Linen and Towel Exchange

[Dean]

While I have never seen it in writting... the management provides very clear direction to every resort management team that linen and towel exchange is complimentary... and that they do NOT want to encourage guests to wash in their individual units. Of course, guests always have that choice... but the vast majority of folks who need (or want) new linens/towels simply exchange them.

Jim, thanks for confirming you haven't seen it in writing also, I was beginning to doubt that may experience was as broad as I thought it was. I exchange them too when I have the need and opportunity, I'd rather do so than to wash them but see my last post. If you have access to a study that breaks down things like the percent of people that will wash if they don't have towel exchange vs those that will exchange if it's available,and/or the relative TOTAL costs of one method vs another; I'd love to see it. I'd leave you with the thought that not encouraging towel washing in the individual units is not the same as it being better (cost or environment) to offer the alternative service for free. MOST places I've seen with towel exchange are either a once a week option OR pool towels only. And they do it as much as an accounting measure to cut down on pool towels (more expensive to buy and launder apparently) than anything else. I'd also recommend you take things told to you by the management company with a few grains of salt. Even if they can show you studies that support their position, you need a way to know about the other studies that would not be in favor or their recommendations.

 

[FLYNZ4]

Crisi,

I am certainly NOT suggesting that they remove the washer and dryers. Not even close!!!

Chuck, The implemenation of linen exchange varies greatly across the various resorts that I visit. For example... here in Seaside (where I am currently typing)... they have runners who will bring things to the rooms on demand... sheets, towels, soaps, coffee, paper products, etc. A simple call to the front desk will dispatch a runner during most of the day and evening. Alternately we could go to the front desk.

Last weekend we spent Mother's Day weekend at Eagle Crest in a chalet, which are individual single residence buildings spread over an area much larger than SSR or OKW. There... you must go to a central location if you want an exchange.

I doubt there is a single method that is best because resorts vary so much.

I clearly have experienced both types of systems... those with linen exchange... and DVC which does not provide it. I know which is more convenient for the vast majority of people. In fact... of the many people who I know who exchange into DVC... our policy is one that often draws criticism. Personally, I feel it is justified.

/Jim

 

[Chuck S]

I just don't see this as cost efficient or convenient at large resorts like OKW and SSR, no matter what system may be implemented.

A single exchange location would not be convenient. Several locations or runners or using housekeepers mean increasing staff. The additional cost of 2000 possible towels, hand towels and wash cloths per day at OKW, and the cost to distribute those towels, by what ever method, is not a small expense. New towels would need to be purchased to handle that much inventory, storage, increase of laundry facilities, whether it is done by Diney's central laundry or at each site, would be huge. If done at a central location, then that would mean buying more gas guzzling linen trains to deliver them. Either way , it uses as much, if not more, energy.

 

[FLYNZ4]

I just don't see this as cost efficient or convenient at large resorts like OKW and SSR, no matter what system may be implemented.

A single exchange location would not be convenient. Several locations or runners or using housekeepers mean increasing staff. The additional cost of 2000 possible towels, hand towels and wash cloths per day at OKW, and the cost to distribute those towels, by what ever method, is not a small expense. New towels would need to be purchased to handle that much inventory, storage, increase of laundry facilities, whether it is done by Diney's central laundry or at each site, would be huge. If done at a central location, then that would mean buying more gas guzzling linen trains to deliver them. Either way , it uses as much, if not more, energy.

We are certainly entering the "beat this horse to death" stage of the discussion This will be my last post because I think I have said all that can be said.

One final thought... For an average 5 or 7 day stay, each DVC guest currently gets two towels. One at initial check-in... and another mid-week on T&T day. My experience is that without a T&T day... and free linen exchange... the number of towels pp per visit will approach just one. That alone is about a 50% savings. I believe that the vast majority of people do not do any towel or linen exchanges period. However... it is nice to have that option available... even though it is seldom used.

From the staffing perspective... having a few runners per resort has to be less human resource intensive than a performing T&T service.

/Jim

 

[Dean]

... of the many people who I know who exchange into DVC... our policy is one that often draws criticism. Personally, I feel it is justified

Jim I think if you look at those who criticize this policy, they either are trading resorts in areas where labor is cheap like MX or they have an ax to grind as a couple of people on TUG obviously and admittedly do. The reality is that the vast majority of US resorts do not offer this service for free, the majority don't even have a midweek service at all without a fee. The thing that bothers me about DVC is that they are dramatically inconsistent. We've been given extra towels, detergent etc for free on many occasions but yet I remember a post about someone who's child had vomited on the sheets at BWV and couldn't get extra or an exchange without a fee.

We are certainly entering the "beat this horse to death" stage of the discussion This will be my last post because I think I have said all that can be said.

One final thought... For an average 5 or 7 day stay, each DVC guest currently gets two towels. One at initial check-in... and another mid-week on T&T day. My experience is that without a T&T day... and free linen exchange... the number of towels pp per visit will approach just one. That alone is about a 50% savings. I believe that the vast majority of people do not do any towel or linen exchanges period. However... it is nice to have that option available... even though it is seldom used.

From the staffing perspective... having a few runners per resort has to be less human resource intensive than a performing T&T service.

/Jim

If most people didn't take advantage, I doubt most would be pleased with the service. I think even having one extra person as a runner would be far more labor intensive cost wise than the current system which allows the person responsible for that section as part of their normal duties, literally 5-10 minutes top per unit.

 

[crisi]

I'd give up my towels - but I will not give up my trash day. We do fill the trash cans over four days and I do not like running down to the trash room.

 

[ExecChef]

not to start a trend but we always swim at night and take a few towels with us, the next night we drop in hamper.

 

[kmurawski]

not to start a trend but we always swim at night and take a few towels with us, the next night we drop in hamper.

We do the same thing. Sometimes we don't even swim, the towels just happen to follow us up to our room at the end of a day.

I really don't mind throwing towels in the washer in the morning, though. That's one of the reasons we bought into DVC...to have the freedom to do stuff like that.

 

[Halle]

I throw a towel or two into a load of clothes to fill the washer.

 

[pafer]

I am gathering from the last few posts that there are fresh towels by the pool for pool use. I was going to ask since I am now a new DVC member and am planning my first visit as a member in October.

 

[Chuck S]

I am gathering from the last few posts that there are fresh towels by the pool for pool use. I was going to ask since I am now a new DVC member and am planning my first visit as a member in October.

Yes, there are towels provided by the pools. DVC requests that they not be used in the rooms, though, as they are laundered differently than the room towels because of the pool chemicals.