The term Scanty baggage refers to a guest with only hand baggage
or no baggage at all. Such guests pose a hazard as they can check
out of the hotel without paying their bill. There is no way of
knowing whether a guest walking out with scanty baggage will return
at all. Most management stipulates a policy that such guests
deposit an advance as a safeguard against skipping out of the
hotel. A guest who has left the hotel without clearing his bills is
called a skipper. The bell desk maintains a strict control of such
guests with definite policies to guide them. The procedure is as
follows: Step 1: The Bell Boy informs the Bell Captain and
receptionist of a guest with scanty baggage. Step 2: The Bell
Captain stamps Scanty Baggage on the Arrival Errand Card and
informs the lobby manager. The receptionist is alerted with the
stamp when he/she receives it.Step 3: The receptionist will stamp
scanty baggage on the Registration Card.Step 4: The receptionist
gets the Lobby Manager to see the registration card once completed
by the guest. The Lobby Manager has the following options: 1. To
ask for entire room charges in advance.2. To ask for deposit that
covers at least one night charge or3. To lower the house credit
limit for bills in which the guest has to clear the bills
periodically as he touches the limitThis is normally exercised when
guests check in to the hotel for the first time. Regular guests
known to hotel management may be excused from such a policy. The
lobby manager signs the registration card with his/her
instructions.Step 5: The Bell Captain fills the Scanty Baggage
register and gets it signed by the lobby manager.Step 6:
Housekeeping and security are informed of the guest room number to
keep a watch.
