Shipping Companies Procedure

Below is the process for accepting a guest's passport as a security bond in lieu of a financial pre-authorisation, as per agreements with specific shipping companies.

Eligibility & Guest Choice

This procedure applies to guests affiliated with Inchcape, China Navigation Company (Swire), Borthwick Maritime Services, and Gulf Agency Company (GAC). While these guests have the option to provide a passport bond, they may also choose to provide a standard financial bond ($100 credit card or $300 cash).

Note:

Pre-authorisation clearance for international credit cards may take up to 2 weeks.

Passport Collection and Return

Guests can collect their passport at any time during their stay; they simply need to temporarily surrender their room keys and retrieve them upon returning to the hotel.

Check-In Procedure

Request the guest's passport.
Update iHMS:
- On the "Corporate" tab, add "Passport In Safe" to the remarks section.
- On the "Additional Items" tab, add the posting code "Cash Guest" and change the description to "Passport In Safe."
- This ensures the guest is included in cash guest reports, allowing the Duty Manager to track passports and their secure storage.
- On the "Communication" tab, enter "Passport In Safe/Cash Bond/Eftpos Bond" in the "Check-out Instruction" field.

Explain the cash guest procedure to the guest, including:
- What the company will and will not cover
- Any additional charges must be settled in Australian dollars upon check-out.

Place the passport in a cash bond envelope.

Inform the GSA, who will then notify the DM to store the envelope in the back office safe.

Write "Passport" on the top right corner of the registration card.

Check-Out Procedure

Inspect the guest's room for any damage (e.g., smoking, burns, broken items) before returning their passport.

Settle any incidentals not covered by the company. Accept cash payments in Australian dollars only.

Retrieve the cash bond envelope from the safe and return the passport to the guest.