Hotel Executive Housekeepers

A large part of any hotel's reputation rests on its appearance. A posh hotel would lose some of its grandeur if the lobby looked cluttered and dirty. Hotel patrons don't mind paying higher room fees when they are guaranteed some measure of luxury, if only for a night or two. Because all guests, whether paying $49.99 a night at the Motel 6 or $500+ a night at a luxury hotel, expect their rooms to be neat and orderly, the housekeeping staff is vital to the success of any motel or hotel. At the helm of the hotel housekeeping department is the executive housekeeper.

The earliest housekeeping executives were most probably owners of the hotel. Often the innkeepers did not have any help aside from family members; they were responsible for cleaning the inn, cooking food, showing guests to their rooms, and maintaining records. Eventually, hotels became bigger, and in some cases they merged with other hotels to form chains and franchises. Soon, owners were forced to hire employees to help with the operations of the hotel.

This job is not defined by a mop and bucket. Executive housekeepers, one of the highest managerial positions in hospitality, oversee the cleanliness and appearance of the hotel. They supervise a team of cleaning professionals who keep the hotel in top condition.

Executive housekeepers need to be comfortable working with computers, a vital tool in maintaining paperwork, vendor information, and supply inventory. They also need to be familiar with new techniques to expedite the process of cleaning without sacrificing thoroughness. Robotics, for example, has helped the workload of cleaners. Much of the lifting and cleaning of heavy pieces of furniture is now done by machinery. Large lobby areas are now cleaned by automatic washers instead of hand mops. Cleaning solutions have been improved to do their job faster and better, yet remain friendly to different woods and fabrics as well as the environment.