Anyone who has stayed in a hotel or extended stay accommodation likely noticed the housekeeping cart in the hallway at least once, likely in the time between checkout and check-in. As guests check out, the housekeeping team prepares those rooms again for a new set of guests. However, the role of the housekeeping team extends beyond that one responsibility, and their work is multifaceted. While each hotel differs slightly in terms of what housekeeping staff does during their shift, most include the following responsibilities.
Room Turnover
It’s no surprise that room turnover between guests represents a large part of a typical housekeeping shift. Generally, a housekeeping supervisor or member of the management team provides housekeeping staff with a list of rooms to clean each shift, based on who is checking out that day. That list is divided among the housekeepers on shift and the team makes its way to each room, performing a variety of cleaning duties to get it properly cleaned and prepared for the next set of guests. That includes removing and replacing all linens and making the beds. Housekeepers also thoroughly clean the bathrooms, restock toiletries, vacuum, and clean and disinfect all surfaces so that the room is spotless and safe for new guests.
Hotels vary on how they quality check room turnovers, but usually housekeeping staff performs self-checks of each room as they go to ensure nothing was missed or forgotten. In some cases, management performs regular or occasional checks as well – reporting back to the housekeeping team on quality to improve.
Communicating with Front Desk Staff & Management
In turning over rooms, housekeepers also take note of any damages to the rooms or the furniture or fixtures within them and collect any left-behind belongings to be given to the front desk. The housekeeping team plays a critical role in ensuring rooms are safe and functional, and their insight helps management and the maintenance team address issues quickly. The same can be said for spaces outside of guest rooms. Throughout their shift, members of the housekeeping team access many spaces within a hotel or extended stay facility. They have eyes on many areas that management and front desk personnel rarely visit, so they serve as great informants when it comes to necessary repairs or safety issues that need addressing.
Other Daily Housekeeping Responsibilities
In some cases, part of a housekeeping team focuses on cleaning areas other than guest rooms while others focus solely on those rooms. In other cases, the entire team focuses on room turnover first and only then do they move on to cleaning other spaces. Either way, these staff members are responsible for keeping many areas of the hotel tidy, including hallways, stairwells, and the front desk area. These areas tend to require less time as room changeovers but are tidied, disinfected, and swept and mopped or vacuumed daily.
In changing out linens for all departing guest rooms, it’s easy to imagine the amount of laundry that builds up in just one housekeeping shift. Because of this, a huge part of the daily routine of a housekeeping team involves constantly washing, drying, and folding linens so they are fresh and clean for the next day’s use. Often, laundry duties extend beyond this one team. In many cases, a night attendant continues the cycle of laundry during the overnight hours to ensure housekeeping staff doesn’t return the next morning with piles left to handle before jumping into room turnovers.
Providing an Excellent Guest Experience
It might seem strange that contributing to a stellar guest experience is a crucial daily activity for the housekeeping team during their shifts. However, much of the duties this team performs directly correlate with guests enjoying their stay. Hotel guests desire clean spaces to spend their time, be that sleeping in their rooms or enjoying breakfast in the common area.
Other than keeping spaces clean, housekeeping teams often interact directly with guests during their shifts. It’s important they greet guests in a friendly and welcoming manner and address any questions, complaints, or concerns they hear from them as soon as possible. Often that means escalating issues to management for efficient resolution.
What Makes an Ideal Member of the Housekeeping Team?
From the above-mentioned daily responsibilities, it’s clear that a successful member of a hotel housekeeping team needs to be flexible, detail-oriented, and driven by providing an amazing guest experience. A place on this team is not suited for someone who can’t collaborate with others on a team. Housekeeping is not a one-person show, so embracing collaboration and supporting each other is critical for the overall team’s success.
For those possessing those qualities and looking to take a step into the hotel industry in a housekeeping role, now is a perfect time. Establishments across the country are seeking dedicated individuals to fill (or even lead) their housekeeping teams – especially as the busy summer travel season approaches.
New to the job search and unsure of where to start? We’ve got you covered with our expansive database of hotel job opportunities. There are housekeeping positions open across the country, including supervisory positions for those with prior hotel housekeeping experience. In addition to housekeeping, there are also positions for those with other interests and skill sets, including front desk roles and maintenance positions, and our comprehensive training programs mean even those brand new to the industry can succeed. Your next role could be just a few clicks away!