do that. I told them they didn't have to strip their beds, either. I don't know if they did or not.

We also left at 4 am and left the linens on.
We did run the dishwasher and used linens were in a pile on the floor.
When I first started TSing in 2001, the “lesser” TS had check lists in the villas that guest had to do inventory when they checked in and out.
I always felt Marriott was a step above that.
Sigh

 

[mjm1]

Trust me. They would consider this a slap in the face. Leave the beds made and leave a generous tip. Housekeepers deserve it.

All well and good, but there are various ways to show one’s appreciation.

 

[davidvel]

Trust me. They would consider this a slap in the face. Leave the beds made and leave a generous tip. Housekeepers deserve it.

All well and good, but there are various ways to show one’s appreciation.

Not if you know the recipient won't consider it appreciation, but a slap in the face. That is not showing appreciation.