The prominence of the housekeeping function has seen a revival in recent years. While its contribution was underappreciated for many decades, there has been a recent awakening to the department's significant impact on shaping the guest experience and the positive impact a well-managed team can have on the hotel's bottom line. Hotel schools now teach housekeeping management again, the hotel leaders are tuning in to the team and management talent is injected.

This renewed management attention results in metrics and KPIs playing a growing role while the introduction of technology pushes many traditional managers to their limits.

With COVID-19 evolving the daily cleaning effort into an increasingly complex project management endeavour, and responsibility and accountability increasing exponentially in the face of increased liability, is the traditional housekeeping expertise still relevant or does the new world order require a different skillset from housekeepers?

Optii Solutions Pty Ltd

This viewpoint is co-created with Optii Solutions Inc.
More information

Kate Gruell
Kate Gruell
Global Rooms Operations Leader
Dina  Angelucci
Dina Angelucci
Principal at Dina Angelucci Hospitality Consulting Services
Ian Wilson
Ian Wilson
Industry Advisor and Mentor, Ex SVP Non-Gaming Operations Marina Bay Sands
Christoph Hoffmann
Christoph Hoffmann
Owner & Editor of hsk-knowledge.com UG
Soenke Weiss
Soenke Weiss
Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Optii Solutions Pty Ltd
Anemoon Schepel
Anemoon Schepel
Senior Lecturer at Hotel School the Hague
Craig Coughlin
Craig Coughlin
Chief Executive Officer at LUXXE Outsourced Hotel Services

I have always believed that a well organized and vigilant housekeeping department could pass any hygiene test. Detailed training and record-keeping is the key and utilizing technology platforms to record this information is critical.