Ritz Carlton: The Case for Service

Quality management begins with the president and the other 13 senior executives who make up the corporate steering committee and the  senior quality-management team. Corporate Management They meet weekly to review: 1. product- and service-quality measures 2. guest satisfaction 3. market growth and development, 4. organizational indicators, profits, and competitive status Corporate Management  Approximately one-fourth of each executive’s time is devoted to qualityrelated matters.

GOLD STANDARDS Key product and service requirements of the travel consumer have been translated into Ritz-Carlton Gold Standards, which include a credo, motto, three steps of service, and 20 “Ritz-Carlton Basics”. The Credo The Ritz-Carlton Hotel is a place where the genuine care and comfort of our guests is our highest mission. We pledge to provide the finest personal service and facilities for our guests who will always enjoy a warm, relaxed, yet refined ambience. The Ritz-Carlton experience enlivens the senses, instills well-being, and fulfills even the unexpressed wishes and needs of our guests.  The Motto At The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company: “We are Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen.” This motto exemplifies the anticipatory service provided by all staff members. The Three Service Steps A warm and sincere greeting. Use the guest’s name.

Anticipation and fulfillment of each guest’s needs. Fond farewell. Give a warm goodbye and use the guest’s name. Standards Each employee is expected to understand and adhere to these standards, which describe processes for solving problems guests including: detailed grooming  housekeeping  safety  and efficiency standards.  Human Resources To provide superior service, Ritz- Carlton created its targeted selection process to ensure a successful match of potential employees to employment. Training Upon being selected, new employees learn the corporate culture through a two-day orientation:  followed by extensive on-the-job training  and job certification. Reinforced Values Ritz-Carlton values are reinforced continuously by:  daily “line ups” frequent recognition for extraordinary achievement  and a performance appraisal based on expectations explained during the orientation, training, and certification processes. Sense of Urgency To ensure guests’ problems are resolved quickly, workers are required to act at first notice-regardless of the type of problem or customer complaint.

Empowerment Data With A Purpose Daily quality production reports, derived from data submitted from each of the 720 work areas in the hotel, serve as an early warning system for identifying problems that can impede progress toward meeting quality and customer-satisfaction goals. Data With A Purpose Coupled with quarterly summaries of guest and meeting-planner reactions, the combined data are compared with predetermined customer expectations to improve services. Data With A Purpose Among the data gathered and tracked over time are annual guest-room preventive-maintenance cycles  percentage of check-ins with no queuing  time spent to achieve industry-best cleanroom appearance and time to service an occupied guest room.

Results

According to surveys conducted for Ritz-Carlton by an independent research firm, 92 to 97 percent of guests leave with a very positive impression of the hotel brand. Quality Commitment As a result of its quality program, Ritz- Carlton received 121 quality awards from the travel industry in 2010 alone, including: “Best Hotel Chain in the United States,” by Zagat Travel Survey; “Index Award of Excellence,” by Hotel and Travel Index; “Alred Award” for Best Hotel Chain, by Corporate Travel; and “Top Hotel Chain in Ability to Service Meetings,” by Successful Meetings. Purpose Driven Results The aim of these and other customer-focused measures is not simply to meet the expectations of guests but to provide them with a memorable visit.