Question 1

What’s a typical rooms-per-attendant target?

Accepted Answer

It depends on service level, room sizes, layout, elevator speeds, and the mix of check-outs vs. stayovers. As a broad guide: Economy hotels often target ~14–18 rooms per 7.5–8h shift on days with few check-outs; on heavy check-out days the range can drop to ~10–14. Midscale properties sit around ~12–16 depending on product and layout. Upscale properties frequently target ~10–14 on normal days and ~8–12 on heavy check-out days due to higher standards and added tasks. The best approach is to track actual minutes per task weekly, compute hours per shift, review outliers (very dirty rooms, long walks), and then adjust your assumptions and presets monthly. Use this planner as a calibrated starting point rather than a hard rule.

Question 2

Should arrivals be cleaned?

Accepted Answer

Policies vary. Cleaning arrivals can guarantee a fully reset room if there has been a long vacancy or if your brand mandates an arrivals check. Many hotels rely on the prior check-out clean and only do a light inspection on arrival days. Consider occupancy, check-in promises, and QA standards. If you have short gaps between departures and arrivals and strong check-out quality control, toggling arrivals clean off (and keeping a small inspection minute value) often saves time without affecting guest experience.

Question 3

How should I set buffer%?

Accepted Answer

Your buffer covers real-world friction: late check-outs, long walks, elevator waits, linen logistics, guest interactions, minor maintenance, and training. 5–8% works for lean, predictable operations; ~10% is a reasonable starting point for midscale; 12–20% can be appropriate on compression days, during peak season, or when you’re onboarding new staff. Review variance between plan vs. actual weekly and tune your buffer accordingly.

Question 4

How to plan AM vs PM?

Accepted Answer

A common operating rhythm is to prioritize check-outs in the AM so rooms are turned for early check-ins, and push stayovers and public areas to PM. This planner shows a 70/30 AM/PM split as a planning heuristic—you can deviate by day: e.g., 60/40 on weekdays and 80/20 on Sundays if you see a heavy check-out pattern. Always align with your front-office check-in peaks and your team’s break patterns.

Question 5

What are AM and PM hours?

Accepted Answer

They are suggested allocations of the day’s total housekeeping hours to morning (AM) and afternoon/evening (PM) shifts. The default 70/30 split reflects the reality that check-outs are prioritized in the morning to free rooms for early arrivals, while stayovers and public areas fit naturally in the afternoon. This split is a guide only—it does not change the total hours or attendants required calculation. Use it to pre-assign tasks by shift, then adjust based on your property’s patterns, union rules, and seasonal demand.

Housekeeping Staffing & Shift Planner

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