We know it's super busy running a motel. Once you've checked for online bookings, got the cleaning trolleys sorted, managed check-ins and outs, taken and processed the phone bookings, dealt with a few guest complaints, sorted the payroll, paid all of the due invoices and turned a couple of rooms over you MIGHT finally have time for a cuppa.
It's 12 hour days, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and it's hard slog.
Most of the moteliers we've talked to love the variety that comes with the job and they love providing the best possible customer experience for their guests. But, a couple minutes extra here and there for a cup of tea would be nice, wouldn't it?
We can't help you turn over rooms, but we can help streamline your payment solution to save you some precious time.
If you're not using credit card pre-authorisation in your motel already, you should be. Not only can credit card pre-auths save you time they can also significantly reduce your risk of lost revenue due to fraud and theft.
Here are our top time-saving tips for moteliers, using credit card pre-authorisations:
1. Streamline payment
Don't mess around with taking payment from each guest as they check-out. Make the frantic check-out rush a little easier and process a credit card pre-auth when your guests check in. Your guests do not have to present their card again to check-out, you can simply complete the pre-auth transaction for the full value of their stay and send your guests on their way.
2. Offer express checkout
Even better, offer an express checkout service where your guests simply drop their room key at reception and go. If you processed a credit card pre-authorisation when your guest checked in you can process the completion transaction when you're ready. Worried about missed charges? If it turns out they’ve used the mini bar, you can process a delayed charge against the completed pre-auth to ensure all costs are covered.
3. Verify credit cards to avoid timewasters
Ever processed an online booking only to suffer a no-show? Don't give a single second (or a whole booking) to time-wasters! You can use Account Verify to confirm a credit card number used to make an online booking. You don't need the physical card and you'll know instantly if the card number is fake, or if the card is blocked due to being stolen.
4. Keep an eye on expiring pre-auths
Avoid the hassle of expired pre-authorisations! You can quickly check which pre-authorisations are nearing their expiration date by using the expiry date filter on the Pre-Auth Report available on your Android EFTPOS terminal. This allows you to proactively follow up with guests to obtain updated payment information if necessary, ensuring a seamless check-out process. Learn more on our Help Centre here.
5. Streamline dispute resolution
In the event of a dispute or chargeback, having detailed records of pre-authorisation transactions can expedite the resolution process. Your Verifone payment solution allows you to easily access reporting so you can provide evidence of pre-authorisations to card issuers, minimising the time and effort spent on dispute resolution.
Learn more about the credit card pre-authorisation on Android EFTPOS on our Help Centre here.