The high cost of laundry

[Guest]

Not sure it is fair to say that the industry pays poorly overall. Certainly as much and in most cases more than other service jobs. And a US $ 25 hotel room wouldn't get you a flea trap in most of the world, but in LOS, China, and elsewhere, it is a normal price for a 3* hotel.

 

Since many clients look only at the room price, and it is highly competive, the add-ons are where a hotel either makes it or breaks it profit wise.

 

While the good old days of customer sevice, personal attention, and perks such as free or cheap laundry are pretty much over, and have been replaced by a leaner, meaner model, run primarily by the beancounters in the basement.

 

This is true throughout the service industry be it hotels, airlines, or any other field. Consumers demand lower prices, cheaper flights and apparently are quite willing, if not enthusiastic about about getting less 'freebies' if the price is low enough.

 

10 years ago, most would never have considered 'brown bagging' a plane flight, or paying for drinks. Now it is common and I think will continue for some time to come. The fast-food, eat cheap, who cares if it is good or good for you mentality now pervades the entire industry. The guy that used to save for a year to have a 2 week holiday, now jets off for weekends. The industry is only responding to customer desire, as all business must to survive. When one considers that you most likely pay less in real dollars now for your plane ticket than you did 10-15 years ago and I pay the same or less for hotels in LOS as I did then, once you figure in the exchange devaluations and inflation, everyone is getting a hell of a cheap deal these days. That is what drives the industry.

 

While some of us may lament the changes, that will not change it's direction. Mass services, geared to the masses, just as mass production did for consumer goods.......... all at the lowest common denominater and price.

 

Only solution....find those little niche places that still exist, or alternatives, like a laundry sevice or laundromat. But overall the consumer is not willing to put the energy out to avail themselves of these services. They don't want to carry their laundry 2 blocks and come back in 2 hours. They want it picked up and delivered to their room,......... for cheap. Those days are ending so enjoy the few left while you can. ::