SAN DIEGO—Are removing “Do Not Disturb” signs and requiring staff to enter guestrooms once a day intrusive or an extension of good service? Recent news reports that three Disneyland hotels have removed “Do Not Disturb” signs and are mandating once-daily staff visits to guestrooms in the wake of 2017's Las Vegas massacre prompted us to reach out to RAR Hospitality's CEO Bob Rauch to discuss this practice and whether it's a good or bad move for the hotel industry.
GlobeSt.com: Do you agree with Disney's recently reported new policy in some hotels of doing away with “Do Not Disturb” signs and requiring staff to visit each guestroom at least once per day?
Rauch: No, they should not do away with the do not disturb sign; however, they should require staff to visit each guestroom at least once per day to ensure guests are both safe and not doing anything illegal.
GlobeSt.com: How do you view the battle between hotel security and privacy in light of 2017's Las Vegas massacre?
Rauch: Hotel security has always been a priority, from my perspective. Privacy is the reason DND signs were created. When there is a reason (this can be anything from an employee seeing something or an unusual odor or any reason an employee deems appropriate), then a management person should enter the room.
GlobeSt.com: How should hotels approach these two seemingly at-odds issues in order to provide the best service for guests?
Rauch: Provide DND signs, but require employees to monitor these signs so that when a sign has been up for 24 hours, the hotel has both a right and a duty to provide a welfare check.
GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about this topic?
Rauch: This topic became hot after the Las Vegas massacre but has been around for decades. There is no reason to allow a guest to occupy a room without the hotel having the ability to check on the welfare of its guests as well as the safety of employees, other guests and the property.
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Carrie Rossenfeld
Carrie Rossenfeld is a reporter for the San Diego and Orange County markets on GlobeSt.com and a contributor to Real Estate Forum. She was a trade-magazine and newsletter editor in New York City before moving to Southern California to become a freelance writer and editor for magazines, books and websites. Rossenfeld has written extensively on topics including commercial real estate, running a medical practice, intellectual-property licensing and giftware. She has edited books about profiting from real estate and has ghostwritten a book about starting a home-based business.
