Monthly Archives: June 2010

Back by popular demand: Development Programme for Housekeeping Managers in Hong Kong

In conjunction with the Hong Kong Hotels Association L&A will be running the popular Development Programme for Housekeeping. This is a 3-day workshop designed to provide a training programme to existing Housekeeping Managers that will deliver concrete Housekeeping Management skills to meet the business needs of the growing hospitality industry. Delivered in a choice of four modules, it focuses on Housekeeping specific financial management, housekeeping operations, staff training & development and quality control & property upkeep. Modules can be selected and combined individually, and can be tailored to fit particular corporate needs or company objectives. This programme is suitable for Executive Housekeepers, their Assistants, Housekeeping Managers and Rooms Division Managers.

Course A – 20, 22 & 23 July 2010 (Tue, Thu & Fri)
Course B – 27, 28 & 29 July 2010 (Tue, Wed & Thu)
9:00 am – 5:30 pm daily
Venue: HKHA Conference Hall, 508-511 Silvercord Tower Two
30 Canton Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Members can contact the Hong Kong Hotel Association.

Success for 2nd annual Housekeeping Olympic Games 2010

Last Saturday The Professional Housekeeping Association of NSW (PHAN) organised its 2nd annual Housekeeping Olympics. The event was held at the King George V Recreation Centre in Sydney. The PHAN committee, the judges, the MC and all the volunteers did a tremendous job to make these games even more successful then last year. The president of the PHAN committee Chona Ogilvie welcomed the teams and their supporters and formally opened the Games. She handed the microphone to the MC for the afternoon, Liz Lycette who presented an excellent event.

There were 5 different races the Mop Relay, Toilet Paper Mummy Wrapping, Toilet Paper Throwing, Scrubbing Pad Discuss Throwing and the main event, Bed Making Relay.

The contest was overseen by a panel of judges, Jan Reed, Melissa Roughly, Anju Khanna, Marie Chiron, Michael Jackson, Vikki Jakus and headed by Ariane Lellmann. All are experts in housekeeping operations.

There was cheer leading and trophies for the winning team for each event, including the Best Dressed Team.

The day was sponsored by AH Beard bed makers, Aus Weaving Mills linen suppliers, Accommodation Linen suppliers, Lawrence Dry Cleaners and iPerform

Final results all events

EVENT: MOP RELAY
1st:      Win Wind Wyndham – Wyndham Resort
2nd:    The Incredibles – The Menzies
3rd:     World Tower Bombers – Meriton World Tower

EVENT: TOILET PAPER MUMMY WRAPPING
1st:      Plaza Penguins – Radisson Plaza
2nd:    Let’s Get Physical – Four Seasons Hotel
3rd:     Win Wind Wyndham – Wyndham Resort

EVENT: TOILET PAPER THROWING RELAY
1st:      The Blues, Blue Hotel Sydney
2nd:    Ibis Rocks – Ibis King Street Wharf
3rd:     Mercure Eagles – Mercure Sydney Airport

EVENT: SCRUBBING PAD DISCUS THROWING RELAY EVENT:
1st:      Fraser Team – Fraser Suites
2nd:    The Irresistibles – Mercure Sydney
3rd:     Super Green – Holiday Inn Potts Point

EVENT: BED MAKING RELAY
1st:      Plaza Penguins Radisson Plaza
2nd:    Marriot Magic – Sydney Harbour Marriott
3rd:     World Tower Bombers – Meriton World Tower

The First prize was $800!

EVENT: BEST DRESSED TEAMS
1st: Star City Superstars
2nd: Plaza Penguins Radisson Plaza
3rd: The Irresistibles – Mercure Sydney

The games were closed in the late afternoon with a pledge to return in 2011! A fantastic event, looking forward to next year!

More information about the judges
Ariane Lellmann – Executive Housekeeper , L&A colleague
Melissa Roughley – Academic Liaison Officer, International College of Management, Manly
Vicky Jakus – Executive Housekeeper, Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School
Anju Khanna – TAFE Lecturer, Teacher of hospitality at TAFE
Jan Read – Lecturer Rooms Division Management, International College of Management, Manly
Marie Chiron – Retired Executive Housekeeper, Retired Housekeeper now in Real Estate
Michael Jackson – Operations Manager, IPerform

RULES OF THE GAMES
Toilet Roll Throwing Relay -  4 in a team
To throw an intact toilet paper roll through a toilet seat positioned on a box 5 metres from the throw line. The most toilet rolls to go through the toilet seat in a one minute period is the winner. Team of 4 with 3 toilet rolls each.

Toilet Paper Mummy wrapping – 2 in a team
To use 1 toilet paper roll completely to wrap one person from head to toe, covering all skin and body. Points awarded for the first to finish, points deducted for each time the toilet paper breaks. Points added for final presentation. Mummy must not move or assist in anyway during the competition.

Mop Relay – 4 in a team
Relay teams to push a dry mop through an obstacle course (wet floor signs)  with 4 team changes, quickest team wins. Points deducted if dry mop leaves the floor surface.

Scrubbing Pad discus throwing relay – 4 in a team
To throw 40 cm scrubbing pads into a wheelie bin 7 metres from the throw line. The most pads in the bin in a 1 minute period will win. Team of 4 to alternate in throwing pads.

Bed making Competition -4 in a team
3 beds per heat, Bed to be made in relay:
1. Mattress protector and bottom sheet (tucked in 4 corners),
2. 2nd sheet and blanket,
3. top sheet
4. 1 pillow in a pillowcase. Judged on final time, process and finished look

Bed making rules
Teams of 4 participants per team
Bed is to be made in relay, with all team members starting off at the starting line.
As soon as one member has completed his/her task they need to run back to the starting line and tap their next member before that one can run to do his/her task
Task sharing as follows
1st member: Mattress protector and 1st sheet (bottom sheet)
2nd member: 2nd sheet and blanket
3rd member: 3rd sheet, fold over and tuck in
4th member: pillow and pillow case and overall presentation
All team members to stand at foot of bed once last contestant has finished, to indicate they are finished as a team.
Points are awarded for each task correctly completed and speed

Bed making Score Card

Best dressed team
Whole hotel team of maximum 18 and minimum of 4A prize for the most original and outstanding team uniforms

For more information about PHAN visit www.phan.org.au

Presentation in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday 14 July

Staff Productivity Management in Housekeeping

Traditionally, the Housekeeping Department is one of the largest in a Hotel operation. Housekeeping labour and related costs are one of the biggest expense lines on the Rooms Division P&L. 

How financially savvy are you as Executive Housekeeper and how well do you understand how to look at productivity as a useful and effective tool to save costs?
New technology and innovation in materials have emerged to significantly increase housekeeping efficiency and effectiveness with proven bottom line benefits. A one-hour presentation on this topic will be held on Wednesday 14 July 2010 from 1.30 pm with lively discussion afterwards. Please register your attendance by email to liz@lycetteandassociates.com. For more information on Lycette & Associates go to www.lycetteandassociates.com.
Venue: To be confirmed – Kuala Lumpur
Date: Wednesday 14 July 2010
Time:    1.30 – 2.30 pm (discussion afterwards for all who can stay a bit longer)
Cost: This is a FREE event

Tip: Carpet Stains – Fruit

A series of tips to help you get rid of the toughest carpet stains.

Fruit:
You need the following equipment and products:
White cloth, vinegar, glycerine, cotton ball or old toothbrush, talcum powder, vacuum cleaner, carpet cleaner or Napisan Oxygen, paper towel.

Make sure the carpet is colour fast*. For stains from fruit that go brown such as apricots, kiwifruit, apples, bananas and so on, put glycerine on the stain with a cotton ball or old tooth brush and sprinkle talcum powder over the top of it. Vacuum. Then use a carpet cleaner. Vacuum again. An alternative to carpet cleaner is  a paste of water and Napisan Oxygen on the stain for a few minutes. Wipe it off, rinse and dry with a paper towel, leave the carpet to dry, then vacuum.

*To test for colour fastness, soak a white cloth in vinegar and apply to a part of the carpet not on display. If any colour comes off, it is not colourfast and you may have to patch the carpet

Source: Spotless by Shanon Lush and Jennifer Fleming

L&A signs contract to provides corporate housekeeping services

Lycette & Associates recently signed a contract to provide Swissbel – Hotel International with corporate housekeeping services to 40+ hotels in Asia and the Middle East.

Agnes Zlotek Petit will conduct the “Housekeeping Business Development and Systems Reviews” at the 20 hotels in Indonesia. Agnes has already completed her 3-day review at Ciputra Gold Club and at Swiss-Belhotel Surabaya. Liz Lycette has already evaluated the operations at Swiss-Belhotel Plaza Kuwait City and Swiss-Belhotel Doha in Qatar. Next in line for a Housekeeping Development and Systems Review are 4 properties in China, Swiss-Belhotel Changhun, Swiss-Belhotel Lotus Lake Wuhan, Swiss-Belhotel Hualun and the Swiss-Belhotel Hefei will receive pre and post opening assistance.

In the words of Swiss-Belhotel President Mr. Gavin Faull, “This collaboration is an opportunity to lift the standards, the passion and the professionalism of Swiss-Belhotel International”.

For more information on Corporate Housekeeping Services visit our Corporate Housekeeping page on our website or email us at info@lycetteandassociates.com

Sharm El Sheikh workshop for Rotana Housekeeping Managers

L&A ran a 2-day Development Programme for Housekeeping Managers from Rotana properties in Egypt. Four different hotels participated; Grand Rotana Resort & Spa, Rotana Coral Beach Tiran, Rotana Coral Beach Montazah and Rotana Coral Beach Hurghada. The course was held at the beautiful Red Sea resort Grand Rotana Resort & Spa in Sharm el Sheikh.

The topics covered were Staff Management, Development and Quality Control. The lively workshop encouraged participants to share best practice as well as learn through role-play and interactive group activities.

For more information on courses and workshops visit our Training & Courses page on our website or for more specific inquiries email us on info@lycetteandassociates.com

Housekeeping expert speaks at 7 Star Conference

Lycette & Associates was invited to speak at last month’s 7 Star Conference, part of the annual Hotel Show in Dubai. The central themes for this year’s Conference were Design Trends, Technology and the Future, Food & Beverage trends and Marketing and Profitability. Liz Lycette presented to a group of 50 Housekeepers and General Managers on the topic of ‘Staff productivity management in housekeeping’. Traditionally, the Housekeeping Department is one of the largest in a Hotel operation. Housekeeping labour and related costs is one of the biggest expense lines on the Rooms Division P&L. The question was asked: “How financially savvy is your Executive Housekeeper and how well does he or she understand how to look at productivity as a useful and effective tool to save costs?” Liz shared her knowledge of the latest technology and the emergence of innovative materials, all of which have significantly increased housekeeping efficiency and effectiveness. The proven bottom line benefits are clear. For more information on Productivity in Housekeeping contact L&A at info@lycetteandassociates.com.

Tip: Carpet Stains – Lipstick

A series of tips to help you get rid of the toughest carpet stains.

Lipstick:
You need the following equipment and products:
Dry-cleaning fluid, cotton ball, bicarb, vacuum cleaner

Use dry-cleaning fluid applied with a cotton ball to soften the colour of the lipstick stain. Then sprinkle bicarb over the stain and vacuum.

Source: Spotless by Shanon Lush and Jennifer Fleming