Handing consumer complaints in the competitive lodging industry can be difficult. Read on to learn more about the common consumer complaints & how to deal with them!

Overview:

Most people can recall an occasion when they had excellent customer service, and likewise, most people can recall an occasion when they did not. Unfortunately, customer-facing hospitality jobs inevitably involve dealing with e commerce consumer complaints. We can’t always prepare for the unknown, and things do go wrong occasionally, but in the fast-paced industry of hospitality and lodging, how we handle consumer complaints can have a big influence on our company, our clients, and our employees. We’re going to give our best tips in this article on how to handle consumer complaints in lodging industry.

Most Common Consumer Complaints In Lodging Industry

The saying “The customer is always right” may not always be true, but in today’s online environment, going over and above may be even more crucial. Before we explain how to handle angry guests at your establishment, you need to be aware of and familiar with the different kinds of consumer court complaints you could encounter:

• Customer Service Issues

Poor or unsatisfactory customer service is one of the most frequently reported consumer complaints in lodging industry. Your staff members must be courteous and well-trained, whether they are front desk managers, pool attendants, housekeepers, waiters, or fitness instructors. They must be able to comprehend the customer’s feelings and pay attention to them.

Sometimes it’s only a simple water supply problem in their bathroom. The first thing to do in this situation is to apologize to the guest and get the problem fixed right away. Take any such customer complaints seriously, whether or whether they are legitimate. Simply study the concerns with adequate help and understanding.

Assure your visitors that it won’t happen again and take all necessary steps to solve the issue. By doing this, you might prevent the unhappy hotel guest from filing a Consumer Complaints in lodging industry.

• Unclean Rooms

There is always a chance that rooms will be dusty or unclean owing to early check-ins, late checkouts by prior guests, or other similar causes, whether the hotel is a budget option or a five-star luxury place.

It’s likely that the bathroom lacks cleanliness, the washbasin is unclean, or there are hair strands in the tub or on the mattress. Even housekeeping occasionally makes the mistake of overlooking items left in the closet by former visitors. These could be a few of the issues that affect visitors to your hotel.

You might be asking yourself: What can I do to avoid this? It’s easy. The front desk manager must ask the visitors to wait until the room is cleaned. Train your housekeeping workers to be as hygienic as possible.

• Poor Food Quality

With millennials dominating the current generation, it is imperative to concentrate on the finest taste and expose them to the unique flavours they may have heard about in the past but are now much more eager to experience. We are all aware of how important food is to our daily lives. If there are any issues with the meal, speak to your chef. Ask your staff why it took so long to give the guests their food if it was served cold.

• Foul Smells

Your visitors didn’t come to your hotel for the musty rooms, for sure. Cleaning duties should be carried out twice daily, and sometimes more when necessary, to avoid such minor consumer complaints in lodging industry. Once the room has been cleaned, request that housekeeping check in with the guests.

Additionally, your staff can always ask them for feedback on the services received and if there is anything you can do to help. Training your hotel’s housekeeping team and cleaning crew will prevent scenarios like these from ever happening. When it comes to dealing with customers, hygiene must come first in the lodging industry.

5. Unfriendly Staff Behaviour

Regardless of how efficiently your hotel is run, there is a recurring issue that guests usually have with the staff. More frequently than not, guests may perceive your hotel employees as being hostile or rude while speaking with them.

It might be true, but even if it isn’t, instruct your employees to handle aggressive hotel guests with extreme courtesy and composure. Your primary responsibility is to respect your visitors, which will ultimately boost the worth of your brand. The best course of action in these circumstances is to kindly address consumer complaints in lodging industry and provide them with a satisfactory solution.

How To Deal With Consumer Complaints in Lodging Industry?

This was all about typical consumer complaints and how to handle them. But occasionally, things don’t turn out the way we hope they will. Furious guests are challenging to control for the hotel employees.

What should one do then? How should we respond to these consumer complaints? How do you handle such unhappy guests? When handling consumer complaints, the points listed below are crucial. Keep on reading more to find out for yourself.

1. Be compassionate and attentive as you listen.
2. If at all possible, isolate the visitor to prevent overhearing by other visitors.
3. Be composed. Avoid arguing with the visitor.
4. Try to use the guest’s name frequently and demonstrate a genuine interest in the issue.
5. Offer the guest your complete attention. Focus on the issue rather than shifting blame. NEVER insult the guest.
6. Make a note. If another party needs to be involved, writing down the important details will save time. Additionally, when visitors observe the front desk employee trying to write down the problem, they tend to slow down.
7. Inform the visitor of what can be done best. Provide options. Avoid making unreasonable promises and abusing your authority.
8. Decide on a rough deadline for finishing the necessary remedial measures. Be detailed, but do not undervalue the length of time needed to remedy the issue.
9. Track the corrective action’s progress.
10. Follow up. Contact the visitor to make sure the issue was satisfactorily fixed, even if the complaint was handled by someone else.

FAQs

How do I lodge a customer complaint?

Filing a customer complaint at a hotel is simple:
◉ Identify the issue: Clearly state what you are dissatisfied with or the problem you encountered during your stay.
◉ Contact the front desk: Reach out to the hotel's front desk, provide specific details, and request assistance or a resolution.
◉ Document the complaint: Keep a record of the complaint, noting the date, time, and person you spoke to.
◉ Escalate if needed: If the front desk doesn't address your concern adequately, ask to speak with a manager or supervisor.

What are some examples of consumer complaints?

Consumer complaints in hotels include:
◉ Poor Room Cleanliness: Dirty rooms, stained linens, or unsatisfactory housekeeping.
◉ Noise Disturbances: Excessive noise from neighbouring rooms, public areas, or outside sources.
◉ Inadequate Service: Slow response times, inattentive or rude staff.
◉ Maintenance Issues: Malfunctioning facilities or amenities, such as plumbing or air conditioning problems.
◉ Billing Discrepancies: Incorrect charges, double-billing, or unauthorized expenses on the hotel invoice.

What are the common complaints in hotel?

Common issues reported by hotel guests include:
◉ Room cleanliness and maintenance problems.
◉ Noise disturbances from neighbouring rooms or outside the hotel.
◉ Uncomfortable beds or bedding.
◉ Slow or unreliable Wi-Fi connection.
◉ Insufficient or malfunctioning amenities.
◉ Issues with air conditioning, heating, or ventilation systems.
◉ Unhelpful or unresponsive staff.
◉ Long waiting times for check-in or check-out.
◉ Problems with food quality or service in on-site restaurants.
◉ Inadequate security measures or concerns about personal safety.

How do hotels handle customer complaints?

Hotels handle customer complaints, by:
◉ Attentively listening to the guest's complaints to understand their concerns fully.
◉ Acknowledging the guest's frustration, showing understanding, and apologising for any inconvenience caused.
◉ Providing suitable solutions such as room changes, repairs, or complimentary services.
◉ Following up with the guest to ensure satisfaction and resolution

What are 7 techniques for handling customer complaints?

Here are seven techniques for handling consumer complaints in hotels:
◉ Listen attentively without interruption.
◉ Maintain composure and professionalism.
◉ Demonstrate understanding of the customer's feelings and concerns.
◉ Address the complaint promptly and avoid unnecessary delays.
◉ Offer tailored solutions that meet the customer's specific needs.
◉ Keep the customer informed of the progress and provide regular updates.
◉ Ensure the solution meets the customer's expectations and seek feedback for improvement.

What are 10 ways to handle customer complaints?

Here are 10 ways to handle consumer complaints in hotels:
◉ Listen attentively to understand the customer's concerns.
◉ Demonstrate understanding and acknowledge the client’s frustration.
◉ Apologize genuinely for any inconvenience caused.
◉ Ask relevant questions to gather additional details about the complaint.
◉ Offer suitable options promptly based on the customer's preferences.
◉ Keep the customer informed about the steps being taken to resolve the complaint and provide a timeframe for resolution.
◉ Ensure the staff handling the complaint are knowledgeable and empowered to address the issue.
◉ Check-in with the customer after the resolution to ensure satisfaction and offer further assistance if needed.
◉ Document the complaint and steps taken for future reference and improvement.
◉ Analyze complaints to identify recurring issues and implement preventive measures.

What are the 4 types of complaints?

◉ Product-related complaints
◉ Service-related complaints
◉ Billing-related complaints
◉ Policy-related complaints

What are the types of complaints?

Some common types of complaints include:
◉ Quality complaints
◉ Delivery complaints
◉ Customer service complaints:
◉ Pricing complaints
◉ Warranty or guarantee complaints

What are the five types of complaints?

Complaints can be classified into five main types, which include:
◉ Performance complaints
◉ Staff behaviour complaints
◉ Policy complaints
◉ Service complaints
◉ Billing complaints

What is complaints in housekeeping?

Complaints in housekeeping typically refer to guest grievances related to cleanliness, maintenance, or general housekeeping services in hotels.

Why do customers make complaints?

Customers make complaints due to dissatisfaction with product/service quality, unmet expectations, poor customer service, or billing/pricing issues.

What are common housekeeping complaints?

Some common housekeeping complaints include -
◉ Unclean rooms: Dust, dirt, or stains on surfaces, furniture, or linens.
◉ Inadequate bathroom cleanliness: Dirty toilets, sinks, showers, or mirrors.
◉ Insufficient amenities: Lack of towels, toiletries, or low-quality bedding.
◉ Housekeeping timing: Inconvenient or disruptive housekeeping services.
◉ Maintenance issues: Problems with room facilities or equipment.
◉ Noise disturbances: Housekeeping activities or noise from housekeeping carts disturbing guests' peace.
◉ Housekeeping staff behaviour: Unprofessional behaviour or rudeness from housekeeping staff.

Conclusion

You are aware that your hotel customers demand top-notch customer service and an enjoyable stay. But there will surely be a few glitches. However, if you are aware of the rules, you can always deal with them. This blog tried to present a clear picture of all the typical legal notice under consumer protection act in the lodging industry and how you can address them. However, if you still need some professional help in dealing with consumer complaints, Vakilsearch is here for you!