FEATURE
While hotels and venues have long taken steps to maintain washroom facilities and communal areas via investment in professional cleaning, instilling proper hygiene procedures – or a combination of the two – the events of the past year have highlighted a need for collective responsibility when it comes to maintaining hygiene standards.
“Consumer research carried out by
the Food Standards Agency between April and November 2020 found that around 20% of people were not
planning to eat out in the foreseeable future, due to safety concerns.”
The impact of the hygiene message means that consumers are savvier than ever, paying closer attention to how businesses are keeping premises sanitary. In fact, consumer research carried out by the Food Standards Agency between April and November 2020 found that around 20% of people were not planning to eat out in the foreseeable future, due to safety concerns, demonstrating the need to reassure guests that effective cleaning processes are in place.
Customer peace of mind Although hospitality businesses are placing signage around their premises reminding guests to wash their hands and act responsibly in communal areas, there is now a greater onus on venues to keep customers updated on cleaning procedures.
One way to give visitors added peace of mind is to make a statement available online – as well as on signage around the venue – outlining cleaning and hygiene procedures. This will go a long way to putting guests at ease and can include everything from how often washrooms are freshened, how often rooms are cleaned, or how guests can expect to be served at their table, even outdoors. Some hospitality businesses have gone so far as to detail the products they are using, from disinfectants to hand soaps.
For businesses that see a high turnover of guests, such as bars, bear in mind how often areas such as public restrooms are cleaned, as these spaces can quickly become untidy if they are not serviced regularly.
As well as maintaining stock levels of items such as toilet paper, paper towels, hand towels and hand soap, it is worth considering how guests will access these. There are a variety of options available, including touch-free dispensers that use an automatic sensor to dispense hand soap or paper towels; reducing the risk of transmission by eliminating the need to touch additional surfaces.
Hand hygiene It is also worth considering how guests will dry their hands. While we have heard much about the most effective ways
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to wash your hands, very little has been reported about the most hygienic way to dry. A study carried out by the University of Connecticut and published by the European Tissue Symposium in 2018 found that hand dryers are more likely to increase the transmission of bacteria and viruses.
Once upon a time, hot air dryers may have been the drying method of choice for hospitality venues. However, in this new era of hand hygiene, paper towels are by far the better solution. As well as being quick and easy, they also prevent bacteria being blown around the room, and remove the risk of users leaving water trails behind them; something which can add to the cost of cleaning in the long-term. They also have the added benefit of being useful for covering surfaces such as door handles and taps, further minimising direct contact with surfaces.
What to stock The impact of the past year has undoubtedly made an indelible mark on hotels and hospitality businesses, changing the way the sector operates, and creating additional pressures when it comes to maintaining high standards of hygiene.
Choosing the right cleaning and hygiene solutions can be a challenge, but it does not have to be if you have the right hygiene partner on board. While the industry has long been held to a high standard, there is now a whole new pressure to meet customer expectations and safeguard guests against risk.
When reviewing procedures, consider the needs of your guests, your budget, how you are going to stay stocked up on essentials – such as facial tissues and air fresheners in hotel settings, or paper towels, rolled hand towels, cleaning rolls and centrefeed rolls for in restaurant or catering settings - and how you are going to ensure staff are properly trained in line with these new requirements.
Sustainability is also high on the agenda for UK consumers, with recycling and ‘green’ options at the forefront of people’s minds. Thanks to innovation in the cleaning and hygiene sector, it is now easy to make more sustainable choices for your business, including choosing paper products made from recycled, fair fibres, and from responsible sources; so, it is worth choosing a solution that also supports your CSR goals.
www.satino-by-wepa.co.uk
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