CSI hotel room: Best Western goes high-tech to clean

In response to what it says is travelers’ insistence on cleanliness, Best Western is equipping its housekeeping crews with equipment you’d most likely see on the forensic investigation TV series: black lights to detect biological matter otherwise unseen by the human eye, and ultraviolet light wands to zap it. For possibly the dirtiest object in your room — the TV remote control — there will be disposable wraps.

Best Western says it’s taking the steps partly because research from Booz & Company shows that travelers desire a hotel’s cleanliness over customer service, style and design.

To read the complete article, click here

BP receives Olympic assistance from Liz

Liz has been working in London since June on a huge project for the London 2012 Olympics. She was contracted to Iluka and worked under the banner of BP up until mid-August. Liz worked with the Hospitality team and was the Team and Ops Manager for the One Day Programme based at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. Liz is pictured with Team BP and Jessica Ennis who won gold for team GB in the Women’s heptathlon. Jessica is proudly showing off her gold medal in the photo and Liz is just popping out to her left!

The Paralympics are next, Liz will again be working with Iluka and BP managing the One Day Programme from the St Martins Lane Hotel in central London. The Paralympics will go through to mid-September when Liz will return to Australia.

PEHN seeking participants for International Housekeeping week 2012

This year International housekeeper’s week is set for 9 September to 15 September. PEHN The Professional Executive Housekeepers Network in Victoria is looking for interest from Hotels who may like to open their doors for a site during the Housekeeper’s Week (this may or may not offer refreshment – up to hotel), as Housekeeper’s and Suppliers always want to check out other hotels. Make sure to indicate the maximum number of people that can be accommodates. If you are interested could you please let Marian Stratford  know what day/time would suit by putting your hotel name below.

The idea is to have a different hotel each day. Once the calendar is set PEHN will send out invitations to all ( What maximum numbers could you accomodate)  please let me know. Will confirm numbers once I have set hotels.

Monday 10 September   Hotel Name:________________    Time:_____________  Refreshments:  Yes __  No___.  Max No.____
Tuesday 11 September   Hotel Name:________________    Time:_____________  Refreshments:  Yes __  No___.  Max No.____
Wednesday 12 September no site as Picnic @ Albert Park Lake @ 4 pm please RSVP to this event. Invites will be sent soon.
Thursday 13 September Hotel Name:________________    Time:_____________  Refreshments:  Yes __  No___.  Max No.____
Friday 14 September     Hotel Name:________________    Time:_____________  Refreshments:  Yes __  No___.  Max No.____

Thanks to all for helping to make this event a success.

Contact: Marian Stratford
Email: stratfordmarian@gmail.com
PH: +61 0411 590 136

To celebrate International Housekeeper’s Week (9 – 15th September) PEHN is organising a Picnic @ Albert Park Lake on Wednesday the 12th September. Non members are welcome, the important thing is to bring a dish to share around from your country of origin, as we all know this department is multi-cultural and to celebrate that diversity, we encourage all to share a dish, you can co-ordinate this with your team if you like or you can just bring one individually, ensure there is enough to share around.  There will be lots of fun and games. Don’t hesitate to bring blankets and chairs, if you want to get comfy.

Date: 12 September 2012
Time: 4pm to 7pm
Location Albert Park Drive, Albert Park

RSVP is a MUST to get numbers, please do not just turn up – reply by the 7th September @ pehn.aus@gmail.com, 

L&A announces another lucky winner!

Thank you to all that have entered in this competition! We have a winner! Pritam Vats, Executive Housekeeper, Days Hotel Neemrana (Wyndham Hotels Worldwide). Pritam will be participating in the 3nd online course: Finance for Housekeeping Managers starting 2oth August 2012.

We will organise another lucky draw later on this year. You can re-enter if you missed out this time.

Kuwait Housekeeping Olympics a roaring success

Last year the Kuwait Housekeepers Group organised an inaugural Housekeeping Olympics and after the overwhelming response from sponsors and housekeeping staff in 2011 the Group decided to make this an annual event. The second Housekeeping Olympics was held last month and again the housekeeper fraternity of Kuwait responded with such immense enthusiasm it was noted among all circles in the hospitality sector.

The sponsors were more then generous and after advertising the prizes to be won, teams were formed and colleagues started to practice and train for the events.

The teams were very competitive and all were keen to win the fabulous prizes, but in the end it was a way to push housekeeping and housekeepers at the fore and celebrate their achievements and importance in the industry.

Spectators were also keen to participate, the winners were celebrating and the losing teams were already planning how they could win next year.

Keep an eye on the Kuwait Housekeepers Group calendar and mark in your diary for 2013.

For more information on the Kuwait Housekeepers Group email Prabhat Shukla, Executive Housekeeper, Holiday Inn Kuwait Downtown prabhat.shukla@ihg.com

Win one free admission to the online Finance for Housekeepers course

To all housekeepers around the world! For only 5 days L&A is offering 1 person FREE ADMISSION to its online Finance for Housekeepers course
For your chance to win and start this course on Monday 20 August with fellow housekeepers from around the world register your name, position, hotel and email address with Josephine.
Email her your details and your name will go in the draw. Email josephine@lycetteandassociates.com

The winner will be notified by email.

More information about the course:
This self-directed course enables Housekeeping Manager’s to think critically and become more financially savvy. The focus is on practical skills for the workplace, expanding and developing professional confidence. The course is facilitated, clear and simple learning via the internet – scheduled over 8 weeks and over approximately 20 hours:

• downloadable on-the-job tools and templates
• interactive forums with global peers
• case studies and practical work exercises
• assessments evaluated by the facilitator and returned with individual feedback
• awards for successful participants with a L&A certificate or within Australia, a Statement of Attainment

SEQPHA Seaworld August Breakfast

SEQPHA is holding their monthly breakfast at Seaworld Shoreline restaurant. On Wednesday 8 August at 7.00 am. Members $20.oo and non-Members $25.00. For more information contact Melissa Bent, melissa@corporatedesigns.com.au

Housekeeping presentation to 100 students at Republic Polytechnic Singapore

When Liz was in Singapore recently she took the opportunity to make a 1 hour presentation to the 100 1^st year students studying hospitality.

The 18-20 year olds learnt what housekeeping is about as well as some of the new trends and innovations.

About Republic Polytechnic – the campus 

Republic Polytechnic is the fifth polytechnic in Singapore. It was born out of the conviction that the education landscape would benefit from diversity, both in the way the campus is built to enable learning, and the delivery of its curriculum which is geared towards technical education for our young in a vibrant city state with its attendant demands on citizens being entrepreneurial, innovative problem solvers. RP opened its doors to students in 2003, all charged to give a refreshingly new zest to the conventional classroom that many of them were accustomed to. For more information visit www.rp.edu.sg