Cash float is the term for the total amount of checks in between the time when the check is written and taken off the books of the payer, but not out of their bank account, and before it's in the back account of the payee, even though they already would have recorded it in their books.
Self-checkout (also known as self-service checkout and as semi-attended customer-activated terminal, SACAT) machines provide a mechanism for customers to process their own purchases from a retailer. They are an alternative to the traditional cashier-staffed checkout.
Chapter 8: Front Office Accounting Net Cash Receipts, Overages, Shortages, and Due Backs Shortages: • A shortage occurs when the total of the contents of the cash Continued from previous slide… drawer is less than the net cash receipts.
The guest cycle is the complete experience that a guest goes through in a hotel: from making the booking to departure and the interaction with the hotel even after departure. Pre-arrival: The interaction between a guest and a hotel before the guest arrives at the hotel forms the pre-arrival phase of guest cycle.
House Count – The number of guests residing in the hotel. House Limit – A guest credit limit established by the hotel's management. Incidental Charges – Charges made to a guest account other than the charges and tax for the guestroom. Late Charge – Amount posted to a guest account after check-out.
The night auditor is mainly responsible for identifying accounts which have reached or exceeded the fixed credit limits. Such accounts are called high risk or high balance accounts. The front office may deny additional charge purchase privileges to such accounts.
It is the transaction limit over which the credit card transactions must be approved. The limit can differ from store to store. Since credit cards begin to be processed electronically, floor limits have become less important, and all purchases are usually approved.
The folio is the guest account or hotel bill. If open, you can post charges and payments from guests, companies and non-residents to the folio (hotel bill). When closing folios, you can make these guest accounts invoices and no more charges can be added to them.
Master folios are used to post charges or payments not otherwise posted to guest folios. There are several types of master folios, each handled differently. They include Guest Advance Deposits, POS, Gift Cards (with Execu/Gift™), Groups, Administrative, and Cash. The guest name will be the folio name.
The front office is the heart of a hotel. It's the first and last areas guests see and interact with. A hotel's standard front office operating procedures will address everything from the appearance of employee uniforms to making guest reservations at local theaters.
Front Office Department plays a vital role in a hotel, and it is the face of a hotel or hospitality establishment. It is the first and the last department where a guest interacts. The Front Office Department is responsible for creating first hand impressions regarding the level of services and facilities provided.
Basic Responsibilities of Front Office Department
- Creating guest database.
- Handling guest accounts.
- Coordinating guest service.
- Trying to sell a service.
- Ensuring guest satisfaction.
- Handling in-house communication through PBX.
5 Essential Characteristics of a Good Front Desk Officer
- Pleasant Demeanor. At the front desk, it is important to have a person who is genuinely good natured.
- Attention to Detail. The front desk takes a certain amount of care.
- Ability to Multitask. As with attention to detail, the optimal front desk person must also be an excellent multitasker.
- Discretion.
- Team Player.
The attributes essential for the front office personnel are:
- Personal hygiene.
- Calmness.
- Diplomacy.
- Retention ability.
- Good manners.
- Cheerfulness.
- Problem solver.
- Reference point.
Importance of Front Office Communication. Within the department, the staff of front office communicate with each other to provide the best possible guest services such as reserving accommodations, registering guests, managing guest accounts, handling guest mails, and personalized guest services.
As a front office manager, you are responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the front office of a company or organization, and ensuring that staff perform their duties in an appropriate manner. You typically have supervisory responsibilities over other employees working in the front office.
