There are many opportunities where accommodation properties can engage with a Housekeeping Labour Hire provider like ahs hospitality

ahs hospitality are proud to share that we have been announced as a finalist at the National Safety Awards of Excellence under the category ‘Best Continuous Improvement of a WHS Management System’.

In the fast-paced world of hotel hospitality, hotel housekeeping staff are usually the unsung heroes. They work tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring that every guest enjoys a clean, comfortable, and welcoming stay. However, the demanding nature of their work can often be overlooked, and their need for mental wellness support. At ahs hospitality, we believe that promoting mental wellness among our housekeeping staff is not just a nice-to-have but essential for their well-being and their success at work. The impact of mental wellness on job performance Hotel housekeeping is a physically demanding role and often involves long hours of repetitive tasks. Changing bed sheets, vacuuming floors, and cleaning bathrooms are just a few of the many responsibilities that can take a toll on the body. Additionally, the pressure to maintain high cleanliness standards and meeting tight deadlines can lead to stress and burnout. For many housekeeping staff, their work is not only physically exhausting but also mentally challenging. Mental wellness significantly impacts job performance. Housekeeping staff who are mentally well are more likely to be productive, efficient, and attentive to detail. They can better handle the physical demands of their job as well as maintain a positive attitude. On the other hand, those who struggle with mental health issues may find it difficult to concentrate, make decisions, and stay motivated. This can lead to decreased productivity, increased errors, and ultimately, lower guest satisfaction. How to create a supportive work environment for hotel housekeeping teams Promoting mental wellness starts with creating a supportive work environment . Hotel management can take several steps to ensure housekeeping staff feel valued and supported by promoting the following directives: Open Communication: Encourage open communication between housekeeping staff and management. Regular check-ins and providing staff opportunities to provide feedback can help identify any issues early and provide an opportunity for staff to voice their concerns and needs. Work-Life Balance: Promote a healthy work-life balance by ensuring fair shift times and allowing for adequate rest between shifts. Training and Development: Provide training on stress management and mental wellness. Equip staff with the tools and techniques to manage stress effectively and build resilience. Access to Support Services: Offer access to mental health support services such as employee assistance programs (EAP). Knowing that help is available can make a significant difference in how housekeeping staff cope with stress. The benefits of promoting mental wellness in your housekeeping team  Investing in the mental wellness of housekeeping staff has numerous benefits. It leads to higher job satisfaction, lower turnover rates, and a more positive work environment. Happy and healthy staff are more likely to deliver excellent service, resulting in better guest experiences and the overall operational success of the hotel. Overall, promoting mental wellness in hotel housekeeping is a win-win for both housekeeping staff and hotel management. It leads to happier, healthier staff who are more productive and capable of delivering exceptional service.

As we approach Housekeeping Week in September, there is no better time to celebrate all the housekeeping heroes at ahs hospitality across Australia and New Zealand who keep our hotels looking spotless and most importantly, guests happy. In this blog we take you behind-the-scenes to show you what it is like working as a Hotel Housekeeper, understand what a typical day in the life looks like for a Housekeeping Manager managing a hotel housekeeping team, and the hard work and dedication that goes into keeping hotels clean and tidy. A typical day as a Hotel Housekeeping Manager For most Housekeeping Managers, every day starts with checking and replying to emails, taking a handover from the AM team, and conducting morning briefings and stretches with all room attendants on shift that day. These initial tasks are important and help set the tone for the day and get the body warmed up - ensuring that everyone is ready to complete their public area, house person or room attendant duties with confidence! As the leader of their Housekeeping team , Housekeeping Managers also attend their hotel’s leadership and operations meetings to stay up to date on any events or upcoming high-occupancy periods happening at the hotel that may impact their Housekeeping team. During these meetings, Housekeeping Managers also receive feedback on how well their housekeeping team are performing in line with hotel operations and expectations. Throughout the day, Housekeeping Managers also supervise their housekeeping staff, manage scheduling and assign tasks to ensure that all rooms are cleaned and maintained efficiently . Housekeeping Managers are also expected to coordinate and work with the front desk and maintenance teams to address any immediate concerns or guest enquiries to ensure that the hotel continues to operate smoothly. Another significant part of the job of a Housekeeping Manager is to ensure that their housekeeping team has everything they need and the knowledge to deliver high cleanliness standards. This involves managing inventory and ordering supplies, as well as ensuring they all participate in the monthly Work Group Discussions and training sessions. Addressing guest feedback and queries is also a daily task, often requiring prompt and effective solutions to ensure the best in guest satisfaction. The day wraps up with sending a handover to the PM team for any follow-ups. Prioritising tasks and team management is key to be a successful Housekeeping Manager Each day as a Housekeeping Manager is never the same and can present different challenges that need to be solved. So being able to prioritise tasks based on urgency and planning accordingly is a valuable skill to have as a hotel housekeeper. Some days, a Housekeeping Manager may be training a new staff member, and other days they are addressing payroll queries as the first point of call. High occupancy periods or special events require meticulous planning for a Hotel Housekeeping Manager. Checking occupancy forecasts a couple of weeks in advance helps a Hotel Housekeeping Manger plan the right number of staff on shift. Depending on the hotel's occupancy, a Housekeeping Manager can oversee around 20 Housekeepers during high occupancy periods and about 13 room attendants, 2 supervisors, 2 housemen, and 1 minibar attendant on regular days. Clear and respectful communication, active listening, teamwork, showing appreciation, and regular feedback are key strategies for a Housekeeping Manager to ensure effective communication within a Housekeeping Team. Also, acknowledging the team's hard work with small gestures like morning teas or pizza parties also boosts team morale and performance. It is the responsibly of a Housekeeping Manager to maintaining hotel cleanliness standards The key responsibility and measurement of a successful Hotel Housekeeping Manager is the ability to train and support their Housekeeping team to maintain high cleanliness standards. Onboarding training for new staff, supervised on-site training, and even virtual training ensure that the team is well-equipped to perform well in their housekeeping role. Regular training and development programs, thanks to ahs hospitality’s Quality and Training Managers, also help housekeeping teams stay up to date on the latest cleaning equipment and procedures and further develop their skills. Advice for Aspiring Hotel Housekeeping Managers For those aspiring to become Hotel Housekeepers, dedication, organisation, and a focus on guest satisfaction are key. As Housekeeping Week approaches, let's celebrate the hard work and dedication of Hotel Housekeeping Managers who successfully manage their housekeeping teams. It is their commitment to maintaining high cleanliness standards that ensures every guest enjoys a clean and comfortable stay. Thank you to all our Hotel Housekeeping Managers and Happy Housekeeping Week!

In today’s highly competitive hotel accommodation industry, reducing operational costs whilst maintaining a clean and inviting environment is crucial to maintain a healthy stream of return guests. For hotels in Australia and New Zealand, partnering with a professional outsourced housekeeping company can provide numerous financial and operational benefits, as well as a strong peace of mind. Here, we explore the top eight benefits of partnering with a professional housekeeping company like ahs hospitality. 1. Access to Specialised Expertise Professional housekeeping companies like ahs hospitality have specialised knowledge, experience and expertise in how to run a housekeeping department effectively and efficiently. As an outsourced housekeeping company, we know how to maintain high standards of cleanliness in hotels of all sizes. We train our housekeepers in the best cleaning techniques, provide them with safe and eco-friendly products, and ensure compliance with health and safety regulations. 2. Cost Efficiency Outsourcing housekeeping services through professional housekeeping companies can be more cost-effective than maintaining an in-house team. Hotels can save on expenses related to recruitment, training, salaries, benefits, and equipment. At ahs hospitality, we will take care of recruitment, training, insurance, work cover, salaries, and housekeeping equipment. We have our own dedicated Human Resources, Marketing, Legal, Safety and Performance teams ready to provide a comprehensive support network for each of our hotel partners. Additionally, hotels can opt for hybrid or labour hire solutions during peak seasons, or high occupancy periods, ensuring flexibility and efficient resource management. 3. Flexibility and Scalability To Suit Demand One of the significant advantages of partnering with a professional housekeeping company like ahs hospitality is the flexibility in services we offer. By working with an outsourced housekeeping company, hotels can scale their housekeeping services up or down based on occupancy rates and seasonal demand. For instance, during peak seasons or special events, hotels can hire additional staff through labour hire solutions . Conversely, during quieter periods, they can reduce the number of housekeeping staff, optimising operational efficiency. 4. Improved Staff Management Managing an in-house housekeeping team can be challenging and time-consuming. Outsourcing this function allows hotel management to focus on core activities such as guest relations and strategic planning. Professional housekeeping companies handle all aspects of staff management, pay roll and administration that involves their housekeepers. This ensures a consistently high standard of service that will have a positive flow on effect to high guest satisfaction. 5. Consistency and Reliability Professional housekeeping companies are committed to providing a consistent and reliable professional cleaning service. They have established protocols and quality control measures to ensure that every cleaning task meets the highest cleanliness standards. This reliability is crucial for ensuring that guests have a consistently pleasant experience during their stay. Hotels can count on these companies like ahs hospitality to deliver the same level of service every time. Remember outsourced housekeeping companies are single handedly experts in keeping your hotel clean and tidy! 6. Access to Advanced Cleaning Equipment Professional housekeeping companies invest in the right cleaning equipment and products. By partnering with these companies, hotels can benefit from advanced cleaning technologies without the need for sourcing these themselves. This includes specialised equipment for deep cleaning, and eco-friendly cleaning solutions. Access to such resources ensures that the hotel is thoroughly cleaned and maintained to the highest standards. 7. Risk Management and Compliance Compliance with health and safety regulations is critical in the hospitality industry. Professional housekeeping companies are well-versed in these regulations and ensure that all cleaning practices adhere to the required standards. This reduces the risk of non-compliance and potential legal issues. Additionally, these companies often carry insurance to cover any injuries, accidents, or damages that may occur, providing an added layer of protection for hotel owners and managers. 8. Enhanced Guest Experience A clean, inviting and well-maintained hotel directly impacts guest satisfaction. Professional housekeeping companies like ahs hospitality bring expertise and meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that every room and public area is looking its very best. This high standard of cleanliness can significantly enhance the guest experience , leading to positive reviews, higher ratings, and increased bookings. In a region where tourism is a vital industry, such as Australia or New Zealand, maintaining positive guest reviews is essential for success. Indeed, partnering with a professional housekeeping company like ahs hospitality offers numerous benefits for hotels in Australia and New Zealand. From enhancing guest experience and cost efficiency, to providing flexibility and specialised expertise, these partnerships can significantly improve the overall operation and reputation of a hotel. In a competitive industry outsourcing housekeeping services is a strategic move that can provide substantial operational and financial rewards. Explore all of ahs hospitality’s housekeeping services here . Looking to partner your hotel with ahs hospitality, get in touch with us here .

We all have a role to play in protecting our environment and reducing our carbon footprint – and all of us at ahs hospitality take this role very seriously. For a number of years now we have partnered with eco-conscious suppliers like Bunzl who have the same passion for protecting the planet, and established processes where we can lower our CO2 emissions and track its environmental impact. In this blog, we are pleased to share with you the progress we have made so far as an outsourced hotel housekeeping company.

ahs hospitality have proudly been providing trusted outsourced housekeeping services to the Australian Market since 1993. We sat down with Abraham Dow (Abe), General Manager NSW & ACT to get to know more about his team and the housekeeping operations he is leading from our Sydney office.

At ahs hospitality, people are at the heart of everything we do. We champion diversity and employ wonderful hard-working people regardless of their disability, background or circumstance. Recently we hired our first candidate, Yuwie, from Barkuma, a specialist Disability Employment Service provider that operates in Adelaide and works with people with a disability – including Intellectual Disability, Learning Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down Syndrome, to support them in finding and securing long term work. We had a chat with Devi, our Housekeeping Manager from one of our contracted hotels in South Australia to learn about ahs hospitality’s involvement with Barkuma, the importance of diverse hiring within hospitality and how ahs hospitality creates a positive and safe environment for people like Yuwie to be happy and successful in their roles.

In the bustling world of hospitality, where every guest interaction and experience matters, hotel housekeeping stands out as an unsung hero. Beyond the daily tasks of tidying rooms, making beds, and wiping down public areas, working in housekeeping in the hotels and accommodation industry can serve as an effective pathway into leadership. While it may not be immediately apparent, the skills acquired in hotel housekeeping – including attention to detail, communication, cultural awareness, and adaptability, lay a strong foundation for aspiring leaders. In this blog we will explore the soft skills people learn being a housekeeper and how they are transferable within the hospitality industry and valuable for those in any leadership positions.