User-Friendly Technology in Housekeeping

Hospitality Lexis had a conversation with the Rooms Division Manager Shankush Mahajan about the housekeeping services in Westin Koregaon Park

Hospitality Lexis/ Print edition December 2019

At The Westin Pune Koregaon Park, we have a certain SOP’s that we need to be followed by the Housekeeping department while they clean the guest room. All the SOP’s protect the guest’s privacy, the housekeeping department checks with the guests before entering the room. The department has a Housekeeping Discrepancy Report that

doesn’t disturb the guest and protects the privacy of the guest. If the guest has put a Do Not Disturb sign, to protect the guest’s privacy the housekeeping associate slips a note through the door, once the guest gives a positive response than only the associate enters the room to clean the room. This process is followed for all the guests that put up the sign.

Current trends show that our hotel guests are committed to preserving and protecting the environment. By implementing and improving our sustainability programs, The Westin Pune Koregaon Park makes significant contributions to Marriott International initiative.

These efforts will, in turn, improve guest loyalty, reduce the costs of waste disposal, save energy, allow each property to engage with their guests and create positive community relations. We would like to do our part in the conservation of our environment and ecosystems.  

Water: Water is a natural resource critical to the operations of all departments in a hotel. Due to its importance, Marriott International has included a water reduction target as part of its Sustainability & Social Impact goals. By 2025, Marriott International will reduce water intensity by 15%. As all our associates use water daily, it is a must that water conservation behaviours and practices be integrated into operations while not negatively impacting the guest experience.

For example, Housekeeping focuses on water usage reduction during room cleanings, while our Food & Beverage associates implement water conservation techniques in the kitchen. Engineering contributes

to reducing a property’s water consumption by installing low-flow fixtures and sub-meters and focusing on preventive maintenance and building system efficiencies. Even our guests join our water

conservation efforts by participating in our linen & terry reuse program or by forgoing housekeeping with Make a Green Choice.

Beyond the major water use categories, there are many other ways we save water at our hotel. Leak Detection Pool & Spa Water Features

Guest Room Fixtures: High-efficiency guest room water fixtures, along with preventative maintenance, help reduce utility costs and guest room water consumption.

Energy: Marriott International uses energy intensity as a metric to more easily combine the various energy and fuels consumed into a single unit.

Sustainability and Carbon Footprint:  The Westin Pune Koregaon Park is switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy for sustainability. This switch emphasis on both sustainability as well assists in reducing the hotel’s costs. The most effective way to reduce carbon emissions is to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels, focusing efforts on energy efficiency and conservation and switching to fuels with lower carbon content and renewable sources of energy. It is beneficial for the hotel to run on clean energy, as in today’s world most of the travellers are well learned and informed about nature, environment, sustainability and want to be eco-friendly when they travel around the world. Hence switching to renewable energy does benefit the hotel in a positive way.

Overall as a Marriott International, we add to carbon credits globally. To reduce environmental footprint by 15% of our water intensity, 30% of our carbon intensity, 45% of our waste to landfill, and 50% of our food waste across the portfolio by 2025.

Renewable energy:  Electricity of the whole hotel runs on renewable wind energy.  30 to 40% of the hotel’s hot water generation is through solar water heaters. Make A Green Choice is the guest-facing sustainability program that enables participating guests to help

reduce our environmental footprint while earning Marriott Bonvoy Points. The Westin Pune Koregaon Park provides many resources to assist properties in reducing their water consumption, by focusing on efficiency measures, capital expenditures, preventive maintenance and

behavioural changes. To continue being successful tourist destinations, we must conserve and protect the natural resources and habitats that make our properties special. While it may sometimes seem plentiful,

water is a critical natural resource, and access to water is a crucial issue for our business and the world.

-  Guest must be or become a member to earn points

-  Eligible guests can forgo Housekeeping services for up to three consecutive days

- Eligible rooms must be serviced on the fourth day and then eligible guests can continue to participate for up to three more consecutive days

Take care of associates and they will take care of the customers. - This is our founder’s philosophy and it has made Marriott International a great place to work for more than 85 years. Our people-first culture has consistently earned us awards and recognition around the globe.

Giving associates opportunities to grow and succeed is part of the company’s DNA.  The housekeeping equipment’s at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park is very user-friendly and not strenuous on the associate’s body. As most of the work done by our equipment is done by the systems and are not hazardous to our associates. We continuously acknowledge and appreciate the Housekeeping associates. We celebrate the Housekeeping associates every year by dedicating one week to celebrate their hard work. We continuously serve healthy food and organize fitness sessions like yoga, meditation and dance classes. With the Marriott International HI 5 training program, we at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park empower and train our associate on hygiene, sanitation and cleanliness which they can follow during work and in their daily lives.

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