What is turndown service?
- Turndown attendants create a relaxing ambience with dim lights, soft music, and a turned-down bed
- Thoughtful touches include chocolates on the pillow, handwritten notes, or locally made products
Turndown service is one of the special touches you’ll find at luxury hotels. The staff carry out a series of steps to prepare your room for the night while you’re out for the evening, so you come back to a cozy room. The name comes from “turning down” the covers for you to slip comfortably into bed. It involves rituals like dimming the lights, drawing the curtains, and leaving chocolates on your pillow.
What is turndown service? A brief history
The history of turndown service dates back to the 18th century. It started with butlers and maids preparing sleeping chambers for royalty, especially during long travels. By the 20th century, high-end hotels adopted this practice for exceptional hospitality and personalized attention to guests. The hotel industry’s range of turndown services expanded to include things like fresh towels and linen, soft music, mood lighting, and little treats like chocolates or mints.
Today, top hotels are getting increasingly creative when it comes to turndown service to please their guests. Think handwritten cards, lavender pillows, and locally made bath products or artisanal crafts.
What a turndown attendant does
A turndown attendant is a hotel staff member who specializes in turndown service. In addition to being experts at regular housekeeping, they’re skilled at anticipating guests’ needs and creating an atmosphere for luxurious relaxation. A turndown attendant is attentive to individual preferences and schedules, taking care not to get in the guest’s way.
Turndown service is performed in the evening while people are at dinner or out exploring so they return to a room specially prepared for them to wind down. A turndown attendant usually turns down the bed, refreshes the towels and toiletries, and closes the drapes. To set the mood, they may switch to ambient lighting, turn on soothing music, and spray lavender mist on the pillows. Handwritten cards with the next day’s weather forecast or a schedule of local events and activities are personal touches that make guests feel extra pampered.
Turndown service amenities
Bed turndown
Bed turndown is the main component of turndown service. The turndown attendant turns down the bed linen and folds the corner at a right angle so you can effortlessly tuck yourself in for the night. They fluff the pillows and remove extra cushions and throws, creating a comfortable sleeping environment. The attendant may also change the bed linens.
Ambient lighting
To set the mood for the night, the turndown attendant switches off bright overhead lights in favor of soft lamps for a cozy glow. They also draw the curtains or blinds to block out city lights and the morning sun, ensuring the right setting for restful sleep.
Soothing sounds
The turndown attendant may turn on soft music or calming sounds, such as a crackling fireplace or lapping waves. Sleep sounds relax your mind and promote a deep and restorative sleep.
Aromatherapy
Select hotels include aromatherapy in their turndown service for a luxurious touch. Lavender pillows, scented candles, or a diffuser with essential oils transform your room into a calming haven.
Refreshments
A symbol of luxury since the 20th century, chocolate on the pillow is one of the simplest yet most cherished parts of turndown service. Now, the tradition has evolved into more elaborate confections – a small box of premium chocolates, local specialties like macarons or baklava, or holiday-themed treats. Some hotels might pair it with a drink, such as herbal tea or hot chocolate, for an indulgent nighttime ritual.
Personalized notes
Handwritten cards left on the bed signal to guests that someone has taken the time to make them feel special. Welcome notes, weather forecasts, and a list of hotel activities and local events are common, while other thoughtful ideas include quote cards, short stories, poems, or miniature books for light bedtime reading. Some hotels take it up a notch with a small stuffed animal or a flower arrangement on the bed.
Housekeeping
Along with special rituals, a turndown attendant also performs regular housekeeping and cleaning if needed. They change the towels, restock toiletries, and place fresh water on the bedside table. Staff may lay out plush bathrobes on the bed with a matching pair of slippers for ultimate comfort. They also empty the trash, tidy the room, and arrange your items neatly on the dresser or sink.
How to make the most of turndown service
Communicate your preferences
Turndown service is meant to be an unexpected touch of luxury without getting in your way. Let the reception or hotel staff know if you’d prefer it done at a particular time, or if you’d like something done differently (e.g. room temperature, music, or lighting). You can also opt out of it altogether or hang the “do not disturb” sign if you want privacy.
Take joy in it
Take a moment to truly enjoy one of the little luxuries of staying at a fancy hotel. Savor the ambience and pamper yourself with relaxing self-care rituals for a sense of cozy calm. If you’d like to make the most of it, unwind with a bubble bath before tucking into bed.
Give feedback
Remember that turndown service is all about a memorable guest experience, so let the hotel know if anything can be improved. Taking the time to appreciate the hotel staff for their exceptional service and thoughtful gestures is equally important. Sharing honest feedback will help you maximize turndown service – hotel staff will be happy to tailor it for you.