STEALING THE SHOW WITH CLEANLINESS

While hygiene theatre was rampant during the pandemic, hoteliers need to consider cleanliness as a strategic initiative rather than a cosmetic one

- PRANITA BHOSALE

Hygiene has been at the top of consumers' minds since the pandemic began, and even more now as they increasingly visit F&B outlets. Hoteliers and restauranteurs constantly seek newer ways to fuse sustainable practices with amplified cleaning and hygiene measures to meet these evolved guest expectations.

In this particular article, Hotelier India finds out how the industry stakeholders are following through with measures like cleaning, disinfection, and handwashing in the back of the house and encouraging guests to use hand sanitiser consistently on the premises. We also discover how prioritising cleaning, disinfection, and infection prevention practices are helping them give their guests much-needed peace of mind.

Is cleaning in contemporary times a hygiene theatre focused on appearance rather than protecting guest wellbeing?

Vaneeta Arora, Director-Housekeeping, The Park New Delhi: Before the pandemic, most hotels aimed more at spotless exteriors than actual removal of germs and viruses from their premises. But in the current scenario, they face an enormous responsibility to mitigate COVID-19's spread. Given the higher demand for sanitation, not only is cleaning essential for the health of guests and staff, but the removal of viruses and germs is equally crucial. Any lag in sanitisation can be a significant hazard where the carrier may turn into a major factor in propagating the disease.