Guest
Turndown Service
Turndown service is a second, evening housekeeping visit that prepares the room for sleep — turning back the bed linen, drawing curtains, adjusting lighting and refreshing the bathroom.
It is a hallmark of upper-upscale and luxury service, and one of the clearest signals of positioning a hotel can offer. The details vary — a folded corner of the duvet, water at the bedside, slippers set out, a weather card or chocolate on the pillow — but the intent is consistent: the guest returns to a room that has been attended to since they left it.
Operationally it requires knowing which rooms to service and when, which depends on whether the guest is out, whether they have opted in, and whether a do-not-disturb is showing. Getting that wrong is worse than not offering it, because it means entering an occupied room uninvited.
Many properties have shifted turndown from an automatic service to an opt-in one, both to reduce labour cost and because a meaningful share of guests would rather not be disturbed at all.
Frequently asked questions
What is turndown service?
Turndown service is a second, evening housekeeping visit that prepares the room for sleep — turning back the bed linen, drawing the curtains, adjusting lighting and refreshing the bathroom. It is a hallmark of upper-upscale and luxury service.
What is turndown service at a hotel?
At a hotel, the details vary — a folded corner of the duvet, water at the bedside, slippers set out, a weather card or chocolate on the pillow — but the intent is consistent: the guest returns to a room that has been attended to since they left it.
What does turndown service mean?
It means the room is turned down for the night rather than cleaned again. Operationally it requires knowing which rooms to service and when, based on whether the guest is out, has opted in, and whether a do-not-disturb is showing.
What is nightly turndown service?
Nightly turndown is the service offered every evening of a stay rather than on request. Many properties have shifted it from automatic to opt-in, both to reduce labour cost and because a meaningful share of guests would rather not be disturbed at all.