The Coronavirus pandemic has hit the tourism industry hard. Hotels and Restaurants have become especially vulnerable as people continue to stay at home and distrust public places for lack of hygiene and cleanliness. Guest writer Nouman shares his tips for hotel housekeeping post-COVID-19
Since the coronavirus outbreak, people have been hesitant to travel and stay anywhere that can increase the probability of contagion, and hotels are number 1 on that list.
The hotel industry around the globe has been severely affected by the virus. Several hotels around the globe have been closed indefinitely while others are on the brink of bankruptcy. According to experts, luxury hotels are more adversely affected as compared to economic ones. It is now a huge challenge for hospitality services to gain back the trust of people and ensure that their services are clean and perfectly safe for the customers.
How to Keep Hotels Safe in A Post-COVID World?
Looking at the overall situation around the globe, we can see that the hotel industry is under immense pressure to ensure the safety of its hotel guest and convince them to come and stay at a hotel. To ensure your client’s safety, we have collected the 7 must-dos in terms of housekeeping:
1. Keep Your Employee’s Safety A Top Priority
You must give priority to the safety of your employees and make sure they are safe while doing their duties. It is also a good way to gain the trust of clients. You can ensure safety through proper employee training and providing them with PPEs.
Furthermore, communicate your safety protocols and how you are ensuring that no one is at danger while in contact with the people working at your hotel. Get your employees tested and check their temperature daily to ensure none of them are infected.
2.Precautions and Training
The hotel industry is in a critical position, which is why it is essential to be careful about the precautions that are being taken around the hotel. From cleaning staff to cooking staff and managerial staff, every employee must be trained on how to interact with the guests and one another. (team work)
Proper training must be given to each of the employees with an indication of how to perform duties including (room cleaning & room service) Minimal contact with people and staying socially distant should be mandatory. Moreover, do not overcrowd your hotel space with people and only allow a limited number of guests at one time. Additional facilities including gyms, bars, swimming pools, etc. must be closed for the safety of your guests.
3.Cleaning Protocols
No matter how much you emphasized cleanliness pre-COVID, you need to reiterate the cleaning processes and introduce more detailed procedures. After ensuring your staff’s cleanliness, you must look for high standards of deep cleaning options for rooms, bed linens, curtains, and other high points.
Attention to details such as The doorknobs, drawer handles, TV remotes, etc. need to be specially cleaned and sanitized before the guests arrive. Another way to satisfy the guests is by placing a detailed handout in the hotel rooms to tell them about the protocols followed by your hotel to ensure their safety.
4. Avoid Contact Through Technology
To become as contact-free as possible, you can make use of the technology, so no one has to touch unnecessary items. You can take bookings, payments, and feedbacks using apps or websites rather than going for manual procedures.
Making use of hotel management and distribution technology can increase the guest’s confidence in your services and assure them of your high safety standards. Similarly, using mobile check-ins can help the guests enter the building without having to touch any surface.
5. Social Distancing
As the main source of coronavirus transmission is through breathing and droplets, social distancing is important. It is essential that you carefully monitor the number of people present on a single floor of your hotel. You must keep a check on the staff as well as guests and do not overcrowd any lobby or hallway of the hotel. Only allow a minimum number of people in a certain area.
6.Vent Cleaning
According to surveys, it has been found that the virus can also be transmitted through the air in certain conditions. Therefore, it is important to get your air conditioning systems cleaned frequently as they can cause the spread of diseases and is not safe.
You must invest in clean air-handling equipment or hire professional services that can clean the vents of air-conditioning systems. As different people visit hotels so the cleaning must be more frequent as compared to residential areas.
7. Live Up to Your Promises
It is important to communicate the SOPs that you are following to your staff as well as your consumers. This is the time that will require you to invest in technology and the latest equipment for a greater cause and long term ROI. You must commit to the standards that you are marketing and live up to your promises. You can get licensed or get affiliated with standard quality assurers to help you develop exemplary standards.
To Sum it Up
The world is facing an unprecedented situation; however, it will eventually change. The lockdowns have been lifted from several countries now, and the world is slowly getting back to normal. A few countries have also lifted travel bans, which will let the hotel industry get a chance to stabilize their operations as well.
Following the best practices to contain any transmission and making sure that the guests staying at your hotel are safe should be your topmost priority. People are willing to pay more if they are guaranteed that their safety is not being compromised at the place they’re staying.
About The GuestWriter
This article has been written by guest writer Nouman Ali. <Linkedin/ personal blog link >
Nouman provides ghostwriting and copywriting services. His educational background in the technical field and business studies helps him in tackling topics ranging from career and business productivity to web development and digital marketing.