Hotel Front Office Management, 3rd Edition

192 CHAPTER 7: GUEST REGISTRATIONFigure 7-2. This room is equipped with such amenities as a computer and in-room fax tofacilitate the business guest’s stay. (Photo courtesy of Westin Hotels and Resorts.)SPECIAL NEEDSGuests often request rooms designed and furnished with equipment to meet specialneeds. Rooms equipped for the hearing-impaired and guests in wheelchairs are very common.Advances in hotel marketing, building design and construction, and electronic safetyfeatures allow the guest with a physical disability to enjoy the facilities of the hotel. Hotelowners who maintain aggressive marketing and sales departments realize the growingnumber of active people in the labor force who are physically challenged and who travel.Legislation may also constitute an impetus to provide accommodations for the physicallychallenged. Ramps, specially designed bathroom facilities, and electronic visual devicesthat alert the hearing-impaired to fire danger can be located on the lower floors of a hotel.Smoking and nonsmoking guest rooms are also frequently requested by guests.AVAILABILITYImmediate availability is of great concern to most guests. Usually the traveler has spentmany hours in transit and wants to unload luggage, freshen up, and move on to otheractivities. For other guests, registration is the last stop before collapsing from a wearyingday of travel and activity. The guest is very vulnerable at this time, often willing to accepta room with a higher rate that meets his or her immediate needs. Nevertheless, the frontTLFeBOOK