Checkout and Settlement
Checkout and Settlement
Check out and settlement are part of the final stages of the guest cycle.
It is the final phase of the guest cycle and examines the various activities involved in checkout and settlement.
Check out involves the front desk as also other departments such as housekeeping, bell desk, cashier’s desk, Point of sales etc. Main areas for a checkout are the belldesk and the cashier.
The FO performs at least 3 important functions during the checkout and settlement process.
• It resolves outstanding guest account balances. • It updates room status information • It creates guest history records.
Guest account settlement depends on effective FO accounting system that maintains accurate guest folios, verifies and authorizes a method of settlement and resolves discrepancies in account balances. Hotels find it most effective to settle a guest account while the guest is still in the hotel.
Guest can settle the bill by paying cash, charging the balance to a credit card, deferring payment to an approved direct billing entity or using a combination of payment methods.
Most hotels require a guest to specify during registration an eventual method of settlement. FO should verify or confirm guest credit card or direct billing information before he/she arrives at the desk for check out.
Pre settlement verification activities ensure that the hotel will be paid for accommodation and services.
DEPARTURE ACTIVITIES AT VARIOUS DESKS:
1) At the Bell Desk:
During checkout a luggage outpass has to be obtained from the cashier stating that the guest has settled his account and returned the room key. Once this is received a departure errand card is made and filled out by the bell boy and will got to the guest room to bring down the luggage.
The bell captain will also make an entry regarding this in the bell captain’s control sheet.
On reaching the guest room the bell boy will announce himself, knock on the door enter the room on
Check out and settlement are part of the final stages of the guest cycle.
It is the final phase of the guest cycle and examines the various activities involved in checkout and settlement.
Check out involves the front desk as also other departments such as housekeeping, bell desk, cashier’s desk, Point of sales etc. Main areas for a checkout are the belldesk and the cashier.
The FO performs at least 3 important functions during the checkout and settlement process.
• It resolves outstanding guest account balances. • It updates room status information • It creates guest history records.
Guest account settlement depends on effective FO accounting system that maintains accurate guest folios, verifies and authorizes a method of settlement and resolves discrepancies in account balances. Hotels find it most effective to settle a guest account while the guest is still in the hotel.
Guest can settle the bill by paying cash, charging the balance to a credit card, deferring payment to an approved direct billing entity or using a combination of payment methods.
Most hotels require a guest to specify during registration an eventual method of settlement. FO should verify or confirm guest credit card or direct billing information before he/she arrives at the desk for check out.
Pre settlement verification activities ensure that the hotel will be paid for accommodation and services.
DEPARTURE ACTIVITIES AT VARIOUS DESKS:
1) At the Bell Desk:
During checkout a luggage outpass has to be obtained from the cashier stating that the guest has settled his account and returned the room key. Once this is received a departure errand card is made and filled out by the bell boy and will got to the guest room to bring down the luggage.
The bell captain will also make an entry regarding this in the bell captain’s control sheet.
On reaching the guest room the bell boy will announce himself, knock on the door enter the room on