Hotels

[Mom of 4]

Has anyone managed to work something out with a hotel or similar business where you provide your services at their establishment? I'm thinking of doing this as my husband is not thrilled about me going into clients homes. He feels working with a hotel (or similar) would be safer for me. I just don't know how I would approach a business with this idea. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[PICKLES]

Hotels

Has anyone managed to work something out with a hotel or similar business where you provide your services at their establishment? I'm thinking of doing this as my husband is not thrilled about me going into clients homes. He feels working with a hotel (or similar) would be safer for me. I just don't know how I would approach a business with this idea. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I do this! I used to work front desk at a hotel, so was pretty comfortable contacting a hotel here in the town I've moved into. I talked to the assistant manager and asked if I could display my brochures. I remade them just a bit, and added "In Your Hotel Room" to the front panel. I then asked if I could go to meet the front desk staff one at a time, and occasionally offer chair massage in the lobby. This is a resort area, so spring, summer & fall they are full every weekend, so that is when I set up in the lobby. Whoever is working when I am there gets a free chair massage. This makes the front desk staff very friendly with me. A friendly front desk staff does a world of good. When I go in with my chair, they tell EVERYBODY who checks in that I will be coming and how wonderful it feels. They also point out my brochures and let the guests know that they can call me to see if I am available, and I'll go in with my table. It also means that when I go in to a room, I can tell the front desk staff what room # I am going to be in, verify the name with them, let them know how long I expect to be in that room, and they will be watching for me. I also plan to get a 2 way radio so I can leave one at the desk in case I ever need help.

I have never felt threatened, though. My hotel brochure states very clearly that this is legitimate therapeutic massage, and that if there is any sexual comment or request, the massage ends instantly. I collect the fee before doing the massage, and I go in with a thorough medical intake form for the client to fill out while I set up. It is a really great setup!

Oh - and the hotel has never asked for any rent or other compensation. The benefit to the hotel is happy guests and a nice perk for their staff, at no expense to them.

 

[hmm.]

Hi. Welcome to the forums.... since I am betting you haven't had time to figure out how our search function works yet,

Sticky: How to use the search funtion
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=441

I am going to give you a few links to get you started while others are getting ready to respond.

I'll try to keep them seperated between hotel and outcalls, but they actually kind of morph together. But, this will give you and hubby food for thought.



Hotel Work

Question about hotel
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1500

Gotta a meeting with Hotel to offer.....
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1442

How to obtain Hotel accounts.....
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1500

To the "Other Professionals"
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1671

mobile spa parties
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2025

WHAT WORKS for YOU!
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1217

hotels and outcalls
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1203

Listings in hotel room directories
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1193

Outcall Services
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1013

MASSAGE TLC is A Proud Company!!
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=27699



Out-call/House Call Work

Outcall Suggestion & Needs List
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=28552

Making housecalls...
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1352

Marketing an Outcall Business?
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1490

Inappropriate Phone Calls
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1518

are house calls safe?
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1512

How much to charge?
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1302

Is this okay to do for outcalls?
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1250

Help with mobile spa business plan
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2016

Help understanding what a "massage party" is
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3265

Party Massage: Looking for input
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4208

again with the spa parties...
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1283

How do I market to potential clients when I have no office?
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3451

Outcalls & controling the envirnoment
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3231

are house calls safe?
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1512

home, outcall, or suite??
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1341

outcall buisiness how to?
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1337

outcall tables
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=215

making your outcalls 'special'
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1482

How far do you travel for Outcalls?
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1197

Outcalls and Paraffin
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2011

Outcall Services
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1013

Shifting Prices
http://www.massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1112


Here are two posts I made a while back. Maybe one or both will be of help.

Hello.



Out calls are an interesting way to practice.

I perform hotel outcalls (for about 4 years now) and can povide you with some information there.

The only way I work with a hotel is through the concierge. Tipping is pretty much expected, or a "yummie" if they can't take a tip..... like donuts or cookies. (*grins* - that's a real nice tip coming from someone who should be healthy!) What I did was ask them what the standard tip was for the hotel I was at. They didn't mind letting me know. {Usually it is about 20% of the fee.}

Keep in mind, they will call back, if the therapist does a good job, and the guest may even ask to book again on a future return. Also, they (the concierge) should then know where the therapist is going, probably already knows the guest pretty well, knows when the therapist is expected to return back to the front desk, and of course the guest knows the concierge has this information, because.... voila! the concierge booked the appointment.

I have found good hotels make it easy for a therapist and not so good hotels make it a real pain. So, five star hotels are the best way to go if a therapist is looking for work, in my own opinion.

KEEP IN MIND SAFETY AT ALL TIMES. IF THAT MEANS YOU ARE MORE COMFORTABLE BRINGING A FRIEND TO SIT AT THE HOTEL OR OUTSIDE THE ROOM WITH YOU, THEN SO BE IT. YOU CAN NEVER BE ASSURED SAFETY IN THIS DAY AND AGE. USE CAUTION AND DISCRETION AT ALL COSTS. IF YOU FEEL UNSAFE, YOU PROBABLY ARE.

*jumps off my small box*

As for house calls. I now go by the concept that if someone wants me to work on them in their home, they can:

-Purchase a table and linens. (This keeps me from lugging my stuff all over the place.)

-Book regular appointments.

-Cancel appointments just as if they were coming to an office.

You'd be amazed how much more serious folks get when they have to put more effort into receiving their house calls.

Hope this helps.

I think I wrote it somewhere in these boards, but maybe not.

Another way to deal with your outcalls, is to require the client to purchase their own table and provide the linens. This will keep your wear and tear down. It will also cause them to invest in something that reminds them of you and most of these types of clients you will require that they book regular appointments (which gives you a better idea of where you are traveling over the next few months). Some may be weekly, every two weeks, every month, every two months, once a quarter - but it starts to give you a easier grasp if you are performing a lot of out calls.

Sam's has a table right now for $199 I think.

As far as being gracious with your time. The only concern I have ever had with that is that people have a tendency to expect it after a while. And then, when you are really busy and can't do the 1 and 1/2 hour that you never charged extra for, they feel like they got jipped. Something to think about. Your clients may be fine though. Another reason to stop on time, is because it gets you in a routine. On the very rare occasion I will go over by fifteen minutes (I always make sure to tell the client I feel like I need to give a little more attention to an area, let them know their hour is up and would they mind if I continue at no charge). On the super rare occasion I may go over 30 mins.

Oh, and I think $85 is fair. If they purchased the table, and you were staying on an hour, you may want to consider dropping it down to $80.

The luxury hotels are $125 before 9pm and $150 after 9 pm, here. That is definitely an outcall, so I think you are squarely in range.

Hope this helps.

 

[Irohekedire]

Hotels

Old thread from 2005 that not too many responded to...

Do you have a comment?

 

[jvjonster]

Hotels

The hotel business has changed dramatically since then.

In 2007 Westin launched their in-room massage program, which has very specific guidelines for service providers. Many hotels had trouble finding folks who meet the criteria set down by corporate. The program has been a huge disappointment to Starwood, they probably would not do it again if they could turn back time.

In 2010, Marriott banned in-room massages at all of their brands (including Renaissance and Ritz) due to the Craigs List murder at their Boston property. Stupid over-reaction to something having nothing to do with massage, but that is their policy. Many hotels are ignorant of the policy change and continue to offer the services, but by the end of this year the word will have gotten around.

Also, with the economy tanking, so many spas now have open slots, so it is much, much easier for visitors to get into a Bliss or other location -- including hotel spas -- making the demand for in-room services much lower. When you add to this all the discounting in the industry, the surcharge for an outcall is hard to justify.