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Hotel Housekeeping Standards for Hoteliers to Live By

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Efficient hotel housekeeping ensures that your hotel is clean, sanitized, and orderly to your guests. Keeping it spotless is essential as this can make or break your hotel’s image and reputation, which may affect your occupancy and income. According to a recent feedback platform article, 87% of travelers consider hotel cleanliness as the most important information when they are reading reviews.

Your hotel housekeeping staff must follow a series of procedures to keep every room and its amenities thoroughly clean and organized from top to bottom and with no evidence of the previous occupants. This will help increase the guest satisfaction level at your hotel. 

Hotel Housekeeping Standards: The Basics

The hotel housekeeping department should observe a sequence when cleaning the hotel rooms. 

  • Preparation – Remove all dirty items and what has been consumed. Do an inventory check on what needs to be replaced like free goodies, towels, and linens.
  • Actual Cleaning – Clean and sanitize thoroughly using your hotel’s cleaning supplies and equipment.
  • Final Check – The hotel housekeeping floor supervisors must have a meticulous final check before the rooms are ready for occupancy again. This last inspection is a vital step in every guest room cleaning.

Several standards of cleaning can be imposed depending on the surfaces and the function of the spaces to be cleaned. The housekeeping staff or room attendants must be aware of and strictly follow hotel housekeeping standards.

6 Various Standards of Cleaning for Surfaces and Areas

1. Physically Clean

The area or surface must be free from dirt and dust when wiped by hand.

2. Chemically Clean

This cleaning standard means the area should be free from dangerous chemicals on the surfaces and in the air.

3. Bacteriologically Clean

Surfaces must be cleaned of any harmful bacteria that may cause diseases or infections. This is called the “clinical standard” and most hospitals follow this in their general wards.

4. Entomologically Clean

Following this standard requires the area to be free from harmful insects or pests.

5. Osmologically Clean

This means that surfaces and areas must be free from organic or inorganic matter that may release an odor.

6. Terminally Clean

This cleaning standard is typically applicable in operation theatres and intensive care units in hospitals where surfaces have to be always sanitized to protect against all kinds of pathogenic microbes.

5  Essential Housekeeping Factors

The hotel housekeeping attendants must start cleaning the room once they approach the door. There are essential standards of ideal housekeeping that can impact guest retention. These 5 practical steps in housekeeping can be applied to your hotel.

  • Freshness – Keep the floors vacuumed and polished thoroughly.
  • Orderliness – Chairs must be in place and the linens must be clean, folded, and wrinkle-free.
  • Sanitation – Keep the area safe from pests and sanitize the garbage cans frequently.
  • Comfort – Reduce disruption and offer adequate amenities to your guests.
  • Safety – Take necessary precautions against fire-related incidents.  

REMEMBER: It is a hotel housekeeping SOP to knock first before entering the guest room to respect the privacy of the occupants if they are inside.

DID YOU KNOW?

It takes 31.5 minutes to clean a full room after a guest’s departure. And on a daily average, 7% of hotel rooms are not cleaned because the guests have either “Do not Disturb” or “Refused” signs on the door. 

Housekeeping and Hotel Amenities

Observe hotel housekeeping cleaning standards when it comes to room amenities and quality linens and towels. Housekeeping staff can use a checklist to ensure that nothing is overlooked while cleaning.

  • Room amenities are additional services and items like toiletries, bathrobes and slippers, refrigerators, and minibars that add convenience and comfort to the guest’s hotel experience. Hotel housekeeping checklist on room amenities can include:
  • Wiping the interior and exterior of a mini fridge and coffee maker.
  • Sanitizing the phones or remote controls.
  • Replenishing all supplies in the fridge and mini bar.
  • Replacing toiletries and personal care items.

Hotel and Spa Essentials offers high-quality hotel slippers that you can include in your in-room amenities. These are made with high-quality materials that are comfortable to wear which contribute to a luxurious experience that combines comfort, convenience, and well-being for all your hotel guests.

  • Hotel linens play a large part in your guests’ hotel experience. Aside from comfort and a sense of luxury, your hotel’s linens and towels should be always clean and fresh. Your hotel housekeeping checklist for cleaning linens and towels must have the following:
  • Removing dirty towels and linens.
  • Changing and putting fresh bed sheets and pillowcases.
  • Covering the bed with a clean duvet and smoothing out any wrinkles.

Hotel and Spa Essentials is the distributor of two of the most innovative manufacturers of hotel linens and towels in the world – Standard Textile and Ecoknit. Standard Textile is specially designed for those who do offsite laundry. It saves up to 15% per laundry load without compromising the end-user experience. Ecoknit is specially designed for those who do their laundry in-house. It guarantees up to 40% quicker drying times and 40% less water usage.

ALSO READ: 6 Important Hotel Amenities that Would Impress Your Guests

Hotel housekeeping cleaning standards ensure that your hotel is tidy and sanitized for your guests. Ideal hotel housekeeping standards include freshness, orderliness, sanitation, comfort, and safety which must be observed at all times. Room amenities and hotel linens and towels must be given special attention when cleaning the rooms. Hotel housekeeping staff can make a simplified checklist that includes the cleaning tasks to be accomplished. 

Hotel and Spa Essentials, a luxury hotel amenities supplier, can support your need in keeping up with hotel industry standards.  Check out our range of world-class hotel supplies including linen, towels, in-room equipment, and other guest room items.

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How Your Hotel Can Benefit from Promotional Branding through Product Customization

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Have you ever thought of the effort and time you spent building your hotel’s brand? It has gone through a scrutinous process for a reason. Your brand is an important factor that can impact your hotel more than you think. The elements that it features help create your identity and give your property a personality. It is a vital part of your business and you should use it as much as possible to build connections with potential clients.

People in search of accommodations are exposed to various brands, especially with various platforms where anyone can promote their business. This is a positive development for consumers but it challenges hotels and accommodations to make their brand stand out and remarkable amidst the heightened competition. Fortunately, promotional branding can be a powerful tool for hoteliers especially by incorporating product customization into their strategies.

What is Promotional Branding?

It is a process that involves sending information, reminding consumers, and influencing them in their purchase decisions. One of its main goals is to build a loyal client base for the long term. A common method for promotional branding is product customization.

How Product Customization Can Give Your Hotel the Edge

1. Establish a good impression.

Through product customization, you can create a good brand image. You’ll appear as a company that takes extra steps to stand out. It also creates an impression of your willingness to establish a remarkable, trusted, and reputable brand that can compete with others.

2. Build customer loyalty.

Your brand connects you with your customers. It serves as the identification that consumers can recognize even when a range of options is presented to them. It contributes to client retention through brand familiarity. Coupled with a satisfactory customer experience from your hotel, your brand will be on the list of past clients who will book or search for the best hotels or accommodations and contribute to quicker decision-making.

3. Bring peace of mind.

Adding brands to your hotel supplies can bring peace of mind. In essence, no business would put its name on items that do not pass their qualifications. This goes true in branding your hotel essentials. The logo that comes with the product is a symbol of quality for some. The mere recognition of the brand could be enough for them to know that the product complies with industry standards.

4. Benefit from word-of-mouth marketing.

Customers with great experience in certain products could be the best endorsers and you can leverage that through product customization. Add your brand to hotel supplies. Let promotional branding work so that it will be easier for them to promote your hotel to others.

5. Add value to hotel supplies.

Generic items are offered at a lower price. Consumers also tend to pay higher for branded items as compared to non-branded products. The addition of your company logo is an upgrade that will allow you to charge higher for products that are preferred by hotel guests.

DID YOU KNOW? According to the Deloitte review, 1 in 5 consumers are interested in personalized products or services and are willing to pay 20% more for them.

ALSO READ: How to Meet Guest Expectations in the Hospitality Industry

For some promotional branding may appear as nothing more than the usual marketing strategies. But, it offers more important benefits than what’s obvious. Product customization using your brand’s logos and colors create your business identity. Along with that are the benefits that emphasize why you should go for customized hotel supplies.

If you haven’t found a hotel supplier that offers customization of hotel toiletries, supplies, and other guest amenities, Hotel and Spa Essentials can help you. We can help you with promotional branding through sustainable and world-class hotel supplies. 

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How to Increase Direct Bookings in Your Hotel

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There are many ways to get more bookings for your hotel. Travel agencies and hotel comparison sites can help target a specific market. While those two options can benefit your hotel, direct booking is another option that will allow you to transact directly with guests, foster good relationships, and bring more benefits.

With direct bookings, there is an opportunity to upsell and gain loyal clients. You won’t even have to pay commissions to 3rd parties which will translate to an increase in revenue. However, it will take great marketing strategies to increase direct bookings in your hotel.

Key Tactics to Increase Direct Hotel Bookings

1. Be Visible Online

Your website is a great tool that can connect you with potential clients. Make sure that through it, your hotel will be able to create a good impression and convert leads into sales. Here are some tips to increase direct bookings through your website:

  • Make it mobile-friendly. With more people using mobile devices to transact online, your hotel will be more competitive if it can be accessed through any device.
  • Optimize the booking process. Create a straightforward booking process so your clients can complete a transaction in a few steps.
  • Use high-resolution images. Guests will rely on what they see on your website. Make sure to use high-quality images to showcase your rooms and luxury hotel amenities.

2. Re-Engage Past Clients

Reconnect with past clients for a possible rebooking. Take advantage of the contact details that you already have. You can reach out to them via email or phone. Offer discounts or loyalty perks that may encourage them to book your hotel again and even promote it to their close contacts.

3. Be Responsive

Customer service is a key aspect that you should not overlook if you want to get more direct bookings in your hotel. Be prompt in answering inquiries from your website, social media platform, emails, or calls. One of the things that will drive customers away is poor communication. It will also create a bad impression which may be the reason why they will never prioritize your hotel again.

4. Offer a Personalized Experience

The details you get from inquiries can help you create a personalised experience for your guests. Be keen on the details that they will provide. For example, if you’ve learned that they are planning to book a hotel room for a birthday or anniversary, you may offer them freebies or special discounts that will add more value to their stay. By taking added efforts to offer personalized services, customers will find reasons to choose your hotel over other options.

5. Establish Customer Loyalty

Repeat clients will increase direct bookings in your hotel. These customers can also help you through word-of-mouth advertising. Once a client chooses to book with you, take it as an opportunity to turn them into loyal customers. You can do this by offering them services that will give them reasons to book again whenever possible.

6. Enhance Your Level of Service

Customers who book hotels expect quality service and the most relaxing experience during their stay. Enhance your level of service to assure them that they will be given the treatment they deserve and be entitled to privileges during their stay.

  • Offer welcome gifts. These are simple tokens that can leave a mark on your guests and give them the impression that they are valued,
  • Provide luxury hotel amenities. Help them create a memorable and luxurious experience during their stay. Invest in world-class hotel toiletries, linen, and towels that will make them easily realize the edge that you have over other hotels.
  • Make essential in-room equipment available. Basic room essentials like coffee machines, hairdryers, ironing equipment, safes, kettles and trays are some of the added perks that can make them feel more comfortable during their stay in your hotel.

ALSO READ: The Most Popular Scents Used in Premier Accommodations

Direct bookings bring advantages without the need to pay commissions to 3rd party providers. There are techniques that you should follow to lead more people to your hotel, gain repeat clients and maximize direct bookings in your hotel.
If you are looking for a hotel amenities supplier, Hotel and Spa Essentials offers a wide range of products that caters to the needs of the most demanding guests. Send us a message today so we can assist you in finding luxury hotel toiletries, towels, linen, and in-room equipment that are used by world-class hotels.

Essential Guest Room Supplies Every Hotel Should Have

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Hotels are often considered as a place to spend a few days when one is in another location away from home. Nowadays, it’s no longer enough to offer hotel amenities that are limited to the use of a bed and bathroom. There are now essential guest room supplies that contribute to a comfortable experience–and plus points for your hotel!

Here’s a list of the new normal’s guest room supplies that should be on your hotel amenities list.

5 Guest Room Supplies You Need for Your Hotel

1. Courtesy Tray

One of the ways to show your appreciation for guests who chose you over other hotels is by providing them with a courtesy tray upon their arrival. Whether they travelled by car or by plane, they’d be happy to find drinks or snacks that they can consume for free without being charged. A courtesy tray may include bottled waters, tea and coffee packs, and the likes.

2. Welcome Gifts

Aside from a courtesy tray, guests would also love to receive welcome gifts that are exclusively given to those who book in your hotel. It gives guests something to look forward to upon their arrival. For some, these could be another factor why they’d find more value in booking in your hotel. A welcome gift doesn’t have to be grand. It can be as simple as a souvenir bag or pouch that they can use to keep the things they need while in your hotel. 

3. Sanitation Kits

Alcohol, face mask, wet wipes, and soap are now considered essentials. One can never have too much of those. Aside from being useful and highly appreciated, sanitation kits are now a requirement among hotels. While they are useful for your quests, they can also increase the safety in your hotel since every guest will have the new normal essentials they need to practice health protocols.

Hotel and Spa Essentials can help you comply with regulations in the hospitality industry. We offer sanitation kits that can be customized to include your brand logo or add hotel toiletries based on your specific preferences. Check out our sanitation kits here.

4. In-Room Equipment

Remember that guests look forward to relaxing and spending quality time in your hotel room so you should not forget to add essential guest room supplies for them. Aside from providing Wi-Fi access, consider adding a good audio and video system so that they can still have an enjoyable time while staying in their rooms.

Other in-room equipment that can contribute to the quality experience of your guests should also be provided. Consider adding a safe, minibars, electrical appliances, and other items usually sought by guests. You should even consider adding a working space for those who travel while attending to their works or business. Those with kids will also find it convenient to have an in-room station for traveling students.

5. Quality Linens

It is a must to include linens in your guest room supplies. But you should not just settle for ordinary, choose high-quality linens such as beddings and towels that your guests will appreciate, benefit the environment, and impact your operational costs at the same time.

As a trusted bed linen supplier in the Philippines, Hotel and Spa Essentials offers Standard Textile to world-class hoteliers. Aside from satisfying guests, it is also proven to save time and money with up to 15% savings per laundry load. It also features Centium core technology that guarantees soft touch and longer service life so you can maximize your investment in hotel linens!

When it comes to towels, EcoKnit is one of the most innovative brands in the market today. It allows up to 40% quicker drying times and 40% less water usage which translates to greater savings.

ALSO READ: Different Types of Linen Used in Hotels

Hotel guest amenities contribute to the hotel experience of every guest. It’s up to you to choose the guest room supplies. Make the best decision to ensure that aside from creating a great impression, they can also be a factor in encouraging more bookings and reducing your operational costs. 
Hotel and Spa Essentials can help you in shaping your hotel’s marketing strategy by providing you with eco-friendly and luxury hotel amenities that your guests and the environment will love. Contact us today so we can help you in the procurement of quality hotel amenities and guest room supplies.

The Principles Behind Ecotourism that Hotels Must Adopt

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Before the pandemic, ecotourism has started to gain its niche in the travel industry. In fact, it is a fast-growing segment that mainly focuses on conservation. Post-pandemic, a continuing shift toward ecotourism is expected. If you’re a hotel owner and wants to prepare for ‘new normal’ travel, there are principles behind ecotourism that you should know and adopt to your systems too.

What is Ecotourism?

Ecotourism is the responsible way to travel to natural areas that conserve nature and sustains the welfare of locals. It is a way to encourage travelers to do their part in protecting the environment and avoid degradation in any way while contributing to local communities instead of being just a typical tourist passing by.

  • It raises environmental awareness
  • It supports conservation efforts
  • It empowers local people
  • It respects local culture

How Your Hotel can Adopt Ecotourism Practices

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

One of the most important issues that hotel owners must address is the huge amount of waste produced each year. By strictly following the 3Rs, you can help in its reduction. There are now luxury hotel supplies that are available in eco-friendly dispensers and packages that should initiate your move towards proper waste management.

While directly instructing hotel guests to practice the 3Rs may seem off, you can motivate them by putting signs around the property about it. There are also materials that you can display to show the extent of damage that environmental waste can create.

2. Promote Energy Conservation

Conscious efforts must be made towards energy conservation. There are practices that must be changed in order to adopt measures that can preserve water and energy.

There are available alternatives to conventional and energy-consuming amenities. Eco-friendly showerheads, dual flush toilets, quick-drying towels and linens, and innovative technologies are just some of the options that you can try to adhere to ecotourism principles.

3. Create a Green Building

Greenhouse gases contribute to environmental destruction and you may not know it but your hotel is already guilty of this.

There are structures in your hotel that may need to be upgraded. Insulate walls and glasses so they won’t reflect the heat outside and you can keep your building cool naturally. Controlled lighting that automatically switches on and off as needed is also a good investment. Basic but important switches can result in taking huge steps towards turning your hotel into a green building.

ALSO READ: How to Convert Your Luxury Accommodation into a Sustainable Eco Hotel

Once travel resumes, the number of hotel guests that you can accommodate is also expected to increase. Why not take this time as an opportunity to upgrade your systems to make your hotel more eco-friendly? Ecotourism is a growing trend and as more people are more conscious about the environment now, you will be doing your business a favor while doing your part in protecting the environment at the same time. 
Hotel and Spa Essentials support environmentally-friendly initiatives. Contact us today to know how we can empower you to save the planet, one guest at a time.