Housekeeping Week and Beyond: How to Celebrate and Support Housekeeping for Long-Term Success

Afternoon Treats: In the afternoons, the department responsible for the day's celebrations can distribute snacks and drinks in the hallways. Small gestures like granola bars, fruit, and drinks are a nice treat for housekeepers during their shifts and a nice way to keep the appreciation going throughout the day!

Personalized Lunch Options: Allow the housekeeping team to choose their lunch for the week from options provided by the hotel chef. This not only gives them a voice in the week’s festivities but also caters to their preferences. For hotels without a restaurant or cafeteria, consider themed catered lunches, like pizza parties, Chinese food, or taco days.

Evening Celebrations: For hotels with turndown service, don’t forget to include the evening staff in the celebrations! Similar activities, such as games or a nicer dinner, can ensure they feel just as appreciated as the daytime crew.

Gifts and Keepsakes: Thoughtful gifts go a long way in showing appreciation. Gender-specific gifts, such as tote bags for the ladies and socks for the men, can be especially meaningful. Items featuring the hotel logo, like branded tote bags, allow the team to showcase their pride in working at your hotel. Teams also love practical gifts such as thermoses, water bottles, lunch boxes, or lanyards.

Prizes for Games: To add an element of excitement, incorporate prizes into the games held throughout the week. Prizes can range from gift cards to branded tumblers to luxurious items like hotel robes and spa vouchers.

Supporting Housekeepers Beyond Housekeeping Week

Recognize Year-Round Contributions: Appreciation shouldn’t be limited to a single week. It should be integrated into daily operations, with a consistent focus on recognizing the critical role housekeepers play in maintaining hotel standards and guest satisfaction.

"I think the room attendants don't mind doing the work. They really don't, but they want to feel appreciated. They want to feel like someone actually sees what they're doing and experiencing what they're dealing with." - Kevin Kelleher

Provide Continuous Support–Especially From Leadership: Active involvement from General Managers (GMs) is crucial. GMs should participate in daily briefings, maintain a visible presence, and acknowledge the efforts of the housekeeping team, particularly during high-demand days. Whether it's helping strip rooms or simply being present, this support demonstrates solidarity and shows the team that their hard work is truly valued and making a difference.

Providing consistent support and recognition not only helps reduce turnover but also fosters a more positive work environment. When housekeepers feel valued year-round—not just during Housekeeping Week—it boosts job satisfaction, benefits the entire hotel team, and enhances the overall guest experience.

Offer Specific and Timely Recognition:

"Recognition needs to be specific and it needs to be timely... If you thank the person for their hard work on Monday, they're going to be like, 'It’s Friday, and I don’t remember yesterday.' Recognition needs to be short-term and immediate." – Kevin Kelleher

In the fast-paced hotel environment, it's crucial to acknowledge a housekeeper’s efforts that same day. Timely appreciation not only solidifies the moment but also inspires others to maintain that positive energy, fueling a continuous culture of respect and motivation across the team.

Encourage a Culture of Collaboration: Collaboration is key to a smoothly running hotel, whether it’s asking other departments for support or seeking assistance from the wider team. Demonstrating humility and vulnerability in leadership can enhance effectiveness and create a more supportive environment.

Take, for instance, a high-occupancy day with a tight flip—a situation where a large number of guests are checking out and checking in on the same day, often leaving little time to turn rooms around. On such days, it’s crucial for GMs to step in during the morning briefing and acknowledge the challenging day ahead.

A GM might say, "Today is going to be busy, and we appreciate all your hard work. We’re here to support you. We’ll have team members from sales, accounting, and the front office helping to strip rooms so you can focus on cleaning and preparing them for the next guests."

Having the GM personally assist or thank the room attendants on the floors reinforces the message of teamwork and shared responsibility, showing that leadership is truly engaged in supporting the housekeeping team. This hands-on approach not only helps get the job done but also strengthens the bond between management and the housekeeping staff, fostering a culture of mutual respect and collaboration.

Enhance Housekeeper Well-being and Efficiency with Technology

Utilizing housekeeping technology can greatly alleviate the mental burden on housekeepers by offering real-time updates on room status. Traditionally, housekeepers face the challenge of constantly checking whether a room has been checked out, which can be stressful and time-consuming. Imagine a room attendant who has 15 rooms to clean in a day, spending a considerable portion of their time walking up and down hallways, going to multiple floors, knocking on doors, and double-checking room statuses. This process can easily take away valuable minutes from each room, adding up to a significant loss in productivity.

With Alice by Actabl, housekeepers no longer need to guess or repeatedly check a room's status. The system instantly updates their boards once a room's status changes, allowing them to plan their tasks more efficiently. This real-time information reduces unnecessary steps, eases the mental load, and allows them to focus on cleaning and preparing rooms without the added stress of constantly needing to verify room statuses.

Moreover, housekeeping staff faces substantial physical and mental demands, with long hours on their feet, tight cleaning schedules, and the mental strain of uncertainty regarding room occupancy. The pressure to perform under these conditions can lead to mistakes, rushed work, or even physical injuries. Alice mitigates these risks by keeping room attendants informed in real-time, reducing the need for last-minute rushes that can compromise their health and well-being.

By investing in tools like Alice, you are prioritizing the mental and physical well-being of housekeeping teams year-round. This approach helps prevent burnout and ensures that staff can maintain a high level of job satisfaction while performing their duties safely and effectively. Creating a more sustainable and supportive workplace ultimately benefits both employees and guests, leading to better service and a more harmonious work environment.

Housekeeping Appreciation Week is an important time to celebrate the hardworking individuals who keep your hotel running smoothly. But appreciation shouldn’t end when the week does. By integrating recognition into daily operations, supporting housekeepers with the right tools, and fostering a culture of collaboration, you can ensure that your housekeeping team feels valued every day of the year. Ready to take the next step in supporting your housekeeping team? Speak to our experts and learn more about how Actabl can enhance their work experience and well-being.