While the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic continues claiming lives and livelihoods around the world, hoteliers are finding themselves in a unique position. Some have had to temporarily close their businesses while others are remaining open on a limited basis, offering respite and accommodation to essential workers and in some cases, those who are sick.
Whether staying open on a limited basis or performing maintenance in hopes of a prompt reopening, hoteliers must protect both guests and their housekeeping teams, making sure everyone takes extra precautions to not just clean spaces, but thoroughly sanitize them.
Most large hotel companies probably were not prepared necessarily for such an extreme situation as this one, said Jan Louise Jones, professor of hospitality and tourism in the College of Business at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Conn., but will adapt quickly and likely already are developing and adapting training sessions for team members. Smaller hotels that operate on tighter profit margins, however, may face more of a challenge when it comes to changing the types of detergents or disinfectants used, or even increasing the frequency of washing bed linens, she cautioned. In the current situation, said Glen O’Connor, SVP/risk control director of technical services at Sompo International Global Risk Solutions, housekeepers need to be prepared for three different scenarios when cleaning guestrooms. While a guest is staying in a room…
For the full article, check out the Housekeeping Guidebook.
Shannon Sked
Board Certifid Entomologist and Manager of Innovations
