The housekeeping department keeps guest rooms and public areas clean, safe and ready to sell. Each shift starts with a briefing and a room assignment sheet listing your rooms and their room status.
Why it matters
Reception can only sell a room once housekeeping has released it. Accurate status updates stop guests waiting or walking into a dirty room.
Key ideas
Room status
An occupied room has a guest registered in it and a vacant room has none. A checkout room was left today and needs a full clean.
Stayover service
A stayover is an occupied room whose guest stays another night. You tidy, replace used towels and restock.
Cleaning priorities
Rooms for early arrivals and VIP guests usually come first. Your supervisor confirms the order at the briefing.
Step by step
- 1
Attend the briefing and collect your assignment sheet.
- 2
Sign out your master key and radio, and keep them on you.
- 3
Check your trolley is fully stocked.
- 4
Clean your rooms in the priority order given.
- 5
Update each room's status as soon as it is finished.
Do
- Check a room's status again before entering, as it can change.
- Pass guest requests on straight away.
- Tell your supervisor early if you are running late.
Common mistakes
- Don't skip the briefing, where priorities are shared.
- Don't change your cleaning order without telling your supervisor.
- Don't mark a room as clean before you have checked it.
The situation
At 11:30 reception radios you: an early arrival needs room 214, a checkout on your list. You were about to start a stayover.
What a professional does
You confirm you will do 214 next and give a realistic finish time. You clean and check it, update its status and tell reception it is ready.
Useful phrases
“Room 214 is being cleaned now. It will be ready in about 30 minutes.”
“Which rooms are priority today, please?”
Pro tip
Tick off each room on your sheet the moment you release it.
Quick check
How does a stayover differ from a checkout room?
Think about it, then show the answer
A stayover needs a service clean because the guest is staying on. A checkout room needs a full clean for the next guest.