Hotelier Middle East – May 2019

EVENT AND REVIEW

HOTELIER MIDDLE EAST | May 2019 | Volume 18 Issue 05 15

DON’T MISS THE

PANEL DISCUSSION:
RISING UP THE LADDER
An executive housekeeper has a crucial
role with so many skills that are pivotal to
a hotel’s successful operations and has
the required expertise for large multi-
cultural teams, maintaining supplies
and inventory within budget, perform
quality inspections, review technical
and quality requirements and ultimately
ensure that guest satisfaction is at its
peak at all times. However, executive
housekeepers aren’t always afforded the
appreciation they deserve, and can often
be overlooked for promotion into the top
tier of hotel management.

It’s not often that you come across
a general manager or hotel manager
that has a housekeeping background,
perhaps this is the reason that
executive housekeepers don’t receive
the recognition that they deserve in
many instances. However, executive
housekeepers are already well versed
in managing large teams from diverse
backgrounds and could well be the
natural choice for a role within hotel
management.

PANEL DISCUSSION:
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN
COST AND CREATING VALUE TO
MEET PROFIT MARGINS
Many existing hotels are working on
upgrading their properties in order to
refresh their offering. General touch-ups
and maintenance of rooms and common
areas on a smaller scale is a never-
ending process for housekeepers.

DISCUSSION POINT 1: Hotel
renovation has become more than
replacing worn out furniture and
mattresses but the definition of
competition in today’s hotel industry. The
idea that hotels must renovate is likely
more about staying on trend than it is out
of necessity.

DISCUSSION POINT 2: The role of

the housekeeper and their department

in ensuring a renovation project is

executed efficiently is vast. From

making initial recommendations for

renovation and organising budgets, to

selecting furnishings and upholstery

that are cost effective, yet durable and

low maintenance; from coordinating

with other departments to make sure

that renovations are not disrupting

guests; and generally taking care of the

aesthetic value of the room before it is

released to the public.

PANEL DISCUSSION:

ADOPTING NEW TECHNOLOGIES

AND AUTOMATION TO FUTURE-

PROOF THE OPERATIONS

With the fast advancement of technology,

it is easier to make operations more

efficient. This can provide housekeeping

solutions with real-time updates of room

status and drive an increase of efficiency

and elevated guest service standard.

DISCUSSION POINT 1: Housekeeping

is the key to innovation by informing the

management about the more efficient

ways for them to do the operations.

DISCUSSION POINT 2: With different

products for automation and IoT, like

HotSOS system and cleaning machines

like Roomba and i-robot, what are we

currently using and has it been effective

for the operations?

DISCUSSION POINT 3: Dynamic

planning, real-time status updates and

instant communication can lead to

unprecedented cost management for a

hotel.

PANEL DISCUSSION:

SEARCH ENGINES -

HOUSEKEEPERS AS SOCIAL

MEDIA DRIVERS FOR GOOD

REVIEWS

It has become a must for guests to share

their experience on social platforms.

It goes without saying that you provide

guests with a stay to remember and

share online with top-ranking reviews.

Cleanliness is also the top criteria that

the guests are looking for when rating

the hotel. Travellers are always checking

Google reviews, TripAdvisor, Booking.

com before booking a hotel. Therefore,

encourage your guests to leave reviews

about your property on social media and

it will inevitably bring more bookings and

greater revenue.

DISCUSSION POINT 1: How do

executive housekeepers get ahead of

guest expectations? What are the best

practices that they implement?

DISCUSSION POINT 2: Do they

check the reviews regularly and how

does this impact their operation?

REDUCING THE COSTS IN

SUSTAINABILITY

HK department is the major consumer

of products that are made of plastic.

Some hotels already started the green

initiative from the towel reuse program

or eliminating “red list” chemicals from

the facility, hotels should continue to

implement strategic programs to reduce

environmental impact.

DISCUSSION POINT 1: Most

properties have committed to leaving

a light carbon footprint by adopting

recycling and reuse programs,

incorporating solar energy and sourcing

environmentally friendly products and

suppliers. Sustainable reports are also

being done by the Radisson Blu that

monitors how many plastics have been

reduced for every quarter.

DISCUSSION POINT 2: Most hotel

brands have incorporated sustainability

into their brand definition and have

implemented a sustainability program to

which all hotels must adhere.

DISCUSSION POINT 3: Education is

key for sustainability. Understanding the

importance of green initiatives for the

environmental benefits as well as the

positive effects it will have on a hotel’s

bottom line is essential to the success of

sustainable plans.

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