How to improve hospitality hygiene

Creating the right environment and brand experience for your guests is essential. A poor experience could be damaging to your business, impacting customer loyalty, making them less likely to return.

Clean and hygienic facilities, communal areas and washrooms play a key role in turning an average stay into a great one, and are some of the most important factors when recommending a hotel to friends and colleagues.

Entrances (receptions/concierge):

A hotel's entrance is one of the most visible and important areas, critical to creating the right first impression. From the moment a guest walks through the door, they expect a level of style and quality in keeping with your brand.

• Create the right ambience to make your hotel stand out by introducing custom scents to deliver a memorable experience and elevate your brand
• Quality floorcare protects your floor and keeps dirt and dust away while maintaining your brand image
• Ensure a regular cleaning routine with a focus on high-footfall areas as hygiene is one of the most important factors when recommending a hotel

Guest rooms:

Hygiene is more than surface-clean. Clean the dirt you can see but also consider what is invisible to the naked eye - germs can be easily transferred from the bathroom to the rest of the hotel suite, putting the health of guests at risk.

• Ensure the cleaning staff are aware of the risks of cross-contamination. Gloves used when cleaning the toilet should be thrown away and replaced before contact with any other surface or object
• High usage items such as remote controls, light switches, drinking glasses and headboards should be cleaned thoroughly to limit the spread of bacteria

Washrooms:

The importance of a good washroom experience should never be underestimated. A good washroom experience could influence a hotel guest's overall attitude towards your brand for the better, enhancing their perception of the business, quality of service and standard of hygiene it offers guests.

• Ensure adequate facilities are in place for the washing and drying of hands and sanitary waste disposal. No-touch solutions help minimize contact and reduce the transmission of germs
• Provide toilet seat cleaners to limit the number of germs spread from the ‘sneeze effect’
• Install air fresheners or air purifiers to maintain a pleasant smelling washroom

Kitchens and dining areas:

Cross-contamination and spread of bacteria in kitchens can occur easily if proper hygiene practices are not put in place.

• Train staff on correct handwashing procedures and glove usage policies to minimize the spread of germs from hands to food and surfaces
• Ensure adequate handwashing facilities are provided; well-stocked soap, paper or linen towels and waste bins. No-touch solutions will help reduce the risk of germs spreading
• Disinfect work surfaces regularly to ensure cross-contamination is reduced
• Handwash monitoring solutions can increase handwashing compliance and ensure your staff are washing their hands according to the relevant protocols

Leisure center (gym/spa/pool areas):

Unhygienic conditions in public amenities can lead to the rapid spread of diseases, respiratory conditions and even intestinal disorders. Micro-organisms in sweat, urine, saliva and faecal matter thrive in poor sanitation and outbreaks can have a vast impact on guests and brand reputation.

• Ensure adequate handwashing and drying facilities are provided in the changing areas, with well stocked soap, paper or linen towels and waste bins. No-touch solutions will help reduce the risk of germs spreading
• Hand and surface sanitizers provided at key locations will help minimize the risk of cross-contamination amongst hotel amenity users
• Bad odours give the perception of an unclean environment, scenting solutions can help counteract malodours

Conference rooms/business centers:

With high human interaction and heavy usage, conference rooms and business centers in hotels create a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. A clean meeting environment creates a pleasant guest experience and reflects well on your brand.

• Provision of hand and surface sanitizers will help protect guests within this environment.
• Key locations which should be sanitized include: communal desks, remote controls, door handles and telephones