Subject: Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Date Issue: June 6th, 2016
CC: Accounting Effective Date: August 1st, 2016
Prepared by:
Position: Financial Controller
Signature:
Approved By:
Position: General Manager
Signature:
OBJECTIVE
To ensure that hotel exchange rates are properly calculated and monitored with strict respect to local legislation.
POLICY
1. Hotel exchange rates must be regularly updated to minimize the risk of loss and the supporting documents retained.
2. The list of foreign currencies to be accepted in the hotel must be formally defined by the Financial Controller.
3. Hotel exchange rates should be displayed at the Front Office to guarantee transparency in any exchange transactions with hotel guests.
4. Local legislation must be adhered to (for example: maximum amount of foreign currency that can be exchanged per day and per client).
PROCEDURE
1. The update of hotel exchange rates is done daily. Official foreign exchange rates should be obtained from the company or bank that will be used for banking the foreign currency.
2. The calculation of the hotel exchange rates should then be formalized in applying a consistent hotel mark-up (in accordance with local legislation if any). General practice is 5% to 10% margin on hotel exchange rates.
3. Once approved by the Financial Controller, the hotel exchange rates are entered in the PMS and all exchange rates on display at Front Office updated accordingly.
4. After each update, a system-generated report should be printed out, attached with the official foreign currency exchange listing received, a copy of the hotel exchange rate display board and filed. This should be kept for a minimum of three months.
5. Weekly spot checks should be conducted by a person other than the one responsible for the update, to ensure the consistency of hotel calculated rates, computer rates and displayed rates.