The pandemic is far from over, and during the past months, we can see the evident change that almost all major hotel brands in the world are doing to enhance their cleaning program through new sterilizing and disinfecting procedures. A lot of companies today are asking for help and guidance from medical organizations, even to the point of utilizing robots, which made cleaning more important than ever before. The message they want to communicate is that hotels today are very clean. 

This is why housekeepers who vacuum, dust, scrub and sanitize hotels today are given new guidelines and procedures for them to have more work trimming their hours, benefits, salary, and even jobs. The hotel safety of employees and guests depends on the efforts and skills to control and get rid of COVID-19 in communal spaces. There are essential things that the housekeeping world should focus on. 

First Things First: Evaluate Current Plan for Cleaning Protocols 

Hoteliers should be proud of having a high attention to detail. Taking actions to make sure that proper sanitation throughout the property to avoid the extent of concerning germs and viruses is no exception. Careful planning and carrying it out across all departments will not only make the best use of efficiency but will assure a joined, bring together culture during moments of difficulty. 

Occasionally, leaders should gather together their team to evaluate the property and areas of concern and produce an action plan for enhancement. During times of lower than normal occupancy or demand, operation teams can use the chance to improve the property's surroundings without huge delays or interruptions in service. When it's about the subject to the property's needs and staff time, build standard operating procedures (SOPs) that provide team members across departments to flag possible hazards, make efficient cleaning regimens hotels, regularly checking maintenance issues and use inspection checklists to ensure nothing gets missed.

Prevention is Essential

Hotels today are in-charge of ensuring safety for their guests and employees. This is the most important thing, to provide the safety of everyone who is stepping on their property. This is the reason why prevention is critical. 

To prevent the risk of contracting the virus, involving and maintaining guidelines and suggestions for operating the hotel safely must be vital to make certain your hotel meets new cleanliness standards. Here are some recommendations for housekeepers to follow: 

1. Make it a habit to perform antiviral cleaning of public high touch surfaces and places, following the recommendations of CDC and AHLA Safe Stay. 

2. Provides the guests with masks upon arrival and reminds them to wear it all the time in a respectful and hospitable manner. 

3. Implement clear and consistent policies around sick leave for employees  

4. Place stickers in areas where people would most likely gather and place notes for the 6 feet of distance in both guests and staff areas for social distancing protocols. 

Implement Strong Cleaning SOPs 

Prior to the rise of COVID-19, hotels have minimums for water temperature for linen cleaning, proper cleaning solutions, and preventative protocols for sanitation, however, those may not be enough against this specific virus. 

There should be a robust connection with an instant turnaround between the science of the virus and how hotels must incorporate various cleaning products. In addition, the CDC should be recording a list of the new "most remarkable cleaners" to involve, since the old ways just won't be enough and work anymore. 

Proactively Communicate Cleanliness 

Hoteliers may be aware of how clean their hotel is, but how about the guests who stay there? Of course, they don't know it. They will look for visual indicators. However, COVID-19 requires sanitization, which they can't actually see by their naked eye.

For guests to feel safe and to come back again, it's crucial that hotel staff communicate effectively, allowing them to know exactly what the hotel is doing to provide a safe guest experience, particularly not all hotels in your region may be doing the same level of requirements and regulations. If the stringencies are measured at a corporate, property, or third-party level or not, it's critical for guests to be informed of what’s happening. 

Here are some recommendations we have in order for the housekeeping to communicate the cleanliness of hotel accommodations: 

1. Send automated emails to guests letting them know of the new precautions and how they are maintained safely. 

2. Place visual information on sanitization. 

3. Print some in-room details of the measures taken of ensuring cleanliness and put them in every room.

4. Provide an easily reachable summary on your website and/or booking platform. 

Since we are living during these times full of uncertainties, the hotel industry requires efficient procedures and improved practice guidelines which is a must. If you are a hotel owner who experiences a business decline as a result of COVID-19, utilize the time as a chance to enhance your property, staff and procedures. 

Most of all, this will make your guest experience better, provide a positive brand reputation, and offer amazing stays from time to time. After all, it will always be in the details.