Guaranteed 4:00 PM arrival, often abbreviated as GTD 4PM, refers to a hotel reservation that is assured to be held until at least 4:00 PM on the day of arrival, regardless of the guest’s check-in time. This policy is frequently embedded within the overall cancellation terms. For example, a guest might be informed that cancellation is permitted without penalty until 6:00 PM the day before arrival, but the reservation remains guaranteed for arrival until 4:00 PM on the scheduled day, even if the guest does not appear. Beyond this time, the hotel may release the room, and a “no-show” fee might be applied according to the specific terms.
The existence of a guaranteed arrival time offers several benefits to both the hotel and the guest. It provides the hotel with assurance that revenue for the room is more likely to be realized, reducing the risk of lost income from unoccupied rooms. Simultaneously, it benefits the guest by ensuring that a room will be available upon arrival, even in the event of travel delays. Historically, the implementation of such guarantees arose from the need to balance occupancy rates with the uncertainty of guest arrival times, particularly in locations with high demand.
