Why do many Australian hotels insist on a 10am checkout?

This is an hour earlier than checkout time at most hotels around the world, and some are happy to let you stay until noon.

It is in the hotel's best interest if guests depart as early as possible so that housekeeping staff can move quickly from one room to the next without having to skip those that are occupied and return to service them later.

According to one manager of a large Australian city hotel, most housekeeping staff are rostered on at about 9am, although a skeleton staff is on call at all times in case of emergencies.

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If too many guests delay their departure there is a possibility that housekeeping staff will not be able to service all their allocated rooms before their shift finishes, in which case they will need to be paid overtime and in Australia staff overtime costs are relatively high.

Another reason for an early checkout is that it gives the hotel the freedom to charge guests an additional fee for a late checkout, or to regard it as a privilege to be awarded to a favoured few, along with free internet or a welcome fruit basket.

If you want a late checkout your request is more likely to be successful if you can demonstrate loyalty. For example, at Melbourne-based Art Series Hotels, top-tier Black Membership guests can check out as late as 6pm, along with a swag of other privileges.

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