Lori Cook, manager of the Winter Park Hotel, is considering how to restructure the front desk to reach an optimum level of staff efficiency and guest service. At present, the hotel has five clerks on duty, each with a separate waiting line, during peak check- in time of 3: 00 p. m. to 5: 00 p. m. Observation of arrivals during this period shows that an average of 90 guests arrive each hour (although there is no upward limit on the number that could arrive at any given time). It takes an average of 3 minutes for the front- desk clerk to register each guest.

1. Determine the average amount of time that a guest spends checking in. How would this change under each of the stated options?

2. Which option do you recommend?