Room Status overview. Definition of terms. Preventive measures.

1. Detecting Skippers and
Sleepers

2. Room Status Report
The Front Office and the Housekeeping Department
shall prepare at the same time, as frequent as needed by
management, their room status reports, which lists,
according to each department, the recent room status of
each room in the hotel.
All reports shall be cross-referenced and compared to
detect room status discrepancies and correct
them as soon as possible in order to
maximize room revenue, detect skippers
before it is too late.

3. Room status discrepancies must be resolved in a
timely manner since imbalances can lead to lost
business and cause confusion in the front office.
Errors in room status can lead to lost and
uncollectible room revenues and omissions in postings.
The front office must maintain current
and accurate room status information to
effectively determine the number and
types of rooms available for sale.

4. This error in procedure could prevent the room
from being rented until the error is discovered
and corrected.
The auditor must review front office and
housekeeping department reports to reconcile and
finalize the occupancy status of all rooms for a
given night.

5. Skipper
A room status term indicating that
the guest has left the hotel without
making arrangements to settle his or
her account.

6. Sleeper
A room status term indicating that the
guest has settled his or her account
and left the hotel, but the front office
staff has failed to properly update the
room’s status. The room is vacant, but
believed to be occupied.

7. Skip
The term used to refer to a hotel
guest who vacates a guest room
without paying the bill incurred for
its rental and for other charges
made to the room.

8. Sleep-Out
A room status term indicating that
the guest is registered to the room,
but the bed has not been used.

9. Walk-outs, Skippers or Runners
•The ‘accidentals’ - these are guests who simply forget to
pay, often their extra bills.
•‘Opportunists’-These guests check in with the intention of
paying their bill on departure, but when they realize that
they can get away with not paying their bill (or simply a
transaction that should have found itself on their bill.

10. • ‘Premeditators’. - These are guests who, from
the start, have the intention of leaving the hotel
without paying. Some of these guests go into
considerable lengths in order to avoid paying.

11. Situations…
If the housekeeping report indicates that a room is
vacant, but the front office believes it is occupied, the
auditor should search for an active room folio and
registration card. If the folio exists and has a current
outstanding balance, there are several possibilities:
A guest may have departed but forgotten to check out.
 A guest may be a skipper who left with no intention
of checking out.
 A front desk agent or cashier may not
have properly closed the folio at
check-out.

12. After verifying that the guest has left the hotel,
the night auditor should process the check-out
and set the folio aside for front office
management review and follow-up. If the folio
has been settled, the front office room status
system should be corrected to show that the
room is vacant. The night auditor should verify
the guest folio against the housekeeping and the
room status reports to ensure
that all three are consistent
and in balance.

13. To prevent Skippers:
Make sure you always ask guests to fill in
registration cards with all details upon check in.
Preauthorize guests credit cards included
deposit of a set amount.
 Never allow one to check in telling ' I will
pay tomorrow ..' train your staff and implement
good routines .
Always collect the personal credit
card at check in.

14. Collect the full balance at check in. Always
charge card on file for all non paid amounts.
If the guest does not have credit card or
deposit, simply activate a NO post on his account
to stop any room charges within the complex, the
trick is to post the room transaction before the
service is rendered, that is to protect all outlet's
revenue.
 It's so important to keep an eye on
high balance reports.

15. SCANTY BAGGAGE:
“Skippers”
This is made possible because the “Skipper”
comes with little luggage to avoid bringing the
attention of the bell boys to his secret checkout.
The bell boys have to be alert to notify the front
office about guests with scanty baggage so that a
necessary advance is taken from them
and a close watch is kept on them.