Hotel Logistics is a complex process. Whether opening or remodeling on a local, regional, national, or international scale, hotels depend heavily on efficient logistics management to ensure their guests’ satisfaction.
Efficient logistics planning also saves costs. For example, storing materials in a warehouse ahead of construction delays is cheaper than paying to store them at the hotel site.
Hotel inventory management involves tracking, storing, and delivering the supplies and amenities that make guests comfortable during their stays. This includes managing room inventories, food and beverage inventory, spa and wellness supplies, meeting space inventory, recreational facilities, and technology infrastructure like POS systems and network devices. Efficient management of these diverse inventories improves operations, enhances guest experiences, and optimizes revenue streams.
Price is perhaps the most dynamic element of hotel inventory management, with hotels pushing up prices during high demand periods to maximize occupancy and push down prices in low demand periods to attract business. However, this requires the hotel to accurately predict demand and supply in order to balance costs with profit goals. This is why the hotel must understand what it really costs to operate each room in the hotel, and then determine how much they need to sell each room to cover fixed and variable costs.
Tracking and maintaining inventory across all departments is a complex process, especially in the case of consumables like linens, towels, and other housekeeping supplies. Having accurate records of each department’s reorder points allows the hotel to maintain optimal stock levels without overstocking. It also helps to reduce waste by minimizing product discarding. Using a barcoding or RFID solution helps streamline this process, as does having an automated system that updates inventory levels in real-time.
Moreover, optimizing inventory turnover is crucial in hotel logistics, as it ensures that supplies are used effectively and do not sit idle for long periods. This can be achieved by implementing ABC analysis to categorize supplies based on usage and value, and then adjusting ordering quantities based on these trends. Using just-in-time inventory practices helps to further minimize storage and transportation costs, and also ensures that supplies are always fresh and ready for use.
Partnering with a hospitality logistics provider that has expertise in the hotel industry allows hoteliers to save on shipping and storage costs, while still being able to provide their guests with excellent customer service. Additionally, working with a logistics provider can give the hotel access to industry insights and best practices that help them stay competitive.
Lost & Found Items
Handling lost and found items is an important aspect of hotel logistics management. This can have a significant impact on guest satisfaction, especially for those who lose valuable items such as smartphones or wallets. A clear process for reuniting guests with their belongings can minimize customer frustration and boost loyalty. A specialized service like Deliverback helps hotels streamline this process, ensuring that forgotten items are returned promptly and efficiently.
Hotel staff members should always record every item that they find in a specific lost and found log or database. This should include the item’s description, where it was found, and who documented it. This can help identify the owner of the item and prevent accusations of theft or other claims. The hotel should also store all found items in a safe, designated area to protect them from damage and theft. In addition, a process should be in place to notify the guest of the found item if they are still staying at the property or have already checked out.
In order to reduce loss, hotels should also establish a procedure for disposing of unclaimed items after a set period of time. This can help to avoid liability issues and ensure that the hotel’s policies are adhered to.
When a guest reports a lost item, the hotel should use an automated process that will match the item with recently reported ones. This can significantly reduce the time needed for reuniting the guest with their belongings and boost efficiency throughout the hotel’s operations. In addition, a follow-up email or phone call can build a good rapport with the guest and reinforce the hotel’s commitment to excellent customer service.
Lost and found items can be costly for hotels if not properly managed. Insufficient processes can lead to guest frustration, which can negatively affect the hotel’s reputation and lead to negative reviews. By implementing a lost and found system that is integrated with the hotel’s reservation platform, hotels can improve operational efficiency, increase revenue, and enhance customer trust and loyalty.
Third-Party Logistics
All those soaps, shampoos and other goodies that make your hotel stay more enjoyable didn’t magically appear in front of each guest. These items were more than likely shipped in from a distributor, kitted and stored on site. For this reason, hospitality services need expert logistics and transportation management. Working with a trusted third-party logistics (3PL) provider can be a lifesaver for businesses in this industry.
3PLs provide a variety of logistical solutions for hotels, including helping to manage renovation projects. They can coordinate furniture and materials deliveries, ensuring everything arrives at the right time. They can also bundle items together into kits, making it easier for hotel staff to track inventory and know what needs reordering. Kitting can also help reduce packaging waste.
Additionally, 3PLs can handle the printing of marketing materials like brochures, VIP welcome kits and other promotions. This ensures these materials are always of the highest quality and on brand, allowing hotel staff to focus on hospitality services, where they excel.
Hospitality is one of the industries where 3PLs have seen the biggest growth. They have proven to be a valuable resource for businesses looking to improve their operational efficiency and reduce costs. Working with a 3PL can also be more flexible than maintaining an in-house logistics department, making it easier to scale up during busy periods or when expanding into new markets. This flexibility is beneficial for both large and small businesses, regardless of the industry.
Efficient Planning
Hotel logistics encompasses every aspect of managing a hospitality business’ supply chain, including inventory management, supplier coordination, and maintenance logistics. It’s critical to have a strong network of reliable suppliers who can meet high quality standards and adhere to tight deadlines. In addition, hotels must manage seasonal demand changes, which requires a flexible and adaptable supply chain.
Whether it’s a hotel construction project or a renovation, it takes time to order furniture, fixtures, and equipment (or FF&E), oversee delivery, and schedule installation. Often, this process involves an in-house team working directly with the procurement company and a third-party logistics partner.
A good hospitality logistics partner can save a great deal of time by handling the entire procurement and transportation process, which includes warehousing. Many companies skip warehousing to avoid the added cost, but it’s actually one of the best things you can do for your budget. Warehouses act as a safety net in case construction delays occur during the building process. Without a warehousing solution, the hotel would have to pay for last-minute storage at a premium or risk losing materials while they’re sitting in a construction site where they’re vulnerable to damage.
Hospitality logistics also includes maintaining an efficient inventory system that’s easy to navigate. This requires a detailed and precise plan that addresses every element of the supply chain, from forecasting demand to coordinating deliveries. A well-organized inventory system can prevent stockouts and ensure that guests have a seamless stay, even during peak seasons.
A dependable logistics partner can help streamline operations and improve performance. Look for a service provider with a dedicated account manager who can provide customized solutions for your business. This person can provide the right mix of inventory storage and transport services, based on your unique needs. They can also negotiate with carriers to reduce transportation costs and optimize routes, saving you money on shipping. Additionally, they can help you manage any recalls or warranty claims quickly and efficiently. In short, a logistics partner can save you both time and money while helping you deliver a better experience for your guests.