10 and 5 Staff Rule (2024)

Hospitality 101 comes with a multitude of acronyms and customer service rules that can be applied in any business where service is a key element of the experience.

One of the first rules taught by hospitality companies big and small is the 10 and 5 Staff Rule, also known as the ‘Zone of Hospitality’.

Understanding the 10 and 5 Staff Rule

Simply explained, the 10 and 5 Rule suggests that anytime a guest is within ten feet of a staff member, the staff member should make eye contact and warmly smile to acknowledge the oncoming guests.

When a staff member is approximately five feet from a guest, a sincere greeting or friendly gesture of acknowledgement should accompany the eye contact and smile.

Successful companies in and out of the hospitality industry have adopted their own versions of the 10 and 5 Staff Rule.

At Wal-Mart, founder Sam Walton coined the ‘Ten-Foot Attitude” and said, “…I want you to promise that whenever you come within 10 feet of a customer, you will look him in the eye, greet him and ask him if you can help him.”

At Walt Disney World, the rule is taken a few steps further by outlining what should happen any time a Disney “cast member” is near a guest with Disney’s Seven Service Guidelines:

• Make eye contact and smile
• Greet and welcome each and every guest
• Seek out guest contact
• Provide immediate service recovery
• Display appropriate body language at all times
• Preserve the “magical” guest experience
• Thank each and every guest

At Coyle Hospitality, we recognize that the essence of the ’10 and 5 Staff Rule’ is applicable throughout any service industry, as it demonstrates to guests that the staff member is aware of his or her surroundings and understands that the essential part of their job is to be helpful and welcoming.

Do you employ the 10 and 5 Staff Rule in your company? If not, is there another rule like it that you apply to your overall customer service strategy?

Coyle measures this rule and other important service touch points thousands of times each and every month for global hospitality companies such as Kimpton Hotels, Mandarin Oriental Hotels and Resorts, and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Contact Coyle to see how your brand stacks up against these industry leaders.

10 and 5 Staff Rule (2024)

FAQs

10 and 5 Staff Rule? ›

The '10 and five' rule in hospitality says that staff coming within 10 feet of a guest should smile and make eye contact, while those coming within five feet should add a warm verbal greeting.

What is the 5/10 rule in the workplace? ›

If you're within 10 feet of someone, make eye contact and smile, even if it means looking up from your smartphone. If you're within five feet of someone, say hello, and perhaps ask them how they're doing. Model this behavior and encourage the people who work with you to do the same.

What is the 5 and 10 rule? ›

The idea behind the 10:5 rule is that anytime you find yourself within 10 feet (3 meters) of someone, you should smile and make eye contact. When you are within 5 feet (1.5 meters) of someone, you should greet them with a friendly hello or other greeting.

What is the 10 5 rule of guest service? ›

When a guest comes within ten (10) feet of a team member(s), the team member(s) should cease their conversation to acknowledge the approaching guest. At approximately five (5) feet our team members should acknowledge the guest(s) with a nod or greeting, whenever appropriate.

What is the 10 5 rule in healthcare? ›

The rule dictates that when a staff member is 10 feet from a guest, the staff smiles and makes direct eye contact, and when they are within five feet, the staff verbally greets the guest. Applying this principle to nursing homes is a simple, inexpensive way to enrich patient and staff lives.

What is 10 and 5 customer service? ›

Within ten feet or so of a customer, you should acknowledge them with a facial expression. I add to that. It should be a smile! And within five feet or so of the customer, you should acknowledge them verbally.

What is the 10/5 rule for a front desk agent? ›

The '10 and five' rule in hospitality says that staff coming within 10 feet of a guest should smile and make eye contact, while those coming within five feet should add a warm verbal greeting.

What are the 10 and 5 rights? ›

Players who have accrued 10 years of Major League service time and spent the past five consecutive years with the same team are awarded 10-and-5 rights. Under these circ*mstances, a player can veto any trade scenario that is proposed.

What is the 10 and 10 business rule? ›

The 10–10–10 rule is a transformative approach that involves examining the potential impact of our decisions over distinct time horizons. When faced with choices, individuals are encouraged to consider the effects of their decisions over the next 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years.

How do you greet customers with 10 and 5 techniques? ›

The 10 and 5 rule is famous in the hospitality industry as a simple reminder to consistently greet people that you encounter.
  1. When customers are 10 feet away from you, use a non-verbal greeting such as a smile or a wave.
  2. When customers are 5 feet away from you, greet them verbally.
Jan 1, 2013

What is the 10/5/3 rule in hospitality? ›

At 10 feet: Look up from what you are doing and acknowledge the guest with direct eye contact and a nod. At 5 feet: Smile, with your lips and eyes. At 3 feet*: Verbally greet the guest and offer a time-of-day greeting (“Good morning”).

What is the golden rule of hospitality? ›

"Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you."

What is the 15 5 rule at Marriott? ›

The 15/5 rule at Marriott teaches employees to make eye contact and smile at customers when they are within 15 feet and to give a verbal greeting when customers are within 5 feet.

What is the golden rule in healthcare? ›

The Golden Rule states that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

What is the 10 5 rule in Aidet? ›

Follow the 10 and 5 Rule: at 10 feet, look up and acknowledge, make eye contact, and smile; at five feet, verbally greet and offer assistance if necessary.

What is the rule of 5 in nursing? ›

Most health care professionals, especially nurses, know the “five rights” of medication use: the right patient, the right drug, the right time, the right dose, and the right route—all of which are generally regarded as a standard for safe medication practices.

What does working 5 10s mean? ›

Where the 5-10s work day schedule is established, the following rules will apply: Sample 1Sample 2.

What is the 90 10 rule for employees? ›

In the context of productivity, the 90-10 principle suggests that a significant portion of results can be attributed to a minority of activities. By identifying and focusing on these vital few, individuals can optimize their output and achieve greater impact within a given timeframe.

What is an example of the 10 rule? ›

For example, a plant will use 90% of the energy it gets from the sun for its own growth and reproduction. When it is eaten by a consumer, only 10% of its energy will go to the animal that eats it. That consumer will use 90% of that energy and only 10% will go on to the animal that eats it.

What is rule of 10 in management? ›

The relationship between the two is called the “rule of 10”. At each step of the value chain, fixing a problem is approximately 10 times faster and cheaper than doing so in the next phase.

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