Tourism Minister Urges Hotels To Implement 2PM Check-In & 1PM Check-Out Times
He said 23-hour hotel stays are common overseas.
Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has urged hotel operators to adjust their check-in and check-out times to ensure that guests enjoy a minimum of 23 hours per stay
In a statement on Facebook, Tiong said he personally expressed his stance on the matter during a meeting with representatives from several hotel industry associations in parliament on 17 October.
However, he acknowledged the concerns of hotel operators about extending the length of stay, particularly the shortage of staff, which in turn lengthens the cleaning and room preparation process.
"I promise to personally liaise with the Human Resources Ministry and the Home Affairs Ministry to help address the issue of staff shortages to meet the need of customer stay times," he said.
Image via Bernama/New Straits Times
Tiong said 23-hour hotel stays are common overseas, with guests checking in at 2pm and checking out at noon or 1pm the next day
"This is a normal practice and does not compromise the cleanliness or quality of accommodation," he said.
He pointed out that while hoteliers may want to save cost and make more profit by keeping stays short and hiring fewer staff, this issue should not be about industry profits alone.
"Customers also want to feel that the money they spend is worth the service they receive. If not, they will have an unsatisfactory experience, reflecting that the hotel prioritises profits over quality of service," Tiong said.
He advised hotel operators to prioritise customer satisfaction, so that hotels may see profits increase twofold in the long run.
Tiong added that he would negotiate with the relevant ministries to facilitate the hiring of foreign workers to address the issue of staff shortages
He said the hotel industry currently does not enjoy priority when applying for foreign workers, and will work out a solution to help hoteliers hire foreign workers directly without intermediaries.
Tiong also said he will instruct the National Academy of Arts, Culture, and Heritage under his ministry to establish a course to provide hotel room cleaning and preparation training, granting employees certificates upon completion.
"This will help improve service quality and work efficiency in hotels and enhance the professional image of Malaysian tourism," he said.
Tiong's comments come after some local hotels were called out for implementing late check-in and early check-out times last month:
In response to the controversy, Sunway Hotels & Resorts offered longer stays on weekdays in October:
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