International Housekeeper’s Week – PEHN Picnic at the Albert Park Lake

This event honoured the hard work of the Housekeeping Teams  and was attended by about 40 housekeeping professionals  from Clarion Suites Gateway, Park Hyatt Hotel, Radisson Hotel and Crown Towers Hotel. Suppliers were also present BlueStone Recruitment, Marie Brereton Uniforms, MCohn and Associates Linen Supplier, International Interior Images, IKON cleaning services and SleepTight Services.

This was the first time PEHN organised such an event. As usual time poor in organising the event and the weather threatening to dampen the fun, the event was a great success, attendees brought food, sandwiches from Park Hyatt and lovely scones with cream and jam, beverages contributed by Crown and chips from Radisson, BBQ and other food by PEHN.  There were games organised and  all enjoyed the fun. Including creating a hat out of materials provided. which has shown the artistic side  and resourcefulness of the housekeeping staff.  The event kicked off at around 4:30 and finished by around 6:30 just before the clouds opened up.

The event was a great success. In future we will include a similar event in our yearly calendar aiming to get the Housekeeping departments from various hotels  together at least once each year! After all, it was “International Housekeeper’s Week ! “

The next event will the Annual General Meeting in October and a PEHN Christmas Party in December, which is going to be a formal affair this year, so everyone can dress up in their finest, please check the website www.pehn.org for information. Or email us at pehn.aus@gmail.com  to include you in our email data base.

The committee would like to extend Special thanks to the organisers for all the hard work in planning and setting up , carting out all the food from the car to the site (did not have to go to the gym for a week afterwards), Margaret Fernandes – Radisson Hotel (Vice President), Marian Stratford – PEHN President, Karen Bingham – PEHN Committee, Lynabel Carreon – Clarion Suites Gateway (Committee) and as well to the above mentioned hotels and suppliers who attended and supported this event!

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, 

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

Kuwait Housekeepers Group organises 2nd Olympics

The Kuwait Housekeepers Group is organizing their Second Housekeeping Olympics on July 18 , 2012 at Holiday inn Kuwait Down town.

UK Housekeeping Olympics

SEQPHA Calendar of Events 2012

SEQPHA Calendar of Events for 2012

The next event on the Calendar is the annual race day to raise money for families with leukaemia. The event takes place on 9th June! AH Beard have donated a bed to raffle, and lots of other prizes too, SEQPHA hope to raise lots of money for their charity at the annual Race Day!

For information or questions contact Melissa Bent melissa@corporatedesigns.com.au

Housekeeping Workshops in Bali

Lycette & Associates in conjunction with the Bali Hotel Association ran another round of Housekeeping workshops last month. The L&A team, Agnes and Liz presented three workshops at the BHA headquarters in Renin, Bali. Each of the these workshops was well attended by Housekeeping Professionals from all over Bali. The Quality Assurance Programme was delivered in English while the other two one-day Coaching Skills for Housekeeping Supervisor workshop were delivered in both English and Indonesian.

The Coaching Skills Workshop is designed to address the challenges of leading the diverse labour force in Housekeeping and Rooms Division. Participants came away with practical management tools to assist in managing and developing their team through building trust, planning, problem solving and strong leadership.

The Quality Assurance Workshop provides hotels and groups of hotels with key strategy tools and skills to establish and maintain quality assurance. The participants are guided to develop specific corporate guidelines and quality benchmarks to maintain consistent Housekeeping Standards within the company.

Overall 48 participants attended over the three days, L&A is delighted with the ongoing support from BHA. Additional Coaching Skills Workshops targeting Supervisors from throughout the hotel are planned for October and November 2012 .

If you want to make an inquiry about these programs please email L&A on info@lycetteandassociates.com or to inquire  with the Bali Hotel Association contact Nia Septinawati for more information.

Day 2

Day 3

SEQPHA NEWS

SEQPHA invite all to their annual RACE DAY – 9 June 2012
The Paradise Room Gold Coast Turf Club
Members: $58.00 non members:    $68.00

RSVP by 9th of May 2012: No late acceptance as payment and final numbers must be given to Turf Club prior to event.

To attend contact Melissa Bent m: 0466 915 341 e: melissa@corporatedesigns.com.au

The SEQPHA Easter Breakfast was held at the Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast on the Tuesday the 3^rd of April – A big thanks to Denise for
Hosting the event and also a BIG THANK YOU to brave Ken Holmes for shaving his head for a great cause!

Next SEQPHA Breakfast will be held at Treasury Casino in Brisbane. We will have a bus from the Gold Coast leaving the Sofitel at 5.30am, and also a pick up at the Boat House Tavern at 5.45am. We will return at 9.30am after the Hotel tour of rooms. Date is Tuesday the 8th of May. To attend contact Melissa Bent m: 0466 915 341 e: melissa@corporatedesigns.com.au

NEW PHAN Committee and Officers for 2012/2013

The Professional Housekeepers Association of NSW has elected a new President and committee for 2012/2013.

President:  Maureen Jolowicz, Radisson Blu
Vice President: Alex Atkinson, Meriton Serviced Apartment Collection
Secretary: Jason D’eath, Parkroyal
Treasurer: Nele Neves, Holiday Inn, Darling Harbour

Committee:

• Lalini de Silva – The Star
• Chona Ogilvie – Sheraton 4 Points
• Frans van Lieshout – Ryde College of TAFE
• Helen Hofman – St Marys Cathedral
• Catherine Barbeoc’h – Sofitel Wentworth
• Grace Esogon – Sydney Harbour Marriott
• Zarife Melick – The Menzies Sydney
• Kamila Smirski – The Shangri-La

For more information about PHAN contact Mavis Hedrik, Public Officer by email: mavis007@tpg.com.au or visit www.phan.org.au

PHAN puts the spotlight on Catherine Barbeoch – Executive Housekeeper, Sofitel Wentworth

In 2005 Catherine entered Hospitality Management in her native France.  She was studying for her MBA with an internship requirement and she gained a traineeship at Four Seasons in Paris. At her interview she cited her ambitions in Rooms Division.  The General Manager had a background herself in Housekeeping and looking at Catherine’s experience to date in Front Office  – suggested a good stint in housekeeping was just what was needed to balance her experience to become a great Rooms Division Manager.

It was not love at first encounter – Catherine very frankly laughs and tells us she “hated” housekeeping to start.  But over the 2 years of her traineeship experience, her appreciation of housekeeping services expanded and her confidence grew and she now speaks of the wonderful diversity of Housekeeping professionally and the opportunity it presents to contribute widely to efficient and effective rooms management.

Catherine is a fast track lady – following her internship in Paris, she landed a job as No. 2 in Housekeeping for a new opening at Shangri La in Singapore.  Another 2 years there and a door opened to Sydney, her desired work location. Her mother saw the position at Sofitel Sydney on the internet , Catherine made a pitch for it and won the posting. Catherine came to Sydney in 2010 to take up this key position.

Catherine is enjoying her time in Sydney and is looking forward to a visit from her mother this year.

The Sofitel Sydney Wentworth commenced life back in 1966 as Wentworth Hotel.  It was always a grand hotel where many important and lavish events were held in the ballroom and the 436 guest rooms were the toast of the town

Now after all those years Catherine is master at managing a refurbishment programme of the 154 Classic Rooms, an amazing feat (including cutting into walls) to add 2 square meters to each room.  The upgrade will focus on the carpets, lighting, curtains – as well as some furniture.  She has devised a tight 8-week turnaround to do all the work required and return the rooms to inventory.  She will have her hands full keeping to the schedule.

PHAN members are looking forward to a special viewing of the 1966 iconic rooms with a new look.

For more information about PHAN (Professional Housekeepers Association of NSW) contact Mavis Hedrik email: mavis007@tpg.com.au