Hospitality Financial Leadership – 7 Daily Revenue Audit Must Dos

By David Lund - The Hotel Financial Coach

3 August 2020
  • Hospitality Financial Leadership – 7 Daily Revenue Audit Must Dos — Photo: David Lund

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The hotel business is a retail business and in order to stay on top of your business you must fully and completely balance your daily revenues and settlements. Every day we begin anew and every day is a story unto itself when it comes to the revenues and settlements. I may sound like I am repeating "revenues and settlements," but it cannot be emphasized enough.

Many hotels operate on what I call autopilot when it comes to this bedrock function. Many leave it in the hands of their latest manager of the day to ensure this function is properly done. Many hotel owners don't even know that these controls can or should exist, let alone follow up to ensure they're not bleeding money.

Here are 7 things you must do each day to ensure you are keeping all the cash that has legitimately come your way from your customers. It is imperative to not let someone else lose it because of careless practices or, worse still, take it from you.

This piece was inspired by a second-generation hotel owner that was curious enough about what wasn't happening at her parent's hotels to call me and get the skinny on what should be done each day to balance those revenues and settlements. What she found was appalling. You don't want this to happen to you, and neither do I.

  1. Balance your cash control total.
    Cash is king and cash is the most desirable thing you have that needs to be controlled. If you use a property management system, the end of day generates a cash control total. Make sure that's what actually hits your bank account.
  2. Balance your credit cards.
    The credit cards are complicated - a three-step balancing act. Make sure all three are right every day and don't wait to do this weekly or monthly. Even for a small hotel this is a big mistake. Do it daily.
  3. Separate critical duties.
  4. Balance your PM to your GL.
  5. Review every rebate and adjustment.
  6. Prepare a room for verification report.
  7. Review the daily room rates.

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For more information about David Lund, visit hotelfinancialcoach.com

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David Lund

28 Kineo St
Portland, ME 04103
United States
Phone: 4156969593
hotelfinancialcoach.com

David Lund

David Lund is The Hotel Financial Coach, an international hospitality financial leadership expert. He has held positions as a Regional Financial Controller, Corporate Director and Hotel Manager with an international brand for over 30 years. He authored an award-winning workshop on hospitality financial leadership and has delivered it to hundreds of hotel managers. David coachs hospitality executives and delivers his Financial Leadership Training throughout the world, helping hotels increase profits and build financially engaged management teams. He speaks at hospitality company meetings, associations and he has had several articles published in hotel trade magazines and he is the author of three books on Financial Leadership. David is a Certified Hotel Accounting Executive through HFTP and a Certified Professional Coach.

David Lund

The Hotel Financial Coach
Phone: +1 415 696 9593
david@hotelfinancialcoach.com