CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN HOTEL AND RESTAURANT LAW: USE AND OCCUPANCY OF A GUEST'S ROOM-ENTRY BY INNKEEPER

This paper deals with the issue of guest-room use and occupancy and the circumstances under whkh innkeepers or their employees may legally enter the room ofaguest. A discussion of the rights, obligations, andliabilities of the innkeeper and the guest is detailed. Patterns of innkeeper responses to the issue and recommendations as to the devekyment and implementation of innkeeperpolicy to deal with the issue is also discussed. Key Words: Use andoccupancy, right of entry, rule of reason, policy and procedures, contract, tort, damages. A vital issue facing the innkeeping industry (hotels, motels, inns, etc.) in the United States today is one that centers around the use and occupancy of a guest's room and thecircumstances underwhich an innkeeper may gain entry into a guest's accommodat ion. R has been long established that legally a person who has been received as a guest for compensation by an inn and is assigned a rmm is entitled to the exclusive use thereof forthe period of his reservation (Dixon v. Hotel TutwilerOperating Co.