Out of Order

Term from Hospitality industry explained for recruiters

The term "Out of Order" in hospitality refers to rooms or facilities that are temporarily unavailable for guest use due to maintenance, repairs, or other issues. When something is marked as "Out of Order" (often abbreviated as OOO), it means that item, room, or facility cannot be sold or used until the issue is resolved. This is different from "Out of Service," which typically refers to a shorter-term unavailability. Understanding this term is crucial because it affects room inventory, maintenance scheduling, and overall hotel operations.

Examples in Resumes

Developed and implemented Out of Order room tracking system that reduced maintenance response time by 30%

Managed daily OOO reports and coordinated with maintenance team to minimize revenue loss

Created new procedures for handling Out of Order situations that improved guest satisfaction scores

Typical job title: "Hotel Managers"

Also try searching for:

Front Office Manager Hotel Operations Manager Rooms Division Manager Facilities Manager Maintenance Manager Property Manager Guest Services Manager

Where to Find Hotel Managers

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you manage the financial impact of multiple Out of Order rooms during peak season?

Expected Answer: A senior manager should discuss strategies like prioritizing repairs based on demand, coordinating with revenue management, and having contingency plans for relocating guests or offering alternatives.

Q: How would you improve the Out of Order room management process?

Expected Answer: Should explain implementing preventive maintenance schedules, using property management systems effectively, coordinating between departments, and measuring the impact on revenue and guest satisfaction.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What is your process for handling an Out of Order situation during full occupancy?

Expected Answer: Should describe communication procedures between departments, guest relocation protocols, and how to prioritize repairs based on business needs.

Q: How do you track and report Out of Order rooms?

Expected Answer: Should mention using property management systems, daily status reports, communication with maintenance teams, and tracking repair timelines.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What steps do you take when a room needs to be marked Out of Order?

Expected Answer: Should explain basic procedure of documenting issues, notifying maintenance, updating room status in the system, and basic guest communication if needed.

Q: How do you communicate Out of Order status between shifts?

Expected Answer: Should describe handover procedures, logging in property management system, shift reports, and basic departmental communication.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic room status management
  • Simple maintenance reporting
  • Guest communication
  • Property management system usage

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Maintenance coordination
  • Department communication
  • Inventory management
  • Guest recovery procedures

Senior (5+ years)

  • Strategic maintenance planning
  • Revenue impact management
  • Team leadership
  • Process optimization

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No experience with property management systems
  • Poor understanding of maintenance priorities
  • Lack of communication skills
  • No knowledge of basic hotel operations