A Study on Housekeeping Department and Technological Advancements Post COVID-An Outlook

Abstract

Duty of Care is Housekeeping’s regular responsibility for maintaining a high standard of cleanliness. For hotels, it is the legal obligation to ensure the safety or well-being of its guests and has always been an important aspect for hotel operations. Not only will government standards dictate new requirements from businesses, but the public’s expectations for health and safety will also be different than before. Therefore, Housekeeping's major responsibilities is to set new policies and procedures accepted and practised globally. Standard of cleanliness should align with International standards provided by W.H.O and U.S. centre for disease control and prevention. It is said that, virus lives on metal, glass, and plastic surfaces for 9hrs. Hence, need to increase the frequency of cleaning all common areas (including lobby, dining areas, and meeting rooms) and public high touch points such as elevator buttons, handrails, key cards etc. Special cleaning and disinfection routine for staff areas and public area washrooms should be made. The disinfectant used should have 70% alcohol. Viruses can also survive in air for several hrs. Ensure that all housekeeping staff clean rooms with appropriate protective gear, including gloves and face masks. Do not allow new guests to occupy the room for several hours after the previous guest has checked out. Extremely diligent hygiene standards need to be maintained in areas like pools, spas and fitness areas. Water should be clean, and have acceptable chlorine level, adequate disinfection to neutralise the virus. Hand sanitization and temperature check should be made mandatory before entry to these areas. Enforcing guest hygiene and practices also includes showers with soap and water before entering the pool. Create social distance markers in Public areas to avoid a general crowd. Face shields can be provided to public interaction areas such as the Front office. Reconfiguration of Restaurant, Lobby and Lounge needs to be done. Reduce face to face interaction and promote contactless and keyless procedures like by using mobile apps. Assure clean, safe and comfortable stay for the guest by updating your website and property guide sharing your current cleaning routine, disinfecting policies and a commitment to public health. Respond to guest queries. You can’t afford to ignore your reputation right now. Some hotels believe that technology is one answer to improve cleanliness and fight the Pandemic. They have opted for Sanitizing tunnels, Electrostatic sprayers, and UV light technology etc. as routine. Training employees is a challenge where they have to be told that there is no time to fear but strategic purposeful action and behaviour needs to be implemented. Sanitation, hygiene and awareness has to be inculcated in them. Hand sanitization, temperature checks, medical mask and gloves should be part of the routine. Deploying hand sanitizers at different locations along with the Signage at regular intervals is necessary in Staff as well as Guest areas. Staff should also be trained on identifying the common signs and symptoms. It would become mandatory to follow global sanitation standards. Sanitizing and protective gear would be made compulsory and would also be a part of guest room supplies. There would be increased no. of turns for cleaning and sanitation of areas. Disinfectant wipes can be provided. Easy to wipe and sanitize, plastic coated information booklets would be used. Guestroom supplies would be provided on request and replaced completely. Contactless delivery of material would be followed by leaving the article outside the room. Guests can be given an option to opt out of housekeeping services. Laundry agent having disinfectant would be used. Health Guidelines would be mandatory. This is a study of technological advancements in housekeeping department in 5 star hotels in Mumbai, which will help us understand the advancements in the industry and help in adapting it. This research will help us know the view of the people on these advancements, will these make life easier, will it eat up the employment of the employees, would the people prefer automated machines or semi-automatic or machines having AI (artificial intelligence), will they be ready to adapt with the machines or would want a human touch. The answer to these questions will be found through the survey.

We will see through the crisis together, and emerge stronger.