HOMI - Hotel Outsource Management International, Inc.

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Our comparison charts help you understand exactly how the new HOMI^® 336 will impact your profits. We present all the crucial components of hotel minibar operation in this key reference; based on HOMI’s extensive statistical analysis.

Billing Issues

	HOMI® 336	Computerized Minibars	Manual Minibars
Computerized / Automatic	YES	YES	NO
False-Billing Over-Billing Under-Billing	Accurate Billing Consumption = Billing	False Billing +35% to +50% Guests can move / replace minibar contents without consumption	Under Billing -35% to -50% Inaccurate information provided by guests at checkout
Checkout / Disputes	Tamper-proof Eliminates disputes Error only in product choice Minibar service perceived as reliable	Excessive disputes Tracking and adjusting billing is time consuming Guest satisfaction low Minibar service perceived as unreliable	Manual Billing is time consuming and labor intensive Loss for hotel Guest satisfaction low Settling Minibar bill is inefficient

Operating Costs

	HOMI® 336	Computerized Minibars	Manual Minibars
Room Visits	Cost effective restocking No need to run after check-outs Guests see only 1st row of products (6 of each storable) Refill routine: small amount daily or full refill every 6 - 9 days	Labor intensive Need to check almost all check-out rooms Must insure that no guest sees personal items left over from the previous guest or missing products in the minibar	Labor intensive Need to check all occupied rooms
Labor Costs	Lowers Labor Costs Saves up to 85% on manual minibars Saves up to 65% on other computerized models	Expensive Labor intensive	Service runs at a loss Expensive Labor intensive

Inventory

	HOMI® 336	Computerized Minibars	Manual Minibars
Stock Control	Automatic computerized inventory control	Automatic computerized inventory control	No control / very high cost of goods
Product Choice & Expiration Control	Only best selling products are stocked Functional expiration date control Guest satisfaction high	Theoretical expiration date control, unreliable at best	Chronic expiration date problems, excessive waste

Investment & ROI

	HOMI® 336	Computerized Minibars	Manual Minibars
Initial Investment	Flexible business models suitable for any hotel (size or level) Models include full outsourcing or rental for short / medium / long term	Expensive turn-key equipment Business models suitable for hotels with high minibar revenues	Equipment is inexpensive
Return On Investment	Low operating costs Needs only $1.00 on average per available room / per day to be profitable	Labor intensive Break-even at $1.60 on average per available room / per day	Poor ROI Service runs at a loss Expensive (labor intensive)

Installation & Operation

	HOMI® 336	Computerized Minibars	Manual Minibars
Installation Ease	Simple Plug & Play unit Data transferred via integral, dedicated wireless system	Complex installation Special hotel infrastructure required + system updates (coaxial, Telephonic, LAN, or WIFI platforms)	Simple installation No hotel infrastructure needed
Management Control	Easy, user-friendly management control	Complex to manage Requires close supervision and continuous training	No management control available

Health & Safety

	HOMI® 336	Computerized Minibars	Manual Minibars
Refrigeration of Guest’s Personal Products	No access No need to check or clean Perishables, medicines or intimate items can be stored in mini-coolers provided for guest use upon request	Access possible Staff needs to check and clean all checkout minibars Problems with misplaced or moved items	Access possible Staff needs to check and clean all checkout minibars
Contamination	0% contamination Completely sealed unit No access to stored products by guests No previous occupant's medicines, perishables, intimate or unsanitary personal items in the minibar	Contamination can occur Handling of products by all guests Allows placement of perishables, intimate or unsanitary personal items in the minibar	Contamination can occur Handling of products by all guests Allows placement of perishables, intimate or unsanitary personal items in the minibar

Bottom Line

	HOMI® 336	Computerized Minibars	Manual Minibars
Where are the Profits?	New-tech computerized minibar offers clear-cut, practical solutions to real problems facing hotels Accurate billing plus labor savings of 65% - 85% Guest satisfaction high Only $1.00 daily average minibar revenue to profit	Existing computerized minibars on the market are expensive to maintain and complex to operate False billing, labor intensive Min. $1.60 daily minibar revenue to break even	Minibar service usually runs at a loss for hotel Suited for high-end boutique hotels only