Melbourne hotel chain to trial “overstay checkout” scheme

A chain of five-star hotels in Melbourne will allow guests to outstay their welcome with the launch of an “overstay checkout” scheme.

Art Series Hotels – owner of The Olsen in South Yarra, The Cullen in Prahran and The Blackman on St Kilda Road – will trial a booking system where guests don’t have to check out until someone else checks in.

Ryan Tuckerman, the hotel group’s marketing director, says it is a world-first for the hotel industry, which usually requires guests to leave at 11am.

“If no one checks in, you don’t check out,” Tuckerman says.

Tuckerman says the trial, which will run from December 16 to January 13, was prompted by growing demand for short stays from its young clientele.

“We’ve found from guests that the biggest gripe is they have to check out at 11am, which is an industry standard worldwide. Most people don’t want to depart at that time,” Tuckerman says.

Are there other ways in which you can take advantage of consumers’ growing appetite for short stays?