Hotel Room Inspection SOP Template

1.Purpose

To confirm that rooms cleaned by attendants meet the property's standard before they are released for sale, and to give attendants consistent, fair feedback.

2.Scope

Applies to floor supervisors inspecting guest rooms after cleaning. The room cleaning process itself is covered by the housekeeping SOP.

Definitions

Inspection score

The numeric or pass and fail rating a supervisor gives a room against the property's inspection checklist.

Deficiency

A specific item on the inspection checklist that did not meet the standard, such as a smudged mirror or missed amenity.

Calibration session

A periodic session where supervisors inspect the same rooms together to keep their scoring standards consistent.

3.Responsibilities

Floor Supervisor

Inspects cleaned rooms against the checklist, scores them, and coaches attendants on deficiencies.

Room Attendant

Corrects deficiencies flagged by the supervisor and resubmits the room for inspection.

Executive Housekeeper

Sets the inspection standard, runs calibration sessions, and reviews inspection trends.

Front Desk Agent

Receives the release notification once a room passes inspection so it can be sold or assigned.

RACI matrix

R = Responsible, A = Accountable, C = Consulted, I = Informed

4.Materials and PPE

Materials, tools and systems

• →Room inspection checklist
• →PMS mobile app or tablet
• →Flashlight for detail checks
• →White glove or cloth for surface checks
• →Deficiency tracking log
• →Calibration session score sheet

Personal protective equipment

• →Disposable gloves for surface checks

5.Procedure

1. 5.1

   Review the priority inspection list

   Floor Supervisor

   Check the PMS or room status report for departure rooms, VIP arrivals and early check-ins that need inspection first during the shift.

2. 5.2

   Enter the room and check safety first

   Floor Supervisor

   Enter the room marked as cleaned and check that lights, air conditioning and safety features such as smoke detectors and door locks are working before checking cleanliness.

3. 5.3

   Inspect the bathroom in detail

   Floor Supervisor

   Check the bathroom for streaks on mirrors and glass, soap residue, hair, and full amenity restocking, using a flashlight to check corners and grout.

   Checkpoint: No hair, water marks or soap residue is found on any bathroom surface during inspection.

4. 5.4

   Inspect the bedroom and linens

   Floor Supervisor

   Check that the bed is made to standard with tight corners, linens are fresh and stain-free, and pillows and bedspread are arranged correctly.

5. 5.5

   Check dusting and surfaces

   Floor Supervisor

   Run a cloth over high surfaces such as picture frames, light fixtures and headboards to check for dust that a visual check alone might miss.

6. 5.6

   Verify amenities and supplies

   Floor Supervisor

   Confirm all amenities, stationery and in-room guides match the standard list for the room type and are placed correctly.

7. 5.7

   Check floors and under furniture

   Floor Supervisor

   Check carpet or flooring for visible debris and look under the bed and furniture for anything left behind or missed during cleaning.

8. 5.8

   Score the room on the checklist

   Floor Supervisor

   Score the room against every item on the inspection checklist and record any deficiencies with enough detail for the attendant to understand what to fix.

   Checkpoint: Every deficiency recorded includes a clear description an attendant can act on without further explanation.

9. 5.9

   Send the room back if it fails

   Floor Supervisor

   If the room does not meet the standard, send it back to the attendant with the specific deficiencies listed rather than fixing it yourself.

10. 5.10

    Re-inspect corrected rooms

    Floor Supervisor

    Re-inspect a room the attendant has corrected, checking specifically the deficiencies previously noted before scoring it again.

11. 5.11

    Release the room in the PMS

    Floor Supervisor

    Once a room passes inspection, set its status to inspected in the PMS so the front desk can assign or sell it.

    Checkpoint: VIP and early-arrival rooms are inspected and released within 15 minutes of being marked clean.

12. 5.12

    Log inspection results and trends

    Floor Supervisor

    Record the day's inspection scores and common deficiencies in the tracking log for the executive housekeeper to review.

13. 5.13

    Participate in calibration sessions

    Executive Housekeeper

    Join scheduled calibration sessions where supervisors inspect the same sample rooms together to compare scores and align on standards.

6.Quality checks

• →All departure rooms are inspected before being released for sale.
• →VIP and early-arrival rooms are inspected within 15 minutes of being marked clean.
• →Deficiency descriptions are specific enough for an attendant to act on without asking follow-up questions.
• →Supervisor scores stay consistent with each other across calibration sessions.

7.Records

• →Room inspection checklist results
• →Deficiency tracking log
• →Calibration session score sheets
• →Room release history in the PMS

8.KPIs

• →First-time inspection pass rate
• →Average time from clean to release for VIP rooms
• →Most common deficiency types by category
• →Score variance between supervisors in calibration sessions

9.Common mistakes

• →Fixing a small deficiency yourself instead of sending the room back to the attendant.
• →Skipping the flashlight check on bathroom grout and corners.
• →Releasing a room in the PMS before finishing the full checklist.
• →Giving vague deficiency notes that do not tell the attendant what to fix.

10.Revision history