Question

Every hotel need good maintenance culture to stay in business. As a second year
hospitality student of the University of Energy and Natural resources, identify and
explain five (5) main categories of Maintenance activities available to a hotels
housekeeping department.

Answer 1

Cleanliness and tidiness is at the heart of the hotel business. These duties are done by housekeping departments. The fact is that the entire housekeeping department runs 24 hours a day. The department can never shut down or stop functioning. The main categories of housekeeping are as follows:

1. Morning housekeeping: The morning housekeeping department starts the functioning of the day. It will be the continuation of yesterday's housekeeping. All the public area outlets, back-office outlets will be cleaned in this shift. The guest floor, the occupied guest rooms, departure rooms are also to be ready for resale to other guests.

2. Evening housekeeping- Even though the pressure of work in the housekeeping department in the evening shift is comparatively less than the morning shift, a thorough check of various f/b outlets have been done before its open for the evening operation. In this shift, usually down service is given to guest rooms. In this shift the night bed has been made for the guest. Some fresh flowers or goodnight chocolate are to be placed on the guest bed.  

3. Night housekeeping- In the night housekeeping there will be only a few employees. They take care of any urgent needs of cleaning or room cleaning upon requests.

4. Washroom maintenance: Washroom is an area where frequent and thorough cleaning is needed. The washrooms in the banquet, visiting lounge etc need very much attention.

5. Front area maintenance: Every customer passes through the front area. It is the first impression area of the hotel. So this area has to be kept clean all the time. But it would not give a good impression if a visitor confronts cleaning with a mop and broom. It has to be kept clean and tidy but no maintenance should be done at rush hours.