How to Conduct Inspections in Hotel Housekeeping | Executive Housekeeper SOP
As a housekeeping supervisor or executive housekeeper, you have to carry out daily inspections to ensure that housekeeping cleaning procedures and specification are met in your hotel.
Routine daily inspections are carried out for a number of reasons:
To monitor staff activities and cleaning methods
To ensure work is completed in the required time
To ensure areas have been cleaned and replenished according to company procedures
To ensure that establishment standards are maintained
To identify problems or faults before the guest does
To ensure that problems and faults are followed up
To check that health, safety and hygiene procedures are followed
To monitor areas as well as equipment, supplies and machinery
Guidelines
Allocate trained and responsible people or supervisors to check specific rooms/blocks/areas.
Provide inspection checklists for all areas including public areas, offices, toilets, corridors and passages, store rooms etc. This will ensure that areas or items are not forgotten or left out.
Provide an inspection schedule for each area, to ensure that they are checked routinely and regularly. For example, toilets in public areas need to be checked many times during a shift.
Ensure that inspections are recorded and signed on a daily basis so that it is easy to follow up in the event of problems or complaints.
During busy periods, ask for the help of Duty Managers to help inspect areas.
What to check for?
Basic areas that will be covered by an inspection will ensure that:
All fixtures, fittings and furnishings are clean and in good working order
All guest items have been replenished
All surfaces are clean and free from marks
Floors and floor coverings are clean and the appropriate finish has been achieved
Beds have been made according to the method specified by the establishment
Lighting, heating and cooling systems are in good working order
Bathrooms have been thoroughly cleaned
There are no signs of pests
No health or safety hazards
Maintenance faults identified and reported
Special guest requests have been actioned
The finished room or area meets the standard set by the hotel
Guidelines for checking guest rooms
Note what rooms must be checked so that you can try to check all rooms in one area before moving on to the next one. This will save time and energy.
Check VIP, early arrival and special request rooms first.
Record your inspection on the appropriate checklist, in case these need to be referred to later.
Check the room in a logical manner, either according to your checklist, or using the “around the room” approach to avoid missing items or areas.
When checking, think of what the guest will see (behind closed doors, ceilings when lying in the bath or the bed, marks on mirrors, missing hooks when curtains are closed, underneath soap dishes, outdoor or balcony areas).
Use as many of your senses as possible – sight, touch or feel, smell, hearing or sound.
Always carry air freshener with you.
Report problems, faults or shortages immediately, according to your procedures.
Vacant ready rooms must be reported immediately, according to your procedures.
A room inspection report should be completed which notes such items as the condition of furniture, fixtures and equipment, etc. Each hotel will have its own checklist according to room type and furnishings.
Are you working in the housekeeping department? Are you an Executive Housekeeper or Housekeeping Supervisor? Which hotel are you working for and where is it located? Did you find this article helpful? We would like to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.