Now optional at the Sheraton Maui – maid service?

by Janice Hough on June 17, 2009

Most travelers are grudgingly getting used to the “a la carte” or “unbundled” flying experience. But hotels, while they often charge for Internet service, parking, and spa use, tend to still be reasonably inclusive for the basics.

Of course, some hotels, even non-resorts, have the dreaded “resort fees,” and as a recent Tripso.com column noted, in-room coffee is no longer always a freebie.

But the Sheraton Maui has added a new wrinkle to all this. And it has to do with wrinkled sheets.

A client who recently stayed at the Sheraton Maui received a card in their room. If they opted out of maid service for one day, they would receive a $25 credit on their room towards dinner during their stay. Since Hawaii resort dining prices are not inexpensive, they took advantage of the offer.

An employee at the Sheraton confirmed the offer by phone, and stressed that is optional.

Personally, in spite of or maybe because my own housekeeping skills are barely above nonexistent, I like coming back to a freshly made-up room, as it adds to the vacation experience. But I can see why others would like the option.

The potentially more interesting question, however, is: Will this sort of offer go the way of others in the travel industry, and become a standard?

I still remember, for example, when online check-in resulted in bonus miles, and now not only is there no bonus, but on some airlines you pay more for luggage if you don’t check-in on line.

It’s perhaps not that far-fetched that hotels could start offering discount rates with cleaning only at the beginning and end of a stay, with additional service optional. (Many rental condominiums already have such a policy.)

And in a tough economy, hotels are struggling along with the airlines, so it’s understandable that they would be looking at various cost saving measures. In this case, the offer both saves employee time, and potentially steers business to the hotel restaurants.

But I wonder — will we look back in years to come, and see this maid-service-option offer as one of the first steps down a slippery, or rather, messy slope?

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Tagged as: a la carte travel pricing, optional maid service, Sheraton Maui, unbundled travel

  • Joe

    I love this idea. As an environmentalist, I always follow a hotel’s instructions about how to arrange the towels if I don’t want a fresh set every day. I even print my own card, written in English and Spanish, to this effect. But no matter what I do, the towels are replaced every day, and gallons upon gallons of water are wasted. With this new Sheraton policy, it is entirely under my control. I don’t like the à la carte pricing on airlines at all, but this new hotel policy is a superb idea.

  • Lee Paulson

    I think it’s a great idea. I am not very messy; I don’t carry a lot when I travel; and I’m not so dirty that the sheets and towels need to be fooled around with daily.

    BUT–I only think it’s a great idea if I get a reduced rate, NOT if it becomes the standard where you pay extra for it.

  • Ed F London

    I can really get into this idea. In fact, if I’m staying for only 2, 3, maybe even 4 nights, I often advise the front desk that no maid service is needed or I’ll put a note in the card key slot saying “no housekeepping needed today. Thanks.”

    I mean, how many times do I get clean sheets and fresh towels at home? Well, actually, once a week, and I think once a week is enough.

    For me, it’s about labour costs (helps keep them down), the environment (less laundry – especially in those places that not only maket he beds but change the sheets, which is still the norm), and privacy (I don’t have to stash my underwear inside my suitcase and zip the lid).

    And I do all that without the $25 bonus. Bring it on.

  • mike kerry

    At least you get a reward for the lack of service, now at so many high end hotels if you don’t put the card on the bed or some other action they don’t change the sheets and you don’t get any reward other than helping the hotel save the environment and grow local hotel profits.

  • Dave

    Had a similar deal at a Sheraton in Seattle in March. $5 cafe credit or 500 (or maybe 1000; don’t remember) points. Made my own bed like mom taught me to years ago. Took the points.

  • http://go4thebest.biz Ivy Istok

    will we look back in years to come, and see this maid-service-option offer as one of the first steps down a slippery, or rather, messy slope?

    ps: Both

  • Henry

    If I am staying at a 4* or 5* hotel, I expect service at that level – no questions asked.

    I don’t mind having sheets changed every other or every third day (depending), and it does bother me when i put a gently/lightly used towel back on the towel rack and it’s changed. That is unnecessary and wasteful. But i do want my hotel room throughly and professionally cleaned — vacuumed, tidied up, etc. — especially when I am on holiday. Vacation is about escaping the every day, not about doing the same thing in a different time zone.

    If this is the direction this hotel is taking, perhaps it should change to the Four Points brand, which is 3*. It makes me question what other shortcuts the hotel is taking that will negatively affect my stay and experience. I am planning a trip to Hawaii in August, and this article has turned me off from even considering this property.

  • Shannon

    No amount of hotel botox can fix THIS Sheraton Maui wrinkle! A family went to this resort a few weeks ago and found a notice in their room that they could get a 20% discount off of dinner in the hotel restaurant if they called housekeeping before noon to have their maid service stopped for the day. The stipulation was that the reservation had to be made to dine before 6:30 which seemed reasonable. So they canceled their housekeeping service before noon and immediately called the restaurant to make reservations to dine that evening before 6:30pm. They were told that they were fully booked until 7pm and the family thought it understandable because the 20% off would be a great perk for all of the guests of the hotel. They made a reservation for 7pm instead and went down at 6 to sit in the bar for cocktails before their reservation. The restaurant had one table of 4 people in it and no one else!! What is this hotel trying to prove? Did they think that everyone would call housekeeping to cancel their service, saving the hotel money in wages without making a reservation for dinner at 20% off at the same time? I can never send anyone there again as this is the icing on the cake for this chain.

  • kiki d

    i actually like this idea. i have never been comfortable with strangers in my room when i’m not there, so i get to tell them to keep out, do my small part for the environment and get incentives. to me, it’s win-win, and the more things hotels are willing to pay me to opt out of (generally, i’m only there to sleep anyway), i’m all over that.

  • Amy

    It’s usually either just me or one additional person in a room when I travel, so I don’t need daily housekeeping service. I am okay with this deal, and I would definitely take advantage of it. I think every three days is perfect for service. I usually stay at the Ritz Carlton or somewhere else in the marriott family. However, if the hotel was a bit grungier or the beds older, I might not pass on the service since I would find the needs to change the sheets and avoid potential bugs more important.

  • occasional traveler

    This explains a lot. We stayed at the Sheraton Maui during the Christmas holidays and on most days, we were lucky to get a housekeeper before 6 pm. Which meant that after a day of sun and fun on the beach, we had to sit around in our swimsuits while we waited for the housekeeping to provide fresh towels and clean up the sand in our bathroom from the day before. (We’ve got a toddler so unfortunately we are pretty messy.) I personally think the Sheraton Maui hotel management totally cut their housekeeping staff and rather than deal wih complaints about slow service, provide a discount for opting out of housekeeping altogether. At least I give them credit for providing a credit to opt out, rather than making you pay extra for “daily housekeeping.”

  • http://www.sheraton-maui.com Jocelyn Elfstrom

    Aloha Janice –

    Thank you for this post regarding the “You Tidy, We Treat” program offered at our resort, the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa.

    Natural resources are limited throughout the world, and on a small island the vulnerability of our eco-system becomes even clearer. While brainstorming creative options to preserve the natural resources of Maui, we created the “You Tidy, We Treat” program. Our intent was to provide a significant reward to those guests choosing to assist with our green efforts throughout the resort.

    As mentioned in your post, the program is completely optional, and is provided as a service to our guests and to our island environment.

    For more information on the program and other green initiatives at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa please visit our website, http://www.sheraton-maui.com/green.htm

    Jocelyn
    Public Relations Manager
    Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa

  • The man who notices things

    So, what if you want clean towels – can you get them WITHOUT maid service? After a couple of days of salt and sand perhaps I want towels- can I bring the old ones somewhere or do I just grab the pool towels to save the money and pile those up in the room until I check out?

    Lord knows the bedspread has not been cleaned since the hotel opened. . .

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