Please, do not disturb

Hotels need to get their check-in routines right. Skip the fuss, chatter and concern, and get the guest to their room ASAP

- SEEMA GOSWAMI

No matter how basic or fancy the hotel you stay at, the odds are that you will interact with the staff the most on two occasions. One, when you check in; and two, when you check out. Other than that, most guests have minimal interaction with hotel staff these days. The key cards are electronic so you don't need to go to reception to pick up your key. Housekeeping cleans the room when you are out and about. And so on.

Which is why it is imperative that hotels get their check in and check out routines just right. You would think that would be easy. But you would be surprised at how many of them fail the test. Well, in my book, at least.

Let's just deal with the check-in experience this week. We will talk about check-out routines another week.