Housekeepers don’t get the respect they deserve.
We’re on a mission to change that.
Often overlooked (and underpaid), housekeepers are crucial to the success of any hotel. They form first impressions, deliver on guest needs, and drive service standards. Still, housekeeping teams across the industry are facing major challenges that stop them from excelling in the ways they could.
To understand exactly what those challenges are, we asked over 200 housekeeping professionals face-to-face at our annual Housekeeping Academy Days event. In partnership with the incredible team at UPUHH (The Association of Croatian Hotel Entrepreneurs), we invited housekeeping leaders from across the industry to share strategies, form connections, and celebrate their vital role in the hotel ecosystem.
After countless in-depth conversations with housekeeping staff at the event—and at the properties we work with—it’s clear which challenges are most pressing for the industry today.
Although these challenges are steep, the industry is changing—fast. Housekeeping leaders are seeing major opportunities to improve the profession at large and enhance quality of life for housekeepers. Here are the 4 most crucial opportunities hoteliers need to capitalize on moving forward.
Housekeepers work long hours doing labour-intensive, often unattractive tasks. This has contributed to the high turnover rates seen across the industry. Properties are struggling to not only retain talent, but attract talent in the first place.
The next generation of workers prioritizes work-life balance. They want the freedom of a flexible schedule, with ample opportunities to grow. Hoteliers need to adopt a more malleable approach to managing housekeepers, and a level of emotional intelligence to understand their needs and desires.
By increasing the attractiveness of the profession in these ways, properties can build happier, longer-lasting housekeeping teams.
This remains one of the top challenges faced by housekeepers. The profession is still looked down upon, causing housekeepers to feel undervalued by their own employer and stagnant in their career growth.
By investing in education and upskilling, hotels can show housekeepers they are genuinely valued, and that a career in hospitality is a dream job. Yes, we said dream job. With the right management, infrastructure, and technology in place, there’s no reason why housekeeping shouldn’t be as fulfilling as any other position across the hotel.
Many hoteliers are already making changes to shift the narrative. Take Strawberry Hotels, for example. In our panel conversation with Iluta Skromane-Almo, Style Manager at Clarion THE HUB, she explained why they call their housekeeping staff “Stylists”. Since the job is so much more than simply cleaning, they chose a name that reflects the reputation of the job. It’s a small but impactful way to emphasize the difficulty of the work and elevate its importance.
Hotel tech is rapidly evolving. New innovations are helping hotels solve problems across all departments—housekeeping included.
Tools like robots, ChatGPT, intuitive AI, and automation will keep making the housekeeper’s job easier. By investing in this type of technology, properties can remove many of the roadblocks housekeepers face day-to-day.
Imagine if the right tech is in every housekeeper’s pocket. Features like automatic language translations, foolproof collaboration tools, and real-time updates can eliminate friction and help housekeepers focus on their tasks.
More than that, investing in this type of tech shows how much a property values its housekeeping team. It’s not just about boosting productivity and efficiency. It’s about making each housekeeper feel empowered in their job and 100% supported to do their best work.
A guest’s room is their private space. It’s where they find comfort, and where they have the highest expectations from the hotel. By preparing and upkeeping every guest’s room, housekeepers have not only the greatest impact on guest satisfaction—but the most intimate relationship with guests. The impact this has on loyalty, review generation, and future revenue is crucial.
Put simply: housekeepers deserve a raise. Low salaries are part of the reason why housekeeping talent is difficult to attract and retain. By investing in the livelihoods of these individuals, hoteliers can uplift the profession and build stronger, more committed housekeeping teams.
Housekeeping Academy Days is a very important event for us here at Flexkeeping. It’s a dedicated space for housekeeping professionals to discuss the challenges facing their industry, and the necessary (and exciting) changes needed to solve them.
Most importantly, we continuously heard a sentiment that is core to our mission: Housekeeping is the heart of hospitality. It’s the truth. And through events like this, and building technologies that make a true impact, we’ll continue to empower, uplift, and invest in the absolute pros who power this industry.