Create a clean impression and keep guests coming back

November 10, 2016

It makes perfect sense that, according to a recent survey by P&G Professional, 49% of restaurant and hospitality businesses believe that keeping their guests satisfied is the most important area of focus. And, of course, guest satisfaction depends on your ability to maintain a clean property.

Two-ounce travel size bottle

In hospitality, the cleanliness of guest rooms, bathrooms, towels, linens, and common areas all play a critical role in guest satisfaction. From the moment guests open the door to their room, they are making judgments on the adequacy of the accommodations. When you turn to top trusted brands to keep your property fresh and clean, you offer guests a level of assurance and confidence that will keep them coming back.

Traveling can be hard, and guests want to feel comfortable. They often want the best part of home to go with them when they travel. For example, a great way to create this home environment at an extended stay property is by using the #1 selling brand of dishwashing liquid, Dawn. For this very purpose and these very guests, Dawn recently launched a two-ounce travel size bottle. Having the familiar brand of Dawn next to the kitchen sink can be very welcoming for new guests to a hotel or resort.

Dawn suds last two times longer than the leading competitor*, so your guests can get through more dishes with less liquid. No matter what they have cooking in the kitchen, Dawn dishwashing liquid will leave dishes squeaky clean every time, giving guests the experience they are used to from home.

Providing brands that provide comfort for customers leaves a great first impression and also drives customer loyalty, keeping guests coming back year after year and even recommending the hotel to others.

*Based on cleaning ingredients vs. next leading competitor

Set your property apart with
custom embroidery

November 7, 2016

The aim of nearly every hotel or resort property, no matter how reasonable or refined, is to do everything possible to create a uniquely memorable guest experience. Of course, this is what keeps guests coming back and what spurs them to promote the joys of their stay to others.

Often, it’s the small but special details of a guest room setting that make the most lasting impression. Consider the graceful accents of embroidery. Through custom embroidery, properties like yours are able to add a tailored look and branded finish to their fine fabrics. With your property name beautifully stitched into a cozy robe or comfortable towel, guests are sure to take note.

As the premier hospitality source, we operate a state-of-the-art embroidery machine able to create custom looks, logos and messaging on virtually any fabric a property would want.

We embroider robes, slippers, towels, select sheeting products, accessory bags and more. With 8 heads, 120 needles and 120 spools of thread, our amazing machine can embroider a single design on eight different garments at the same time.

  • With up to 15 different colors possible within a single embroidery, we can embroider any logo or style
  • We can cut order time by two weeks to help customers save money and time
  • Our machine’s precise capabilities offer our luxury customers a world of possibilities

With embroidery, you can accentuate the positive and keep your name in the minds of your guests. To place an order or ask questions about our embroidery capabilities, you can simply contact your sales representative.

Tips for working smarter, not harder

August 26, 2016
  • Buy ready-to-use sheets and towels. They can be unpacked and put into service immediately, no washing needed. Because you save time, reduce water usage and energy costs, you’ll also achieve sustainability goals as well.
  • Save on laundry costs and protect the environment by using conservation signage. There are several kinds to choose from, including signs that cover sheet and towel re-use and general energy consumption.
  • Be sure to invest in No Smoking signs to keep your property’s air clean, too. This saves time in cleaning and deodorizing rooms and public spaces.
  • Keep a small tool kit on housekeeping carts, so that your housekeeping staff can fix minor problems, instead of taking a room out of service.
  • Use an Instant Erasing Pad or Magic Eraser® to save time cleaning scuff marks off of any surface.
  • Provide “light touch” housekeeping service every other day for multiple-day guests, which reduces labor as well as costs of products required to service room.
  • Use lint rollers to save time picking up lint and hair in bathrooms and rugs.
  • To leverage productivity of your housekeeping, security, maintenance, room service and other staff, use two-way radios.

A simple solution for faster, easier and healthier bedmaking

August 26, 2016

Designed to save time and backs, the Bed MadeEZ® Mattress Lifter is easily inserted between any mattress and box spring. It lifts/holds the mattress while sheets and blankets are tucked in.

More Bed MadeEZ features and benefits:

  • Helps reduce soft tissue damage and fatigue from repetitive lifting
  • Helps minimize workers’ compensation claims due to repetitive lifting
  • Perfect for use in tight places, like next to night stands
  • Polyurethane with rubber overmold handle
  • Made in the USA
  • Lifetime replacement warranty

Find the right fit with the Quick Cart from Rubbermaid

August 4, 2016

Looking to elevate your housekeeping game? Explore the advantages of the powerfully flexible Rubbermaid Quick Cart.

Sure, its very name spells out its biggest benefit. Compared to traditional housekeeping carts, the Quick Cart does indeed speed the cleaning process. Compact and lightweight, it easily maneuvers in tight spaces. It also offers versatile compartments, which allow for multiple configurations and uses around all areas of your property.

Here’s another housekeeping bonus. The Quick Cart is quiet and discreet. Its modern design blends into public areas and, as it disappears into guest rooms, this smart cart helps your staff keep a low profile in the cleaning process.

Just as importantly, the Quick Cart withstands rigorous daily use. It’s constructed with high-performance materials for added strength and durability. Treated with Dupont Teflon fabric protector, the cart repels water, oil and stains – greatly extending its life.

Part of the Executive Series™, the Quick Cart is a prime example of Rubbermaid’s reputation for delivering efficient and effective cleaning tools. What more can we say? See for yourself why the Quick Cart is becoming hospitality’s go-to housekeeping solution.

Mattress protection for guests, brand protection for you

May 31, 2016

7389CRS-BSECKWant to stop bed bugs, stains and spills in their tracks? Turn to CleanRest Pro mattress encasements.

CleanRest Pro encasements are the last encasements you’ll buy for the mattress you’re protecting. These specialized products, designed using patented technology, offer spoilage and bed bug protection with a 100% waterproof sleep surface. CleanRest Pro encasements promote healthy sleep by blocking allergens and irritants, and they enhance your guests’ quality of sleep with their soft, quiet, breathable material. Plus, they come with an unparalleled 10-year full product warranty and exclusive access to their ROI property analysis calculator.

No other product on the market provides the same level of defense against bed bugs, stains and wetness.

Designed with the hotel owner in mind, CleanRest Pro encasements are engineered to last the 10-year life of the mattress, not the 12-month life cycle of the bed bug. Thanks to their stretchy sidewall and bottom fabric, they can be installed and reinstalled easily, and commercially laundered repeatedly, making them the only preemptive encasement solution.

By encasing your property before the onset of an inevitable bed bug occurrence, you’re insuring the life of one of your most costly assets, your mattress. The bed bug proof technology of CleanRest Pro denies access to the mattress, causing bed bugs to move further away from your sleeping guests and allowing you the chance to find them before your patrons do.

CleanRest Pro mattress encasements protect against bed bugs, spoilage, and the fallout from negative social media reviews. Protect your investment as well as your reputation with CleanRest Pro.

Here’s an added advantage. As a one-stop shopping source for your bedding needs, American Hotel invites you to try a free sample of this superior mattress protection. Call us today at 1-800-323-5686 to order your free sample.

Triple Sheet Your Beds in 6 Easy Steps

May 20, 2016

Triple sheeting is a luxurious, cost-effective and efficient bedding solution. It guarantees a clean, crisp bed that is easily managed by the housekeeping staff, ultimately saving considerable time and money.

CLEAN AND FRESH
Sheeting components can be laundered after each guest visit to ensure a sanitary environment.

REDUCES COSTS
Bedspreads can cost $100-$250 per piece, and up to $25 per piece in off-site laundering. By replacing a bedspread with one additional sheet, the Triple Sheeting technique can significantly reduce overall operational costs.

SAVES TIME
Duvet covers cause housekeeping to spend three times longer to make the bed. Triple Sheeting is an easy step-by-step process that can greatly increase housekeeping efficiency.

ITEMS NEEDED: flat or fitted sheet to cover mattress, basic flat sheet, lightweight blanket and decorative top sheet

sheetfullSTEP 1: BUILD YOUR FOUNDATION (BOTTOM SHEET)
Option 1: Lay a flat sheet on the mattress and tuck all the way around the bed. Option 2: Use a fitted sheet to cover the mattress.

STEP 2: ADD NEXT LAYER (MIDDLE SHEET)
Place the top hem of flat sheet so it is even with the top of the mattress. The sheet should be even on all sides and smooth.

STEP 3: ADD FILLING
Place a lightweight blanket on top of the middle sheet starting about six inches below the top of the mattress.

STEP 4: ADD DECORATIVE TOP SHEET
Place remaining flat sheet on top of the blanket. The top hem should be even with the top of the mattress.

STEP 5: FOLD
Fold 1: Take the top of both flat sheets and fold down together about six inches (blanket should not be included in this fold). Fold 2: Then fold down the two flat sheets and the blanket another six inches. The sheets should now be folded twice and the blanket folded once.

STEP 6: FINISHING TOUCHES
Tuck in both flat sheets along with the blanket beneath the foot of the mattress. The hanging fabric at the sides of the foot will have made a short U-shape. Turn back the U-shape along the length of the bed then pull towards the headboard, parallel to the mattress. Tuck the hanging corners of the sheet and blanket together under the mattress.

HYGEN™-ic is more becoming to your staff and guests

May 20, 2016

The Rubbermaid HYGEN™ Disposable Microfiber System is the solution for optimizing infection prevention, ensuring environmental hygiene, and improving productivity. The innovative technology knits microfiber yarn into a nonwoven substrate, creating unique, disposable microfiber with microbe-removing scrubbing power.1027244#W_1_300x300

99.9% Microbe Removal, Including C. diff*

  • Proven 99.9% microbe removal claim
  • Helps stop the chain of infection
  • Eliminates food sources for live pathogens

Superior Cleaning Performance

  • Microfiber cleaning with built-in scrubbing power
  • Streak-free cleaning for mirrors, glass, and stainless steel
  • Effectively removes dirt without smearing

Versatile Cleaning

  • Compatible with bleach and quat**
  • Ideal for dusting and wet cleaning
  • Convenient charging system and compatible with existing tools

STOP THE CHAIN OF INFECTION
Microbe removal is a critical step in preventing infection. Removing dead microbes eliminates the food source for live pathogens.

*Based on third-party testing with water only. The product can be used with a wide array of cleaning solutions.
EPA EST. 90650-NC-001

**Compatible with quat (cloth); bleach-safe (cloth and mop)

Bedspread & Comforter TLC

May 20, 2016

While you no doubt follow strict laundering procedures for your sheets and pillowcases, what about other items like comforters and bedspreads? Most of these items are washable, but some may require special attention to ensure they are not damaged.

Here are some tips on the best way to clean these products…

 

Comforting care

The first step is to read the care instructions on the label. If specific instructions about hand-washing or washing temperature are listed, don’t deviate from them. If the instructions say “dry clean only”, don’t try washing the items in a machine as it may ruin them. If your comforters are washable, it’s best to wash them in a large-capacity front-loading machine. Comforters can hold a lot of water and may damage a standard top-loading washing machine. Paying a little more to wash your comforters is better than paying a lot more to replace your washer. When washing, use a gentle detergent, and avoid those with bleach as they can damage the comforter’s outer fabric and filling.

Make sure to dry comforters thoroughly. If they can be dried in a clothes dryer, use a lower heat setting, then run them through two drying cycles. Ideally, they should be taken out often to reposition them so they dry evenly and don’t develop hot spots that can scorch. Adding a few clean tennis balls to the dryer can help fluff them.

 

Special TLC for down bedding

While down products are often dry cleaned, the process can strip the natural protective oils from the down and many manufacturers caution against it. Small stains can be spot cleaned with a mild detergent.

If you decide to wash a down comforter, use soap made specifically for down products and wash it in a large front-loading washer. Don’t use bleach, bleach alternatives, or fabric softeners. Wash in cold water and rinse twice in cold water to remove all soap residue.

Drying down bedding products can be time consuming, but it is important that they are dried properly before storing to prevent mildew. For best results, use large front-loading commercial dryers set at medium heat. Do not hang dry or dry on a flat surface. Reposition the items often for even drying and use tennis balls to help with fluffing.

 

The End

Decorative comforters can last several years with proper care, but should be replaced when they become flat or begin to leak bits of the fill, or when the stitching comes loose. For comforters, the twisting and turning of a sleeper gradually degrades the fill and produces bare spots, typically in the “shoulder” area. When buying new comforters, make sure to look for double stitching or baffle box construction, which helps prevent leaking or bunching of the filling.

Curating, and the luxury experience

April 5, 2016

You have no doubt noticed that the term “curate” has carved its place in the lexicon of the luxury world. Considering all that curating can encompass today – from designing an entire property to organizing extravagant adventures – it’s no wonder the word has found a comfortable home in this growing market.

Taking a broad perspective, curating in luxury is the strategic and creative process of understanding your audience and fashioning a truly distinct and ever-evolving end-to-end experience. Grasping the three primary aspects of this far-reaching practice can help properties refine their own approach.

Distinguish your property from the outset

When you think about it, the act of curating actually begins with the guest. With vivid profiles of the finest hotels in the world just a click away, guests are able to pinpoint a property that suits their desires. Recognizing this reality, it’s important that luxury hotels continually assess the strength of their online presence.

Of course, guests can also enhance their experience well in advance of their travels. For this reason, most luxury hotels recognize the need to improve their online platform with offerings and opportunities that stretch well beyond their property. After all, luxury is about pampering guests and delivering on the unexpected.

Deliver an experience that tantalizes and transforms

Taking a lagniappe approach – delivering on that special something extra – is paramount to giving guests an extraordinary experience. For example, partner with a local cultural institution to provide an exclusive treat or prepare a unique adventure that celebrates the landscape. And, always, make sure your staff is ready to act on impulses and inspiration.

The truth is, luxury means different things to different people. A staff that embodies the personality of a property should have the dexterity to both recognize and smoothly adapt to diverse guest expectations.

Dress your property with products that impress

Indeed, the staff is instrumental in setting the tone and style of a luxury hotel. Yet, we know the foundation of an unforgettable luxury experience revolves around its architecture and décor – as well as the high-end hospitality products that define its care and comfort.

Plush Frette robes. Invigorating amenities from Christian Lacroix. Beautifully soft Sferra sheets. Rich but requisite items like these add extravagance and exhilaration to the fine details of a guest stay. It is these items that experientially speak to the guests a luxury property hopes to attract.

This aspect of luxury curating is what inspired American Hotel Register Company to launch The Gallery. By introducing an evolving collection of high-end items and world-class brands to the marketplace, The Gallery directly acknowledges and addresses the art of creating and sustaining a distinct luxury experience.

In fact, customers of The Gallery are matched with a personal Luxury Concierge with the skill and experience to shepherd their property through each important stage.

At its core, the art of curating is about understanding your guests and anticipating both their needs and desires. By being thoughtful and thorough, the finest hotels do more than live up to expectations; they continually expand the possibilities of luxury.

•  •  •

The Gallery by American Hotel is a curated collection of luxurious linens, bathrobes, bath amenities, guest room accessories, electronics and more. More than an elegant showcase, The Gallery offers luxury customers a personalized approach to product development, sourcing and selection. To learn more about The Gallery, visit americanhotel.com/thegallery or call 844.292.2510.