Final answer:
Maintaining an inventory of guest loan items and tracking them is crucial in hotel management for operational efficiency and high-level guest satisfaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of hotel management, maintaining an inventory and tracking loaned items is essential for efficient operations. Contrary to options A and B, inventory management is necessary to know which items are available for guests and to replace items that are lost or worn.
Moreover, responding to guest requests is not optional as stated in C, since customer service is crucial in the hospitality industry.
Each guest loan item should be tracked to ensure that it can be returned to inventory for future use. An up-to-date inventory facilitates prompt responses to guest requests and maintains a high level of guest satisfaction.
Therefore, the correct answer is D: Maintaining an inventory and tracking items is important.