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Quality, little waste and easy control – what everyone wants – Dispensers
The revolution in amenity dispensers is widely accepted by today’s environmentally conscious guests and enables accommodation managers to provide guests with what they also prefer to use at home: liquid soap, body washes and high quality shampoos in stylish dispensers.
There are a huge number of benefits that comes from using dispensers instead of the traditional portion control amenities in guest rooms. The most obvious benefit is the drastic reduction of waste.
Top Tips for Successful Executive Housekeepers
L&A recently asked Executive Housekeepers for their Top Tips and comments came from all corners of the globe. Some of the comments include these;-
“Believe in team building, rapport communication, recognise and appreciate the achievements of the team”
“Leadership and Organization”
“Patience, Empathy and Motivator”
“Respect your team members and show them the right path!”
Australian Carpet by Allan Firth, Executive Director of the Carpet Institute of Australia Limited.
The Australian hospitality sector is fortunate to have a strong carpet manufacturing industry to draw on and realise its flooring décor visions. Carpet is by far the most popular and versatile floor covering solution on the market. And it’s easy to see why:
Décor Versatility – complement the existing décor theme – or create an entirely new one – from the extensive range of carpet styles, surface textures and constructions.
Warmth – a carpet’s surface temperature is substantially higher than that of a hard surface tile thanks to reduced heat dissipation. Carpet gives a soft, warm, cosy feeling. It therefore provides a more comfortable working environment.
Comfort – soft floor coverings such as carpet result in less postural discomfort than standing on hard surfaces.
PHAN is now on Facebook!
Please join Professional Housekeepers of New South Wales on this new exciting platform of networking and blogging. You can post photos and share a comment. The PHAN committee 2013 would love to hear from you!!!
Bring me a wigwam, please – Article by Susan Kurosawa, Editor, Travel & Indulgence, The Australian
We want hotels to mother us and if not exactly tuck us in, then make us feel nursery-safe and properly cared for. LAST weekend’s Departure Lounge (‘‘Hotels need to lighten up’’) has provoked a flurry of emails from readers who share my dark thoughts about not being able to read in guestrooms as bedside lighting is too dim or poorly positioned or to work out which switch does what in high-tech chambers at so-called hip hotels. Duvets are a real issue, it appears. Too hot is the verdict. Often plonked on without a top sheet is another complaint. ‘‘Bring back blankets!’’ is the pitiful cry in the tossing-and-turning wilderness. Click Here To Read More
Hygienic, productivity and quality in microfibre system
Ali Khondukar
By Ali Khondukar, Executive Housekeeper of hotel services at Macquarie University Hospital, North Ryde, Sydney NSW Australia
Everybody knows about microfibre products and most of us are probably using them. The question is, how many are achieving good results in hygienic issue, good results in productivity, good results in quality and lowering of cleaning cost with microfibre systems? The answer is that you cannot achieve all of these key points using microfibre products alone.
A staff training program based on the microfibre product, a proper functional job description for staff and quality check program are all required to bring about impressive results. Microfibre is 10 to 12 times thinner than human hair and its absorbing power is 12 to 14 times greater than typical cotton fibres. As most of us know, what may look clean does not necessarily mean that the surface is hygienically clean.
Recycling used guest room soap all over the world
Hotel guest room soap recycling programmes have been around a while but some new developments are worth noting.
Bumper Attendance at Hong Kong Hotel Association workshops June 2013
DP Parts 1 and 2 with HKHA Chairman and President
The ever popular Development Programmes for Housekeeping Managers Part 1 and Part 2 were rolled out again in Hong Kong through the Hong Kong Hotel Association in mid-June.
Over 22 participants joined in with 18 covering all 5 days together. A great opportunity to learn and network with many Front Office and Rooms Division colleagues joining in to brush up their Housekeeping management skills.
Soap Aid Update
Here is a quick update on the Soap Aid programme in Australia …
They have recently signed an agreement with Rotary International to commence a pilot programme together with Soap Aid and 13 selected hotels here in Melbourne. The pilot involves selected members of Rotary collecting the cartons of wastes soaps from those selected hotels and returning those cartons back to their facility so they can be re-processed.
Review of microfibre use at Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney
Maureen Jolowicz and her Housekeeping team at Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney
It is now over 6 years since Maureen Jolowicz ran her initial trials on microfibre and started using this cleaning technology exclusively at Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Sydney. She has still maintained the overall system as when she first started 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 with microfibre for the floors and shower tiles and their bucket with a water spray bottle and disinfectant for the toilet bowl.
Their cleaning routine incorporated in the sequence of service is to use 1 clean cloth to clean the bathroom glasses, then dust in the room, wipe down all bathroom surfaces finishing off with the toilet. 1 microfibre cloth per room.
There are also separate cleaning tools including the extendable wand for high surfaces and the fluffy duster for bedroom walls.
Maureen is only just now replacing some of the equipment. The clothes have lasted for up to 1 year. They are washed daily in 60 degree water with detergent, no bleach or softener.
Public Area staff also use the microfibre tools in their areas –
With an estimated saving of 1 million litres of water a year, there has been a reduction in use of chemicals and a reduction in housekeeping health and safety issues and over 95% saving on chemicals – it’s easy to see why this the natural choice for housekeeping cleaning in the future.
Words of advice from Maureen for those who want to put this system are:-
• Trial it thoroughly for a minimum of 3 months on 1 or 2 floors
• The staff from the trial floors will be your ambassadors for the system because they realise it is so much easier.
Cleaning caddy with disinfectant and water
Key Performance Indicators
Water Usage
The system is fully utilised by the staff and monitored by the supervisors to ensure compliance. The conservative figure of saving 10litres of water per room cleaned is being realised. The microfibre cleaning system means there is no rinsing of surfaces with water, no steaming of showers or soaking of glassware or china. Calendar year 2012 with 132,492 rooms cleaned, over 1.3million litres of water has been saved. Water consumption has reduced in the property
Costs -
Replacement microfibre cloths and hardware for 5 years April 2008 – April 2013 = $14,319.20. Average $ 2,863.84p.a. Please see attached. This cost is less than anticipated. The cost of individual items has reduced with improved technology and increased supply
Staff Satisfaction
Staff continually praise the system for ease of use. New staff in particular find the system superior to the normal cleaning with chemicals
Workplace Health and Safety
Only 1 significant injury in 5 years
Floor mop with scrubber
High dusting tools
Room Attendant cleaning pack
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