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Hotels turn to robots and room cleanings every 4 days to ease staffing shortages

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141–150 of 521 posts

Re: Hotels turn to robots and room cleanings every 4 days to ease staffing shortages

#141

Worlds smallest violin plays. A few years back, hotel workers were complaining that hotels were adding more linens to beds such as bed ruffles, to add "luxury", and expecting workers to do the same number of beds per hour. Now it's payback time.

Did that actually happen, or was that the headline of a breitbart article that you didn't read?

See this CAL-OSHA complaint.[1]

"During the past decade, hotel operators have increasingly competed on the basis of the level of luxury of their room offerings. This includes luxury bedding consisting of oversize mattresses and opulent bed linen, together with other upgraded room and bathroom amenities. One industry observer has aptly described the competition to introduce more luxurious beds and room amenities as the "bed-race." The trend started in the late nineties when Starwood Hotel Corporation introduced the "Heavenly Bed" at its Westin-branded properties. Other companies followed suit with their own luxury bedding programs: Hyatt the "Grand Bed," Marriott the "Marriott Bed," Radisson the "Sleep Number Bed," Hilton the "Serenity Collection," and others. Although first confined to upper-end hotels, the new bedding and room packages are now commonplace throughout the hotel industry. The new bedding packages are characterized by heavy, plush mattresses weighing in excess of 100 pounds. They typically feature a bulky "duvet" or quilted comforter, triple sheeting using flat (instead of a fitted) bottom sheet, up to six pillows on a bed, pillow cases that fit tightly over plump pillows, and other amenities such as decorative pillows and blankets. Major players in California's hotel and lodging industry have acknowledged the hazards that the new bedding packages pose to housekeepers..."

[1] https://www.dir.ca.gov/oshsb/documents/Hotel-Housekeeping-Mu...

Re: Hotels turn to robots and room cleanings every 4 days to ease staffing shortages

#142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is likely true. I just read a report that said that the shortage highly correlates with the reduction of immigrants due to COVID and the tightening of immigration into the US. It may not be the only factor, but it is one that contributes to the shortage of service workers. Like it or not, new immigrants are more likely to take jobs that pay less as compared to non-immigrants.

Another way of saying this is that immigration inhibits wage growth.

I would suggest a read of The Effect of Low-Skill Immigration Restrictions on US Firms and Workers: Evidence from a Randomized Lottery - https://www.nber.org/papers/w30589 and reconsider that position.

Re: Hotels turn to robots and room cleanings every 4 days to ease staffing shortages

#143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Marriage, land ownership, religion, tradition, real communities, family is still nominally there but there's little left of it. Curious about where you live and where you grew up? I ask because none of these rings true for me. Many of my friends have bought homes and started families, along the way, they’ve created their own traditions, and are part of communities where they know their neighbors. And this isn’t in…

Obviously there are plenty of individuals where this isn't the case (and there are plenty of people working hard) but the discussion is about the movement of the group and this does appear to be where things are going on both sides.

Where exactly is this movement you're seeing? I'm seeing a lot of speculation with no actual facts or data to back it up.

Re: Hotels turn to robots and room cleanings every 4 days to ease staffing shortages

#144
post #2

In some Las Vegas hotels I no longer need to stop at a counter or stand in a line and it’s 1000x better experience. I can walk directly to my room and scan my phone. I can scan my phone for parking. I can grab extra keys at a kiosk, if I need them. I never have to talk to anyone, if I don’t want to. I also select the option not to have my room cleaned each day. I’ll ask someone in the hall for towels if I stay long e…

Where does this leave people who do not want to use their phones for literally everything?

I do not want a lot of apps on my phone, and I do not want to install something just for one trip.

Re: Hotels turn to robots and room cleanings every 4 days to ease staffing shortages

#145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is likely true. I just read a report that said that the shortage highly correlates with the reduction of immigrants due to COVID and the tightening of immigration into the US. It may not be the only factor, but it is one that contributes to the shortage of service workers. Like it or not, new immigrants are more likely to take jobs that pay less as compared to non-immigrants.

Another way of saying this is that immigration inhibits wage growth.

Another way to say that cheap hotels are a thing of the past.

Re: Hotels turn to robots and room cleanings every 4 days to ease staffing shortages

#146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is likely true. I just read a report that said that the shortage highly correlates with the reduction of immigrants due to COVID and the tightening of immigration into the US. It may not be the only factor, but it is one that contributes to the shortage of service workers. Like it or not, new immigrants are more likely to take jobs that pay less as compared to non-immigrants.

Another way of saying this is that immigration inhibits wage growth.

You can also say that tight immigration leads to automation. Companies will do their best to find ways to reduce costs and increase profits. So limiting immigration will not necessarily lead to wage growth.

Also, the employee shortage will only get worse as the number of older american increases and number of working age employees shrinks. If it's bad now, it's only going to get worse as time passes.

Re: Hotels turn to robots and room cleanings every 4 days to ease staffing shortages

#147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After the Las Vegas massacre, a lot of hotels will enter even if house keeping is always declined. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/las-vegas-shooting-hotels-revis...

Especially since the hotel and the hotel’s insurers ended up paying $800M: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/las-vegas-shooting-settlement-m... > Jim Frantz, whose San Diego-based law firm represents another 199 victims including Romo, said Thursday's settlement is a good first step. Now MGM must strengthen the security protocol at all their facilities, he said. >"I would assume a responsible business, after going through…

I wonder if the lawyer is really that stupid or just puts on a good act to help sell this nonsense. Requiring security at the hotel is as dumb as requiring security at the high rise condos just down the street (they don’t and nobody would buy them if they did).

Re: Hotels turn to robots and room cleanings every 4 days to ease staffing shortages

#148
post #2

In some Las Vegas hotels I no longer need to stop at a counter or stand in a line and it’s 1000x better experience. I can walk directly to my room and scan my phone. I can scan my phone for parking. I can grab extra keys at a kiosk, if I need them. I never have to talk to anyone, if I don’t want to. I also select the option not to have my room cleaned each day. I’ll ask someone in the hall for towels if I stay long e…

Where does this leave people who do not want to use their phones for literally everything? I do not want a lot of apps on my phone, and I do not want to install something just for one trip.

I have stayed at multiple hotels where a machine hands out key cards or numeric access codes when you enter your name and date of birth.

When you leave you just throw the key card into a box or feed it back into the machine.

No smartphone necessary.

Re: Hotels turn to robots and room cleanings every 4 days to ease staffing shortages

#149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Europe it's not uncommon (or at least, it isn't unheard of) to need to bring your own bed sheets and towels from home.

Source? Because that's definitely not unheard of let alone common. In fact, as a European I've literally not heard something like that.

Only time I had to bring my own bedlinen was in a youth hostel. For some hotels I've stayed in though, it would have been a good idea.

Re: Hotels turn to robots and room cleanings every 4 days to ease staffing shortages

#150
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Hotels have raised hourly wages by 25% since early 2020, and employers are offering greater flexibility in scheduling. Still, workers are nowhere to be seen. I dunno, my pay sure hasn't gone up by 25% in the past 2 years.

The rate it’s gone up is a red herring. If people don’t want to take the job at the posted rate then they are underpaying. Instead of comparing if your pay has gone up 25%, ask if you’d rather take one of those jobs than yours. Because apparently that’s an option if you want. There are almost certainly miserable working conditions, bad hours, and still an overall low wage. If people are able to find better jobs, then…

Megacorps is a red herring and emotional appeal. The same applies just as much to small businesses in the same industries.
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