A Green Approach in Housekeeping

Guest amenities, a major housekeeping expense on the Rooms Division P/L are traditionally supplied in small individually packaged bottles and packets. Think of the waste this creates! And even worse most of these products are only partially used. Now there is a new approach to all those fancy little bottles: the dispenser solution.

When Lycette & Associates was last in Hong Kong, we caught up with Tommy Tsoi, Executive Housekeeper at EAST, Hong Kong to find out more about Tommy’s experiences with the implementation and running of a new dispenser program that replaces the individual packaged guests amenities. As a part of the pre-opening action plan EAST had several strategies in place to take care of the environment and reduce its impact on the planet. To implement a dispenser program was a logical step to take.

Tommy has been in charge of the program’s implementation since the hotel’s pre-opening phase. The hotel celebrated its Grand Opening on the 25 January this year. As a part of the overall fit out the holders had to be mounted in all the bathrooms and then all the dispensers had to be fixed on each bracket. The initial investment is the outlay of the equipment and the time it takes to get things up and running. For example it took one Room Attendant 11 days to complete the 345-room fit out. The hotel is using shampoo, conditioner, bath gel, lotion and hand wash dispensers in all its bathrooms at the washbasins and shower areas.

Although there is an overall cost saving in these dispenser amenities, regular replacement is difficult and labour consuming. This particular brand has tiny pieces in the brackets that need to be unscrewed, the dispenser replaced and the bracket re-fastened. The pump is quite fragile and has a lifetime of 3 to 6 months. For hygiene purposes the dispenser will need replacing within this time frame. Old dispenser bottles will be recycled.

With the full range of amenities available to each guest, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Guests like the fact that this system reduces waste. A few guests have commented there were no amenities to take home, however after explaining the reason for the hotel’s decision, all were satisfied.

One disadvantage of the system is that it is difficult for disabled guests to reach the mounted dispensers. EAST had some complaints from disabled guests and it now supplies those guests with individual packaged products.

Tommy and his team have overcome some of the handling difficulties and servicing the dispensers has become routine.

For anyone going down this path a word of caution from Tommy Tsoi, to be aware of the regular labour intensive dismantling of the holder to replace with a new dispenser bottle. He also points out that the overall guest feedback is very positive, but to keep in mind that dispenser bottles are not convenient for disabled guests.

The implementation of dispensers achieved the hotel’s aim to reduce waste and therefore reduce its environmental impact on the planet.

For more information on any dispenser program or on any other housekeeping matter contact Liz Lycette on liz@lycetteandassociates.com

About EAST Hong Kong
EAST, a new lifestyle business hotel by Swire Hotels offers 339 rooms and 6 suites with harbour or urban views and state-of-the-art communications technology. EAST also features a 24-hour gym Beast (Body by EAST) and an outdoor heated swimming pool. A causal all-day dining restaurant Feast (Food by EAST) and a rooftop lounge bar Sugar (Bar.Deck.Lounge) provides an extensive al fresco terrace with views across the harbour. The hotel is conveniently adjacent to Tai Koo MTR station and just a short drive from Central, Hong Kong. For more information visit: www.east-hongkong.com

About Swire Hotels
Swire Hotels has been created to manage intriguing urban hotels in Hong Kong, Mainland China and the United Kingdom, providing a luxury experience for travellers who seek individuality, style and personalised service. The Opposite House, Beijing, opened in 2008 and was followed by The Upper House, above Pacific Place, Hong Kong, in October 2009. Swire Hotels opened a 345-room lifestyle business hotel called EAST in Hong Kong’s Island East, on 25 January 2010. Swire Hotels is creating a new collection of locally inspired and stylish hotels in the heart of great English towns and cities called Chapter Hotels. The first hotel in the collection will be launched in Q4 2010 in Cheltenham. For more information on Swire Hotels visit: www.swirehotels.com

About Swire Island East
Swire Island East is one of Hong Kong’s best planned and most efficiently serviced business districts, comprising the retail and office centres of Cityplaza and TaiKoo Place. All of this area is managed by Swire Properties. Following the completion of One Island East, the portfolio now offers approximately 9.76 million sq ft of prime retail and office space for local and multinational corporations. A wide range of cosmopolitan business and leisure amenities are situated within the area, including the approximately  1.11 million sq ft Cityplaza shopping centre, Butterfield’s private members club, lifestyle business hotel EAST, multi-purpose venue ArtisTree, over 60 restaurants and cafés with parking for over 6,000 cars.