Introduction to Housekeeping/Housekeeping sections/functions and responsibilities of housekeeping

Summary

In this video, Dr. Naveen Chahal introduces the essential concept of hotel housekeeping, explaining its core responsibilities such as cleaning, maintenance, and aesthetic upkeep. He covers the various sub-departments within the housekeeping department, including guest room attendants, laundry, linen & uniform rooms, horticulture, and pest control. The video also highlights the importance of coordination between housekeeping and other hotel departments for smooth operations. Viewers gain insights into the roles of housekeeping staff, the flow of tasks, and the significance of maintaining high standards of cleanliness and order in both guest and public areas of a hotel.

Takeaways

• 😀 Housekeeping is responsible for the cleanliness, maintenance, and aesthetic upkeep of a hotel’s guestrooms, public areas, back areas, and surroundings.
• 😀 The term 'housekeeping' originated from domestic house cleaning and was later adopted at a commercial level in hotels.
• 😀 Guest Room Attendants (GRAs) are responsible for cleaning the guestrooms, while Public Area Attendants maintain public spaces within the hotel.
• 😀 Housekeeping staff also manage back areas and surroundings, with some tasks potentially outsourced if the areas are large.
• 😀 The Housekeeping Control Desk is the central hub where all instructions, complaints, and records are maintained, coordinating all housekeeping activities.
• 😀 The Executive Housekeeper (EHK) oversees all housekeeping operations and works closely with the control desk to ensure smooth function.
• 😀 Laundry services are an essential part of housekeeping, dealing with linen, uniforms, and guest laundry either through on-premises or off-premises facilities.
• 😀 The Linen and Uniform Room stores and issues clean linens and uniforms to staff, with sewing areas for repairs and alterations.
• 😀 Horticulture, consisting of gardening and flower arrangement, plays a key role in enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the hotel’s interior and exterior.
• 😀 Housekeeping is also responsible for pest control, often outsourcing this task to specialized contractors to ensure hygiene standards.
• 😀 Floor pantries are small housekeeping stores on each floor that provide linen, cleaning supplies, and other necessities to housekeeping staff, improving efficiency.

Q & A

What is the primary function of the housekeeping department in a hotel?

The primary function of the housekeeping department in a hotel is to ensure the cleanliness, maintenance, and aesthetic upkeep of guestrooms, public areas, back areas, and the surrounding areas.

What does the term 'housekeeping' refer to in a hotel context?

In a hotel context, housekeeping refers to the operation department responsible for cleaning, maintaining, and aesthetically managing the hotel's rooms, public spaces, back areas, and the surroundings to create an inviting and well-maintained environment.

What are the main responsibilities of a Guest Room Attendant (GRA)?

A Guest Room Attendant (GRA) is responsible for cleaning and maintaining the guestrooms, ensuring that they are in pristine condition for guests.

How does the housekeeping department coordinate with other hotel departments?

Housekeeping coordinates with other departments like Front Office, F&B, Engineering and Maintenance to ensure the smooth operation of the hotel, handle guest requests, and address any maintenance issues that arise.

What are the key functions of the housekeeping control desk?

The housekeeping control desk manages the coordination of housekeeping activities, receives and processes instructions, complaints, and requests, tracks assigned tasks, and oversees the lost and found process.

What is the role of the laundry department in a hotel?

The laundry department is responsible for washing, ironing, and dry cleaning hotel linen, staff uniforms, and guest clothes. It may operate as an on-premises laundry (OPL) or outsource laundry services to external providers.

What is the function of the linen and uniform room?

The linen and uniform room stores and distributes clean linens, towels, and hotel staff uniforms, and also manages the collection and replacement of soiled items. It may include a sewing area for mending and altering linens and uniforms.

What is the responsibility of the horticulture department in a hotel?

The horticulture department is responsible for landscaping and maintaining the garden areas around the hotel, including tasks like managing plants, flowers, bushes, and hedges. It also takes care of flower arrangements in different hotel areas.

How does housekeeping manage pest control in a hotel?

Housekeeping is responsible for detecting pests in and around the hotel and organizing pest control or eradication, which is often outsourced to specialized contractors.

Why are housekeeping stores and floor pantries important in hotel operations?

Housekeeping stores and floor pantries are essential for the efficient operation of the department, as they store housekeeping equipment, cleaning supplies, and guest amenities. Floor pantries allow housekeeping staff to quickly access the supplies they need without wasting time going to the central store.