It has been difficult for many businesses to restore trust and assure clients that they are doing all they can to keep them safe and healthy throughout the pandemic. Customers are most impacted by a brand’s trustworthiness, which also includes settings where they feel safe and clean, according to PwC’s findings. As a result, hotels must place a high value on sanitation, cleanliness, and infection control to ensure the safety of their customers and visitors.
A hotel’s first concern shouldn’t be its clients but rather the satisfaction and loyalty of its personnel. According to a recent survey, only 14% of employees worldwide have faith in their CEOs and management when it comes to return-to-work rules. According to workers who returned to their jobs, 42 percent claimed that management’s safety measures were either inefficient or not strictly enforced.
Purchasing personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, and other pandemic-related expenses totals millions of rands in South African enterprises. Every plan and solution felt important during the pandemic’s height. It is possible, however, that some of these procedures may play into “hygiene theater” as we learn more about SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
If your guests feel more comfortable, you may want to increase their time washing their hands, but this doesn’t reduce the danger of infection. If the cleaning techniques they adopted at the beginning of the epidemic still meet their needs and those of their stakeholders, they should revisit them.
Cleanliness as a Message
The need to inform guests and employees of new or altered procedures and protections cannot be overstated. According to a further study, as many as 88% of consumers are concerned about the frequent cleanliness of establishments. As a result, 86 percent of consumers would want to see evidence that public facilities like restaurants, offices, gyms, and schools are cleaned consistently.
There is also a lot of concern among employees about how clean their workplace is. Over half (60 percent) of people said they would leave their current job for one with a lesser salary and better working conditions, according to a recent survey. There has been an increase in the number of people who inquire about a company’s health and safety policies. As a result, hotel managers must clearly convey rules and expectations to internal and external audiences to ensure that everyone who enters or works in the hotel feels comfortable and secure.
What can you do to maintain hygiene at your hotel?
Large-scale disinfection
This isn’t always necessary when it comes to daily cleaning. Educate cleaning crews on how, when, and what to disinfect. Place a relentless focus on the types of surfaces and high-touch locations in the facility before implementing a strategy.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Equip employees and customers with personal protective equipment (PPE) and hygiene supplies. As the number of cases of COVID-19 rises and falls, travelers may forget to carry a face mask with them each time they stay at your hotel, significantly as mask mandates and recommendations in different states and towns change. Keep disposable masks and gloves on hand for your workers. Regularly check the supply of hand sanitizer stations near the entrance and exit points.
Utilize contactless payment methods and digital signage.
It has been a year of rapid expansion for the digital signage business. Some firms have been able to use it to deliver real-time safety measures, such as maximum capacity notifications, social distance flows, and even how-to tips for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), to employees and guests.
Contactless payment systems at the point of sale will be positively received by customers once they are implemented. Touchless payment alternatives are a must for nearly three out of four customers.
Examine new cleaning products and methods.
Employees frequently overuse cleaning products. To reduce waste and increase sustainability, look at systems that can help. Electrostatic sprayers can also be used to swiftly and effectively clean extensive facilities. HEPA filters in vacuums can eliminate dust, allergens, and pathogens from the air; inspect the cleaning and disinfecting chemicals you use to ensure they don’t contain scents, preservatives, or other ingredients that may annoy your staff or guests.
Make sure everyone understands the importance of cleanliness and hygiene.
During the day, have staff clean and disinfect. Consumers can watch the cleaning process, providing a sense of security. Consider hiring a third-party service provider to do the more complex duties, such as cleaning the entrance and kitchen mats or sanitizing the mop heads regularly. It is reassuring for guests and employees to see these skilled cleaners at your establishment.
Color-code your cleaning products.
Mops, microfiber cleaning cloths, and even plastic bottles with color-coded labels can be used to help personnel distinguish between cleaners and disinfectants or sanitizers. This is an easy step to take to prevent cross-contamination between toilets, dining areas, and other shared areas.
Training and Certification
Make a significant financial commitment to obtaining the appropriate training and certification. Time and money can be saved, and the danger of harm when cleaning employees are adequately trained and use specialized cleaning equipment. To ensure your employees’ and guests’ health and safety while maintaining a clean and sanitary environment, consider a biorisk accreditation procedure that will help you plan for, respond to and recover from biorisks.
Combating Pathogens of the Present and the Future
Effective communication is essential to ensure that guests and employees are comfortable with any new or changed cleaning and hygiene measures. Following the discussion about cleanliness, hotel owners and managers must implement increased cleaning standards. When it comes to managing today and tomorrow’s infectious disease risks, it’s up to corporate executives, in-house cleaning teams, and outsource cleaning service providers to hold each other to account.
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