## Professionalism in the Hospitality Industry: Knocking on Doors and Announcing Before Entering
Professionalism in Action
In the hospitality industry, it is common practice for staff to knock and announce themselves before entering a guest’s room. This is not limited to just the housekeeping staff but extends to all departments within a hotel.
Whether it’s room service, housekeeping, or management, adhering to this principle of professionalism is essential to show courtesy and respect to guests.
Even if it is known that a room is unoccupied, this practice helps prevent mistakes in room numbers or key cards, ensuring that guests are not accidentally led into an occupied room. It also gives individuals inside the room time to prepare should someone else be about to enter.
Staff are instructed to knock a minimum of 2–3 times and wait for a response before entering. This standard operating procedure is followed by employees of hotels and resorts worldwide, regardless of their star rating.
Some also believe that this practice is related to spiritual and feng shui considerations.
However, feng shui advice is generally considered subjective and not based on clear scientific evidence. Nevertheless, knocking before entering a room can provide peace of mind during your stay.
What About Larger Hotels?
In 4- and 5-star hotels worldwide, knocking, announcing, and waiting for a response before entering is mandatory. This practice demonstrates the hotel’s respect for guests and helps avoid potential misunderstandings.
For instance, during peak seasons, the booking system might assign the wrong room to the front desk, or the room key card could have the wrong number. The room might be undergoing cleaning, but housekeeping hasn’t updated the system yet. Or, a guest could be waiting temporarily for their ride. There are countless scenarios to consider, and this simple 3-second action of knocking and announcing can help prevent awkward situations.
Therefore, despite having information about an unoccupied room, hotels strictly maintain this professional protocol of knocking before entering. This helps uphold the hotel’s reputation and professionalism in the eyes of guests and the industry as a whole.
According to Sai Gon The Thao