GEORGE TOWN: Expecting hotels to turn over rooms in an hour or two after guests have checked out and before the next one comes in is not practical, says the Malaysian Association of Hotels.
Its Penang chapter chairman Datuk Tony Goh (pic) said hotels would not be able to offer guests a stay at a full 23 hours, especially during peak periods.
“Some hotels have 100 to 200 rooms and during the peak season, they are 90% occupied every day. How will they turn over the rooms to the new guests in such a short period of time? It is not practical,” he said.
Goh said currently the check-in time for hotels in Penang is 3pm and check-out time is noon.
“If hotels change the timing to accommodate the 23-hour stay, guests will be standing there in the lobby waiting for their rooms by 2pm. With guests checking in and out at around the same time, there will not be enough time to clean up and do the needful.
“Things like these are easier said than done. There are countries where the check-in time is much later and check-out is earlier,” he added.
Hotels in Malaysia, said Goh, are generally flexible and during the non-peak period will allow guests who arrive early to even check in at 7am.
“During this period, if the room is available, we give it to them. Many places charge for early check-in because they are using the electricity and facilities, but we don’t do that.
“If we are not busy, we let them check out at 3pm with no additional charges as well,” he said, adding that it is better to let the hotels decide what works best for them.
“We always try to accommodate our guests.”
