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William D. Frye

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  • 3 min

Room Attendant Gratuities: Challenges and a Potential Solution

💰 In 2017, only about 30% of hotel guests left a gratuity for housekeeping staff. Challenges in administering gratuity policies include sharing tips among staff and potential conflicts with hotel fees. With more guests using digital payments, QR codes in rooms could enable cashless tipping linked to room numbers and stay dates. This tech solution may increase gratuity levels, with payments reported through employee paychecks.
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  • 2 min

How Many Linens Are Enough?

🧵 Limited laundry capacity, poor maintenance, and understaffing are key challenges for hotel housekeeping. Insufficient linen inventory impacts guestroom availability and linen lifespan. Optimal linen inventory is 4-5 par: one in each room, one in the laundry, one in storage, one for replacements, and optionally, a fifth par for emergencies. Proper inventory management ensures operational efficiency and guest satisfaction, balancing resource allocation with preparedness.
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  • 2 min

What Can AI do for Housekeeping?

🔔 AI is transforming hotel hospitality, offering virtual concierge services for assistance with dining, transportation, and tourism through guestroom TVs. This may lead to reduced staffing levels at concierge desks and in-room dining call centers. AI-driven predictive analytics will manage inventory reordering recommendations, minimizing manual monthly inventories but still requiring periodic checks for internal shrinkage or theft. Additionally, AI software will optimize employee scheduling within the housekeeping department, avoiding under or overscheduling and advising on preventative maintenance schedules. Dr. William D. Frye, a hospitality educator and former hotel general manager, highlights these advancements in the context of the housekeeping domain.
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  • 2 min

Housekeeping’s Contribution to Sustainability

🚿 Housekeeping departments contribute to hotel sustainability by: turning off lights, using card key switches; resetting HVAC to standby in unoccupied rooms; using drapes to regulate temperature; controlling water flow with low-flow fixtures and annual maintenance. Linen reuse programs, intermittent cleaning services, and reduced plastic with refillable bottles are also implemented. These practices aim to save on water, sewage, labor, and reduce waste, with the need to inform guests of such policies.
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  • 2 min

Maintaining Hotel Fitness Centers and Pool Areas

🚾 Housekeeping is essential for hotel fitness centers and swimming pools for guest satisfaction and safety. Daily tasks include emptying trash, restocking towels, wiping down equipment, checking locks, and inspecting pools for distressed individuals. Maintenance of these areas impacts the hotel's visual appeal and guest service index score. A written log with date, time, and associate's name is kept for accountability and legal defense. Regular checks and cleaning are mandated for operational fitness equipment and emergency readiness in pool areas.
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  • 2 min

Accommodating Feather-Free Requests and Allergy Concerns

💐 Feather allergy is rare, yet many suffer from adverse effects from feather materials in duvets and pillows, causing lung inflammation (Mayo Clinic). Hotels are increasing "feather free" room reservations, necessitating a reserved inventory percentage. Factors to consider include request history, room type, and advance request frequency. Other allergy-sensitive accommodations include fragrance free, hypoallergenic, pet free, and allergy-friendly rooms, which may feature hardwood floors, HEPA purifiers, allergen-free cleansers, and can carry a premium price.
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