HOUSEKEEPING TRENDS IN HOTEL INDUSTRY

Introduction

Housekeeping may be defined as ‘provision of a clean, comfortable, safe and aesthetically appealing environment’. Housekeeping is essentially considered as the ‘backbone’ of a hotel. Though housekeeping generates less revenue than other departments in a hotel it plays the most crucial role in maintaining the hotel from time to time. Since the evolution of technology various kinds of trends emerged throughout the decade.

Here are some of the latest trends in the hotels in housekeeping.

• LED lighting: LED’s have changed the equation for hotels by reducing their electricity charges and cutting their costs. They also have a higher lifespan and are energy efficient.
• Plunge pool: It is a small shallow pool built for the purpose of lounging, wading, and cooling off instead for a swimming and exercising. Many of them prefer them because of their lower cost, smaller size, easier maintenance and reduced water requirement.
• Hotel linen tracking system: Hotels need to make sure that the linen is properly managed. If not the hotel would incur high operational costs which would pull down the net profit. Many large scale hotels need to keep a proper tracking management system. This would help them in the long run. Among the various companies, key tone came up with the unique use of RFID. This technology helps the hotel to track down the linen. It shows a detailed description of where the linen is being dispatched. This way the Housekeeper can keep track of his linen. Bad linen management is the major problem with small scale hotels.
• Hospitality Tray: It is a small tray with compartments that holds sachets of coffee, tea, cocoa powder, creamer, and sugar. Some hotels also offer sachets of condiments like black and white pepper powder, and salt. They also keep an electric kettle, a couple of cups, saucers, spoons, and water bottles so that the guest can make the beverage of his choice once in a day.
• Vertical gardens: While rapid urbanization is having an adverse effect on vegetation, especially the cutting of trees in order to raise buildings, this type of arrangement is the need of the hour. These gardens give beauty to hotels and also are space sufficient.
• Green practices: Green practices include things like- reducing waste, using organic amenities, embracing renewable energy, etc. These kinds of practices are being used by hotels as people nowadays are much more cautious about the environment.

Riteesh Jasti (Final yr BHMCT)