
2023 has been a year of recovery, renewed efforts and resurrection in the realm of hygiene.
“Going green” has been the trend and as we have seen, environmentally sound policies not only decrease the carbon footprint but also increase the monetary health of a property. Sustainable housekeeping with eco-friendly practices saw a spike and were the big trendsetters in the previous year.
Green cleaning products producing effective cleaning results without compromising environmental safety is our take from 2023. For environmental reasons, more and more people are opting for green cleaning products, using reusable containers, and recycling their own waste. Housekeepers are also turning to eco-friendly brands for their cleaning needs. Companies in the cleaning industry are increasingly looking to cleaning business software and other forms of automation technology to help them better manage their quoting, scheduling, invoicing, and relationships.
Another big hygiene learning is the use of technology in training. The higher usage of automated solutions is required in training. As we have seen, Artificial intelligence is playing several roles within the hospitality industry. In 2023, it was still in the nascent stage but going forward, it will assume bigger dimensions in 2024. By using the advantages and technologies of big data and combining the advanced information technology, a lot of time consuming housekeeping operations can be simplified such as setting the room-cleaning sequence, providing attendants with guest preference information, updating the room status in the Property Management System (PMS) and so on.Several companies like SealedAir, Ecolab, 3M have been exploring the opportunities of creating and custom designing the equipment softwares much to the relief of housekeepers to make cleaning operations convenient. Traditional cleaning rags are being replaced by this wonder fabric “microfiber”.
2023 has seen various tools being used to generate optimum output in fields of hygiene with a strong need of optimum utilization of resources available ,manpower, supplies and new scientific trends like ergonomics, eco –friendly practices(energy conservation, waste management, eco-friendly products, stationary, ozone treatment , reduce, recycle, reuse), payroll analysis, etc.
Hygiene in the present era is not only about cleaning, maintaining and aesthetic upkeep of an area but much more beyond that.
About the author:
Akshi Singh is the Cluster Director of Housekeeping at IHG, Kuwait. She is the recipient of the 2016 " Housekeeper of the Year '' - Hotelier Middle East Award. She has spearheaded the Opening of the new Crowne Plaza and Rebranding of the Existing to Holiday Inn.