Overbooking In The Hotel Case Study

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Overbooking Rooms in the Hotel Industry If one were to ponder the question of whether hotels should overbook their rooms the answer may appear to be quite simple. Why would a hotel owner want to book more reservations for rooms than they actually had available? This is an issue that has faced the hotel industry for a number of years. Contrary to what the average person may think about hotels overbooking their rooms, it has actually shown itself to be a noble strategy in achieving maximum profitability when done accurately. It is imperative that it is done in an appropriate manner so as to not give the hotel a corrupt name or lead to guest dissatisfaction.
Having a knowledge about overbooking and what impacts it can have on a hotel are key …show more content…

The hope is to have all the rooms on the property occupied on any given night; due to the fact of no-shows and cancellations hotels may decide to overbook. Though hotel overbooking can offer success to a vast array of hotels, it is clear that there are also some disadvantages that could spawn from it. In his article, “The Impact of Overbooking on Hotels’ Operation Management,” Vladimir Sashov Zhechev notes some of the possible consequences that could result from overbooking when all of the guests do actually show up that had a reservation. For example, if a customer has made a reservation at a certain hotel and arrives there only to discover that their room has been given to another guest who also had a reservation, it is only logical that the guest is going to be quite irate. It is now the duty of the hotel to arrange for that customer to have alternate lodging accommodations, as well as provide transportation for them to get to their other destination (Zhechev et. al Ivanov 7). Additionally, the hotel may offer the guest a free night on their stay or their next stay due to the complications they have just experienced. This now has ended up costing the hotel money that it will have to take as a

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