Housekeeping Management Consulting
Monthly Archives: August 2014
Update on Optii – The fork in the road -Optii Solutions (Optii) CEO, Soenke Weiss discusses the future direction of housekeeping and the increasing impact of technology
“Housekeeping has long been plagued by a reputation that they are slow to adapt to change and, in particular, slow to embrace technology. In our experience, we have found the opposite to be true, with housekeeping staff and hotel management well aware of the benefits that focused software can bring to their daily roles and guest satisfaction. It is most often the hotel owners – who are managing different priorities – that may not fully understand the impact that streamlining housekeeping has on financial results, service advantage and ultimately, competitiveness.
However, in the next twelve months, we will see a deeper awareness within the hospitality industry that the housekeeping function has grown in complexity; and that it will continue to do so at a rate that cannot be responded to purely with manual labor.”
Cleaning without Chemicals – update
There have been several developments in the world of Housekeeping with relation to cleaning without chemicals. These include exclusive use of microfibre, combined use of microfibre and steam in hospitals and advances in nanotechnology for surfaces.
Microfibre only - Radisson Blu in Sydney Australia is now in its 6th year of using only microfibre and water in the cleaning of their guest rooms and public areas. Maureen Jolowicz, the Executive Housekeeper and also President of the Professional Housekeepers Association of NSW has maintained the overall system she first started in 2008 with some modifications. Housekeeping Room Attendants pick up their cleaning pack every morning at the start of their shift including a blue microfibre cloth for each room, 3 scourers for the floors and shower tiles and their bucket with a water spray bottle and the only chemical used – a disinfectant spray for the toilet bowl.
SEQPHA breakfast – The Point Brisbane 2nd September 2014
The next gathering of the South East Queensland Professional Housekeepers Association will be at The Point Hotel, Lambert Street in Brisbane on Tuesday 2nd September.
The full breakfast will be followed by a show around by Jenny Howarth, the Executive Housekeeper.
The Point is situated in the exclusive inner city village of Kangaroo Point. Close to Brisbane CBD and New Farm. It has 201 deluxe rooms and suites and offers a turn down service each evening along with 24 hour room service. Lamberts Restaurant, Bar and Lounge serves modern Australia cuisine. There is pool along with Wi-Fi, parking and online newspaper and magazine service are all complimentary to guests.
The SEQPHA Breakfast is from 7.00am. The cost is $25 to member and $30 to non members.
RSVP to Mel. melissab@mbdesigns.com.au
Liz works at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Scotland
Some work and some play!
Following on from a stint at the Winter Olympics in Sochi earlier in 2014, Liz recently spent 3 1/2 weeks in Glasgow working for the iLuka / SSE hospitality programme. Based at the Hilton Garden Inn as Hotel and Rooming Manager she was responsible for coordination with the hotel on the 70 guest rooms used during the Commonwealth Games programme ensuring all rooms were ready for the arriving 140 guests daily. She managed to get to see a couple of events including the Rugby 7′s finals (a nail biting match between South Africa and NZ which SA convincingly won!) and the netball finals between New Zealand and Australia. Even though this assignment is not typical of the L&A Housekeeping area, all the elements for the role of Hotel and Rooming Manager are part of Liz’s skill set and it is great to be part of these exciting games.
Interview with Andrea Kjellin –Assistant Director of Housekeeping Peninsula Hong Kong
On a recent trip to Hong Kong Liz met up with Andrea from the Peninsula Hong Kong
What is your cultural background? Where were you born and where did you grow up?
I was born in Hong Kong, my mother is Chinese and my father is from England. I grew up in Hong Kong and went to school here till the end of my secondary school education. I then took a gap year before going on to study at Les Roches Hotel Management School in Switzerland. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management specializing in Marketing.
Liz at Coworth Park, Ascot in UK
While in the UK recently Liz caught up with Lesley Skelt, the Executive Housekeeper at Coworth Park. part of the Dorchester collection located in Ascot Surrey. There was a mini reunion of some of the management team from Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong from the early 80′s. Cecilia Rydstrom was the Executive Housekeeper in those days. Anne Manual was Assistant Executive Housekeeper taking over from Liz when she was transferred to open the Mandarin Oriental in Macau as Executive Housekeeper (then known as the Excelsior Hotel) and Daphne Mann was PA to the GM at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong. Click Here To Read More
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