Labor Models Overview

Inn-Flow’s Labor Models allow you to use different hotel-specific metrics to create the most optimized schedule that ensures you meet or stay under your budgeted hours. 

Inn-Flow supports 6 different types of labor models that cover hundreds of use cases by allowing you to specify exactly how and when to schedule each position in your hotels. 

This article gives and overview and specifies simple examples on when to use each type of model. After you have an understanding of each model and it’s use case, we recommend reading our Setting Up Labor Models article for detailed instructions.

1. Day of the Week (DOTW)

This is a simple model allowing you to add specific hours and minutes for each day of the eek for a position.

Example Use Case: Staffing Front Desk Agents

1. Scenario: A hotel typically experiences higher check-in and check-out volumes on weekends. Using a DOTW model, additional Front Desk Agents can be automatically scheduled Friday through Sunday, with fewer staff during quieter weekdays.

2. Factor of Revenue

This is a model allowing you to budget hours and minutes based on specific accounting chart of accounts for a whole department. You will be able to then add employees to the schedule precisely based on Inn-Flow Forecasts. When selecting this budget type, you will specify Display Name you want displayed on the Forecast page. 

Example Use Case: Restaurant Servers

1. Scenario: In hotel restaurants, server staffing levels correlate closely with expected revenue. Using a Factor of Revenue model, the hotel forecasts restaurant revenue daily, scheduling additional servers proportionally on higher-revenue days or during peak dining hours.

3. Factor of Statistics

This model is similar to a Factor of Revenue, but you are able to choose any metric (statistic) for calculating scheduling needs. Statistic examples include Arrivals, Comp Rooms, Rooms Occupied, etc.

Example Use Case: Bell Staff or Valet Services

1. Scenario: Staffing bell or valet attendants often depends on arrivals and departures. Using a Factor of Statistics model, staffing can flex directly with the forecasted number of arrivals/departures, automatically increasing staff when heavy arrival/departure patterns are anticipated.

4. Minutes per Occupied Room (MPOR)

This is a more advanced labor model based on the time it takes to clean a room at a specific service level (like Arrivals, Refreshes, Departures, Deep Cleans, etc.). You’re able to specify hours and minutes you’d like to schedule for each service level. The MPOR model allows you to optimize scheduling and precisely control the biggest portion of your labor costs.   

Example Use Case: Housekeepers

1. Scenario: Housekeeping labor is based directly on room occupancy. Using an MPOR model, housekeeping teams are staffed based on forecasted stay overs, departures, and deep cleans. This ensures adequate labor is available to meet cleaning standards without over-scheduling.

5. Range of Statistics

This is the most popular method for Labor Management labor model because it enables you to greatly control and predict scheduling needs based on several different thresholds of occupancy or other and other statistic. 

Inn-Flow customers are able to save the most money and stay well under budget using this model.

Example Use Case: Breakfast Attendants or Hosts

1. Scenario: Breakfast attendance can vary significantly based on occupancy ranges. Using a Range of Statistics model, if the hotel’s occupancy is between 0-30%, one attendant may suffice. As occupancy moves into higher ranges (31-60%, 61-100%), the model automatically schedules additional breakfast staff accordingly.

6. Range of Revenue 

This model is similar to a range of statistics, but instead of a specific metric, it is based on a range of revenue numbers. 

Example Use Case: Banquet and Event Staff

1. Scenario: Banquet labor depends heavily on event revenue. Using a Range of Revenue model, if banquet revenue falls into a certain range, an appropriate number of banquet servers, setup crews, and bartenders is automatically scheduled. This ensures event staffing closely matches anticipated service demands.

Now that you have an understanding of Labor Models and how they are used in Inn-Flow, learn the details of Setting Up Inn-Flow Labor Models.