Staying in a hotel, whether on vacation or business, should be a relaxing, enjoyable experience. Hotel stays should not be a source of stress, and the cleanliness of a hotel room should never be a concern. Unfortunately, many hotel rooms are anything but clean, and pricier rooms can be just as unclean as cheaper accommodations.
The concern is not only about littered carpets and unmade beds. Bacteria, dander, and mold can result in serious health consequences and allergic reactions when hotel rooms are not maintained properly.
The fact that hotel cleanliness is so rare does not mean you should settle for anything less than hygienic. Asking a few important questions in advance of a hotel stay can help weed out the most disgusting rooms. Further, taking a few steps of your own to protect your health while in a hotel room can go a long way toward making you, and your room, a lot cleaner.
Questions to Ask Before Booking:
1. How experienced is the housekeeping staff? Specifically ask about the qualifications of the housekeeping manager, as he or she is typically responsible for training and supervising all other housekeepers employed by the hotel. Does the manager have any academic credentials or belong to any associations, such as the International Executive Housekeepers Association?
2. Does the hotel outsource housekeeping duties, or does it hire and train its own employees? Generally, in-house housekeepers will be better trained and more motivated to do a thorough cleaning job than employees of a third party firm. You can ask the hotel directly about the qualifications and training of their housekeeping staff before booking a room.
3. Is the hotel certified by the ISSA, or International Sanitary Supply Association? The ISSA issues a certification, called the Cleaning Industry Management Standard, or CIMS, to qualifying hotels. This certification ensures a baseline standard for cleanliness and sanitation in all rooms, including written cleaning instructions and mandatory training programs.
4. What steps does the hotel take to ensure sanitation and hygiene? Are glasses replaced daily after being washed in hot, soapy water? Are the beds covered with triple sheets? Are bed coverings changed even when they appear to be unused? What cleaning products are used to ensure bacteria, mold, and insects are not able to grow and thrive in the hotel room? Are air filters fitted? The answers to these questions are important, and determining whether the hotel staff even knows the answers can be just as important.
5. Research complaints against any hotels you are considering by visiting the Better Business Bureau website or by calling your local BBB. It is important to remember that happy customers are less inclined to report clean conditions than unhappy clients are to report unsatisfactory rooms.
via www.gadling.com
