11 TVL-HE- HOUSEKEEPING Quarter 1 – Module 1: HANDLE HOUSEKEEPING REQUESTS TVL – Grade 11 Alternative Delivery Mode Quarter 1 – Module 1: Handle Housekeeping Requests First Edition, 2020 Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work of the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency or office wherein the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit. Such agency or office may, among other things, impose as a condition the payment of royalties. Borrowed materials (i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names, trademarks, etc.) included in this module are owned by their respective copyright holders. Every effort has been exerted to locate and seek permission to use these materials from their respective copyright owners. The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership over them. Published by the Department of Education Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio Development Team of the Module Writer: Joseph S. Mapili Editors: Jonathan L. Bayaton & Jesusa D. Paladar Reviewers: Jesusa D. Paladar & Ivah Mae C. Estoconing Typesetter: Marichu Pocon Layout Artist: Jefferd Alegado Management Team: Senen Priscillo P. Paulin, CESO V Rosela R. Abiera Fay C. Luarez, TM, Ed.D., Ph.D. Maricel S. Rasid Adolf P. Aguilar, Ed.D.,TM Elmar L. Cabrera Nilita R. Ragay, Ed.D. Antonio B. Baguio, Jr. Ed.D. Printed in the Philippines by ________________________ Department of Education –Region VII Schools Division of Negros Oriental Office Address: Tele #: E-mail Address: Kagawasan, Ave., Daro, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental (035) 225 2376 / 541 1117 negros.oriental@deped.gov.ph 11 TVL Quarter 1 – Module 1: Handle Housekeeping Requests Introductory Message For the facilitator: Welcome to TVL-11 Housekeeping Services Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Handle Housekeeping Requests! This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators both from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in helping the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while overcoming their personal, social, and economic constraints in schooling. This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration their needs and circumstances. In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of the module: Notes to the Teacher This contains helpful tips or strategies that will help you in guiding the learners. As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to manage their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist the learners as they do the tasks included in the module. ii For the learner: Welcome to TVL 12- Housekeeping Services Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Handle Housekeeping Requests! This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to process the contents of the learning resource while being an active learner. This module has the following parts and corresponding icons: What I Need to Know What I Know This will give you an idea of the skills or competencies you are expected to learn in the module. This part includes an activity that aims to check what you already know about the lesson to take. If you get all the answers correct (100%), you may decide to skip this module. What’s In This is a brief drill or review to help you link the current lesson with the previous one. What’s New In this portion, the new lesson will be introduced to you in various ways; a story, a song, a poem, a problem opener, an activity or a situation. What is It This section provides a brief discussion of the lesson. This aims to help you discover and understand new concepts and skills. What’s More This comprises activities for independent practice to solidify your understanding and skills of the topic. You may check the answers to the exercises using the Answer Key at the end of the module. What I Have Learned This includes questions or blank sentence/paragraph to be filled in to process what you learned from the lesson. What I Can Do This section provides an activity which will help you transfer your new knowledge or skill into real life situations or concerns. iii Assessment This is a task which aims to evaluate your level of mastery in achieving the learning competency. Additional Activities In this portion, another activity will be given to you to enrich your knowledge or skill of the lesson learned. Answer Key This contains answers to all activities in the module. At the end of this module you will also find: References This is a list of all sources used in developing this module. The following are some reminders in using this module: 1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises. 2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities included in the module. 3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task. 4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers. 5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next. 6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it. If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are not alone. We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it! iv What I Need to Know This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you master the nature of Housekeeping Services. The scope of this module permits it to be used in many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course. But the order in which you read them can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using. The module covers seven lessons: Lesson 1 – Discuss Implementing Hotel Codes, Rules and regulations Lesson 2 - Explain different skills of good housekeeper needs such as interpersonal and intrapersonal skills Lesson 3 - List down and describe the basic functions of each personnel in the housekeeping department Lesson 4- Discuss nature and scope of guestroom cleaning, care and maintenance Lesson 5- Enumerate bedroom and bathroom amenities offered in an institution Lesson 6- List down procedures in conducting room check, turn down and make-up beds Lesson 7- Demonstrate proper handling of guests requests in housekeeping following safety and security standards After going through this module, you are expected to: 1. Discuss the proper handling of housekeeping requests. 2. Demonstrate the proper handling of housekeeping requests. 3. Show accountability to guests’ in handling different kinds of housekeeping requests. 1 What I Know A. MULTIPLE CHOICE Direction: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the letter of your answer in your activity notebook. 1 1. Hotels have a mandatory ______________ rule for room attendant upon entering the room. a. Two-knock, three-announcement rule b. One-knock, two-announcement rule c. Three knocks d. None of the above 2. Hotel rules are designed for ____________. a. Discipline b. mastery c. security d. A and C 3. Interpersonal skills or people skills are the life skills we use in communicating and interacting with people. Below are examples of interpersonal skills except: a. Ability to manage conflict b. Ability to listen c. Ability to communicate clearly d. Ability to cope with change 4. Being able to face the consequence of your action and not blaming others for what had happened means: a. Demonstrate responsibility b. Being accountable for your actions c. Being flexible d. Ability to manage conflict 5. Intrapersonal skills or personal skills are the abilities and talents that exist within the person, which aids him or her in problem solving. Below are examples of intrapersonal skills except: a. Self-awareness b. Social awareness c. Communicate clearly d. Adaptability 6. The executive housekeeper is the head of the housekeeping and serves several responsibilities. Below are responsibilities of an executive housekeeper except: a. Manage housekeeping team b. Represent the department during top management meetings c. Supervise the changing of floor linens d. Translate all hotel policies, procedures, and standards into housekeeping operations 2 7. Departure rooms should be cleaned first to prepare them for the next guest to come. The next to be attended are rooms with the tags “Clean my Room” and the last to be attended are the: a. Occupied rooms b. Rooms with “Do not Disturb” sign c. Out of order rooms d. Rooms with occupants for checkout 8. The sequence for servicing of rooms has to be observed. What is the final sequence for servicing rooms? a. Checking the room at once b. Cleaning of bathroom c. Replenishing of room supplies d. Bed making 9. The following are bedroom amenities except: a. Spacious bedrooms with king or queen size beds b. Premium quality linens c. Plush duvet d. Hair brush 10. These are examples of bathroom amenities except: a. Disposal bag b. Shower cap c. Water tumblers d. Linens B. Answer the following questions on your activity notebook. (5 pts.each number) 1. Why is proper handling of guest requests important? 2. Why should one need to be familiar and fully adhere with hotel house rules while checking-in? 3 Lesson 1 Handle Housekeeping Requests The first lesson dwells on providing housekeeping to guests. It explains the importance of handling guest requests, handling guest inquiries, and handling problems related to housekeeping. Housekeeping is designed to enhance the knowledge, skills and attitude of the student to be able to provide cleaning and property maintenance services particular for a lodging facility, however, competency learned may be useful in applying for any housekeeping position in most types of establishments. What’s In Recall related topics that talks about providing services to guests. Write this activity on your notebook. Notes to the Teacher This contains helpful tips or strategies that will help you in guiding the learners. 4 What’s New Direction: Answer the following questions/statements below. Write your answer on your activity notebook. 1. Discuss briefly the word housekeeping. 2. What will happen if you follow the improper ways of housekeeping activities? 3. What do you think is the reason why housekeeping is branded as one of the most neglected areas of operations among hotels, resorts, and many lodging establishments? Essay Rubrics Areas of Assessment Ideas Organization Understandin g Mechanics A Presents ideas in an original manner 10 points Strong and organized beg/mid/end 10 points Writing shows strong understandin g 10 points Few (if any) errors 10 points B Presents ideas in a consistent manner 7 points Organized beg/mid/end C D Ideas are too general Ideas are vague or unclear 1 point No organization; lack beg/mid/end 1 point Writing shows little understandin g 1 point Numerous errors 1 point Writing shows a clear understandin g 7 points Few errors 4 points Some organization; attempt at a beg/mid/end 4 points Writing shows adequate understandin g 4 points Several errors 7 points 4 points 7 points TOTAL POINTS 5 What is It Discuss implementing Hotel Codes, Rules and regulations The word “Housekeeping” refers to the upkeep and maintenance of cleanliness and order in a house or a lodging establishment such as inn, hotel, apartel, condominium, resort, dormitory or a hospital. A housekeeper is one who is responsible for administering housekeeping maintenance and for insuring that everything is in order. She sees to it that all occupants are comfortable, safe and protected from disease –causing bacteria. Housekeeping is often one of the most neglected areas of operations among hotels, resorts and many lodging establishments. With the limited knowledge of many staff on housekeeping standards and procedures, a lot of unsound housekeeping practices remain uncorrected. Bacteria and pests proliferate, making occupants vulnerable to various forms of illness. Furniture and fixtures that are not properly cleaned and maintained will have a shorter life span. Improper housekeeping also contributes to safety hazards and could endanger the lives of occupants. For any disease or accident emanating from poor housekeeping maintenance, the management shall be held liable. It can result to a loss reputation and patronage, or worst, a loss of business license. Proper housekeeping therefore must be given serious attention for a hospitality establishment to sustain its reputation and patronage. During room check, the room supervisor checks the status of each room using the code below. He prepares the room status report and endorses it to the Front Desk Clerk as a reference in assigning rooms to guests. This report is important to prevent double booking or assigning of out of order or dirty rooms to guests. 6 STATUS CODE OC STATUS VR Occupied Clean Occupied Dirty Vacant Ready VC Vacant Clean VD Vacant Dirty HSUD BLO House Use Dirty House Use Clean Out of Order Room Blocked NS No Show SO HU Slept Out House use DND Do not disturb OD HSUC OOO The room is occupied and has been cleaned and made up. The room is occupied but not yet cleaned. The room is vacant, already made up and has been checked by the supervisor, ready for sale. The room is vacant, already made up but not yet checked by the supervisor. The guest has checked out and the room is ready for cleaning. The room is occupied by non-paying person (usually from the hotel) and the room is not yet clean. The room, occupied by non-paying person is already clean. Room is under renovation or not fit for occupancy since it requires repair or maintenance work. Room is reserved for a guest who is expected to arrive within the day. The room is reserved but the guest did not show up or has not arrived. The guest slept outside the hotel. Room is occupied by an officer or staff of the hotel or the owning company Guest posted the DND sign and does not want to be disturbed. Housekeeping is an important area in any accommodation property. Most people see housekeeping as simply „cleaning guest rooms‟ but from an operational perspective there is a lot more to housekeeping than just that. The role of housekeeping is to ensure the comfort and safety of guests whilst they are staying at a hospitality organisation. This is the guest‟s 'home away from home'. It is essential that that a guest is able to enjoy their room in the same manner and with the same ease as they would enjoy in their own house. The aim of housekeeping is to strive to enable guests to access items as easily as in their own home. It is therefore important that housekeeping staff maintain a professional level of integrity, especially staff who clean rooms. Housekeeping staff must have high levels of integrity, honesty and discretion as a guest needs to feel that what takes place or what is left in their room must be safe and remain confidential. Understandably an accommodation room is considerably smaller in size than the customer's normal residence and therefore items that they may need might not be in immediate access. 7 HOUSEKEEPING STATUS REPORT Housekeeping status report is prepared by housekeeping department and handed down to the front desk to give them an update as to the status of each hotel room. The front desk then assigns rooms to arriving guests based on the occupancy report. Below is an example of a housekeeping report. 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 OOO OOO OOO OOO OOO VC VD OOO OOO OOO 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 HOUSEKEEPING REPORT OOO 301 OOO 302 OOO 303 OOO 304 OOO 305 VC 306 VD 307 OOO 308 VD 309 VD 310 OOO OOO OOO OOO OOO VD VDR VDR VD VD 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 OC OC OC OC OC OC OC OC VD VD Explain different skills of good housekeeper needs such as interpersonal and intrapersonal skills Interpersonal skills or people skills are the life skills we use incommunicating and interacting with people. According to Stephen Fiore, a professor at the University of Central Florida, the two skills both Interpersonal and intrapersonal have long been recognized as important factors to be successful in school and in workplace. Interpersonal skills are the skills we use every day when we communicate and interact with other people, both individually and in groups. They include a wide range of skills, but particularly communication skills such as listening and effective speaking. They also include the ability to control and manage your emotions. It is no exaggeration to say that interpersonal skills are the foundation for success in life. People with strong interpersonal skills tend to be able to work well with other people, including in teams or groups, formally and informally. They communicate effectively with others, whether family, friends, colleagues, customers or clients. They also have better relationship at home and at work. There are different interpersonal skills that one needs to master to be able to stand with the demands of the job in housekeeping. INTERPERSONAL SKILLS Ability to manage conflict- being able to manage and handle differences in opinions and always seeking win-win resolutions. Ability to solve problems- ability to choose the best course of action in situations while considering the needs and perspective of others. Ability to communicate clearly- being able to speak with clarity and directness and at the same time being sensitive to the need of the receiver. 8 Ability to listen- ability to hear other people’s perspective by setting aside judgment. Demonstrate responsibility- being able to do the things you say you will do. Being accountable for your actions- being able to face the consequence of your action and not blaming others. Showing appreciation- being able to show people that you value them and their contribution. Flexibility- ability to open to new and different way of doing things. INTRAPERSONAL SKILLS Skills that individuals use to work through real world situations. Skills that allow individuals to respond using awareness, thought, and intentional strategy in order to gain positive outcome. Example of intrapersonal skills include such things as self-esteem, open-mindedness, being aware of your own thinking, the ability to learn, being able to understand and manage your own emotions, self- confidence, self-discipline, self-motivation, being able to overcome boredom, being patient, being a self-starter, being able to take initiative, working independently, being persistent, having a positive attitude, and being a good manager of time, to name but a few. Intrapersonal skills can be learned in the same way that we learn math and language skills. And they are the absolute foundation of everyday life. The problem is that these skills aren’t typically introduced to students in any kind of organized manner. INTRAPERSONAL SKILLS Adaptability- the ability to cope with change Self-awareness- being aware of your own values, needs, and emotions and their impact to your behavior. Self-management or self-development- the ability to work autonomously and to motivate and monitor oneself. It also includes the ability to acquire new information and skills related to work. Relationship management- the ability to build relationship based on mutual trust and respect. Social awareness- being in tune with other’s feelings and needs. 9 List down and describe the basic functions of each personnel in the housekeeping department The duties and responsibilities of all the personnel in a housekeeping department differ from each other but there is one common denominator in all of their functions- ensuring guest’s safety, security, and satisfaction. We all know that no hotel can exist without the patronage of its guests, and it is also true that the only reason for the existence of the staff is to provide service for their guests’ comfort and convenience. Thus, all personnel in a housekeeping department must not only assemble as a team, but should work as a coordinates group of people cooperating or working together for a common goal, that is to create a satisfied guest. Organizational Structure of a Housekeeping Department Housekeeping department represents the largest workforce of a hotel. Operations in most hotels fall under the Rooms Division. In some establishments, it is a sub section under the Facilities Maintenance Department. The set up and work distribution varies among hotels and other establishments, taking into consideration the size of the company and the volume of work to be done. In a hotel or resort, the Housekeeping job is distributed to various sub sections. There is a section for Rooms Maintenance, another one for Public areas, and a separate section for Linen and Laundry Service. Each section is headed by a section head like a Head Houseman for Public Area, Rooms keeping supervisor for guestroom maintenance and a Linen and Laundry Supervisor for the linen and laundry service. All these section heads report to the Housekeeping Manager who acts as department head. Among smaller establishments with fewer guestrooms and public areas to be serviced, the Housekeeping Unit may just be a small section instead of a department, headed by a Housekeeping supervisor, assisted by an Assistant Housekeeper who takes over in case the supervisor is not around. All housekeeping staff report directly to the Housekeeping supervisor. If there are plenty of guests to be served or the area to be maintained is quite large as in the case of big hotels, a rigid division of labor and specialization maybe necessary. This means that one position shall concentrate on a specific type of work. For example a room boy or chambermaid shall concentrate only on rooms make up, a mini bar attendant shall be confined to mini bar operations and a pest control technician may handle only pest control functions. This type of highly specialized labor distribution requires plenty of staff and therefore too expensive to maintain among smaller establishments. A good labor saving strategy is to resort to multiple functions for some positions. For example room boys and chambermaids may also serve as mini bar runner, the tasks of a pest control technician maybe delegated to a houseman. One or two room boys may also serve as technician to do utility jobs like simple repairs, plumbing work etc. for as long as they are trained to do the job. An all-around reliever may also be employed. He can relieve anyone who is on day off-whether he is a houseman, room boy, washer, etc. In doing this, one must make sure that the tasks covered in one position/person are directly related and it will not overload the person nor divert him from his major responsibility. 10 Organizational Chart of the Housekeeping Department (For large establishments) Figure 1 EXECUTIVE HOUSEKEEPER OR HOUSEKEEPING MANAGER ROOMSKEEPING SUPERVISOR PUBLIC AREA SUERVISOR LINEN & LAUNDRY SUPERVISOR ROOMBOY HOUSEMAN UTILITY/ MAINTENANCE LINEN ATTENDANT CHAMBERMAID PEST CONTROL TECHNICIAN LAUNDRY ATTENDANT MINI-BAR ATTENDANT GARDENER/GRO UNDS MAINTENANCE VALET RUNNER STEAM PRESSER/IRONER 11 Figure 2 Organizational Chart of the Housekeeping Section (In smaller establishments) HOUSEKEEPING SUPERVISOR ASSISTANT HOUSEKEEPING SUPERVISOR ROOM ATTENDANT OR ROOM BOY HOUSEMAN AND POWEDER GIRL LINEN AND LAUNDRY ATTENDANT GARDENER AND GROUND MAINTENANCE CREW The Executive Housekeeper The executive housekeeper is the head of the housekeeping and serves several responsibilities that include: managing the housekeeping team; translating all hotel policies, procedures, and standards into housekeeping operations; serving as the representative of the department during top management meetings; and ensuring all resources are effectively utilized. Assistant Housekeepers Hotel provides 24 hours service. An assistant housekeeper is the head of a given shift and is responsible in managing the resources provided by the executive housekeeper to achieve its goal of cleanliness, maintenance, and attractiveness of the hotel during a given shift. It is also his or her responsibility to translate into practice all the housekeeping supervisors and executive housekeeper’s policies, procedures, and standards making sure that executive housekeepers actualize them at the grass root level of operations. In the absence of a housekeeper, an assistant housekeeper will take over. Floor Supervisors Floor supervisors are responsible in checking the cleanliness and maintenance of guest rooms on allotted floors for quality assurance. They are also responsible in controlling the housekeeping personnel which compose of room attendants and housemen. 12 Control Desk Supervisor Housekeeping control desk is considered as the main communication center of the housekeeping department. A control desk supervisor has a very important role to play,that is to ensure the communication with housekeeping personnel is coordinated to all staff of the hotel. Public Area Supervisor The public area supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the public area attendants or housemen are doing their job in maintaining the cleanliness, orderliness, and upkeep of the aesthetic image of all public areas in the hotel like the lobby. Hallways, banquets space, and public rest rooms. Linen Room Supervisor Linen room supervisor is responsible in coordinating the exchange of soiled linen for clean ones. He or she is also the custodian of all linens used and the one responsible for the maintenance and proper storage of linens to minimize loss. Laundry Supervisor Laundry supervisor is responsible for ensuring that laundry attendants are doing their job-washing, drying, folding, and pressing items- properly. Uniform Room Supervisors The major responsibilities of a uniform room supervisor include keeping all uniforms in safe conditions and to issue laundered uniforms to hotel staff. Room Attendants Room attendants are also called chambermaids since mostly women are employed for the job. They are the ones who are responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of assigned guest rooms. They serve as the eyes and ears of the security team to report any untoward incidents. Room attendants also make sure that the privacy of all theirs guests are not invaded. Laundry and Linen Room Attendants Laundry and linen room attendants are responsible for laundering linens, towels, napkins, aprons, uniforms, and any other items. Tailor or Upholsterers Tailor is employed on-site to mend uniforms, linens, and upholstery or repurpose ripped linens into aprons and rags. Discuss nature and scope of guestroom cleaning, care and maintenance GUESTROOM CLEANING, CARE, AND MAINTENANCE Guests want their hotel room to be clean and to smell good. To be able to efficiently perform the job as a housekeeper, one is expected to complete a series of cleaning and sanitizing procedure. It is also expected that cleaning of room are finished within the given time frame. 13 Guestrooms in hotels, resorts and other lodging establishments are also maintained by the Housekeeping Department. Small hotels with only few rooms to maintain usually have only one manager or supervisor to attend to both public areas and guestrooms. But when the hotel is quite large, maintaining hundreds or thousands of guestrooms, a department or section for room maintenance is established under a section head. Each floor or area is under the direct supervision of a floor or area supervisor. POINTS TO REMEMBER WHEN DOING CLEANING SERVICE TO A GUEST’S ROOM Clean in one direction Clean from top down Clean from farthest point out Check for damage, if there is something that requires maintenance, or if a property is lost Use correct equipment and cleaning agents to clean surfaces PHASES OF CLEANING A HOTEL GUEST ROOM Phase 1 Opening the windows to air out the room and turning off of-air-conditioning system Washing hands and putting on protective disposable gloves Emptying out the trash cans or bins Stripping the bed and removing dirty linens Phase 2 Removal of dirty towels from the bathroom (bath towels, hand towels, and face towels) Spraying the cleaning products necessary for disinfection Removal of gloves Phase 3 Making up the bed Phase 4 Dusting all surfaces such as bedside table, desk, chair, TV, etc. Checking TV, air-conditioning, and lights to make sure they function properly Phase 5 Cleaning the bathroom Phase 6 Replacing all free hotel products such as brochures, mints, shampoo, soap, etc. Vacuuming the room Checking over the room, making sure that everything is in place. CLEANING STANDARDS 14 TASKS Ceiling cleaning Sweeping Vacuuming Floor Stripping Mopping Floor Finishing Dusting Window Cleaning Cleaning glass panels, mirrors Cleaning of ashtrays Waste disposal Garbage containers STANDARDS (EXPECTED RESULTS) Ceiling is free of cobwebs and dirt. Ceiling fan and fluorescent are thoroughly dusted. Spots if any are removed All swept floors do not have dust streaks nor does show mark where dirt was picked up. No dirt left on corners, behind doors, under carpets or furniture All carpeted areas/ upholsteries are vacuumed regularly, kept clean, free of dust All spots are removed upon discovery Stripping and removal of old floor finish is done whenever necessary to avoid yellowing and build-up in corners, baseboards or under furniture Water is used sparingly. Cleaning solutions are rinsed quickly and the floor is dried at once Floor finishes are not allowed to build up in the corners, baseboards or underneath furniture All surfaces are dust free All corners are vacuumed Window glasses do not have smudges nor watermarks Window frames and channels are dust free It is thoroughly cleaned, no visible streaks, scratch or spots Ashtrays are emptied of soil and cigarette butts washed and wipeddry Trash, garbage and dirt are disposed immediately Containers are cleaned as often as necessary Containers are underlined with plastic Dusting/clea ning of furniture and fixtures It is thoroughly dusted; surfaces are free of dirt and spots. Appliances are arranged in their appropriate location. Upholstered chairs are shampooed or vacuumed. Furniture has no damage or defect Comfort room and restrooms The floor is mopped, sanitized and dried There is no sign of marks or streaks on walls, fixtures, doors, door handles and other surfaces. All metal fixtures and hard wares are cleaned and polished with metal polish Bathroom mirror is well polished and wiped dry. There are no marks or spots. The sinks are cleaned and sanitized with sanitizing chemical and they are free of foul odor. Bathroom supplies are replenished and installed according to standard arrangement. Shower curtains are properly brushed and wiped dry. Enumerate bedroom and bathroom amenities offered in an institution 15 Hotel amenities are the extra service or product the hotel provides for their guests. Amenities vary in every hotel. There are hotels that offer standard amenities to all rooms while other amenities may be optional, guests may avail of it if they want and usually for an additional charge. Below are examples of bedroom and bathroom amenities. Bedroom amenities Spacious bedrooms with king or queen size beds High grade premium pillow top mattress Premium quality linens Plush duvet Extra pillows Clothes hanger Bedside alarm clock Cordless telephone High-speed internet access High-definition flat screen televisions Desk and comfortable desk chair Cable television channel Mini-fridge Iron and ironing board Bedside telephone with note pad and pen Safety deposit locker Coffee maker Telephone directory and service directory Luggage scale Printing of boarding pass for free Bathroom amenities Shampoo Hair dryer Conditioner Bath gel Lotion Toothbrush Hairbrush Comb Shoe mitts Disposal bag Shower cap Toilet tissue Water tumblers Blade dispenser Shower cap Cotton swab Razor Shaving foam Scrub towel Hot and cold water 16 List down procedures in conducting room check, turn down and make up beds Every morning, the floor/area supervisor, together with the room attendant assigned in the area shall perform a routine room check in every guestroom purposely to check: If the room is still occupied; If the beds in the guestrooms were slept on; If there are unregistered joiners who occupied the room; If the guest is out and the room is ready for make-up; If the guest has soiled clothes for laundry; If the guest is in good condition-neither sick nor high in drugs The bulk of cleaning in hotels is done mostly in the morning shift but there are exceptions like the rooms with a DND or “Do not Disturb” sign, rooms which are occupied by late night guests, and early morning arrivals by guests with international flights. Room check must be done with caution and tact. Some guests get very irritated when someone gets into their room, especially in the morning when they are still sleeping or just woke up from sleep. PROCEDURES FOR ROOM CHECK A. Rooms with DND sign (stands for Do not Disturb) 1. Look for DND sign on the doorknob and do not knock if the sign is on. 2. Call the guest through the phone in the afternoon. Once he/she responds, identify yourself and apologize for the disturbance. Tell him/her that you just want to know if he /she wants her room to be serviced. “ Good afternoon Mr./Ms. This is _______from Housekeeping. I’m sorry for disturbing you. I just want to know if you want your room to be made up.” 1. If the guest is not yet ready for the service, ask when he wants the service done. “Would you like us to do the make up later? At what time sir/ma’am? 2. Jot down the exact time of request in the productivity report. If it is beyond your duty hours, endorse the request to the next shift. Use the logbook. B. Rooms without a DND sign and No Guest Inside: 1. Knock twice gently on the door by using your knuckles or by activating the doorbell (whichever is used). Do not use your room keys or sharp object when knocking as they can create loud, irritating sound. Announce “ Housekeeping”. If no one answers, knock again 3 times. Give allowance of few seconds in between knocks until the guest responds. If still no one answers, leave the room. 2. Call the guest in the afternoon and if there is no answer, gently open the room to check the room status. 3. Submit one copy of the room status report to your supervisor who will endorse the report to the front desk. The desk clerks will counter check the actual room status against those stated in the room status bulletin of the front desk. 17 C. Guest is in his room and there is no DND sign 1. If the guest is inside the room but does not answer, open the door slowly and apologize for the disturbance. 2. Greet the guest good morning, introduce yourself and tell him/her your purpose. “Good morning Mr. Guest, I’m the Housekeeping supervisor doing a routine room check. I just want to check if you are okay and that everything is in order in your room.” 3. Ask the guest if he/she is ready for the makeup of the room. If not, offer to come back later. “Would you like us to make up your room now?” 4. If the guest is not yet ready say: “When do you want me the cleaning of your room?” 5. If the guest appears to be irritated or disturbed, apologize and explain why you have to do the room check. Say: “I’m sorry to disturb you sir but we need to do a room check if only to insure that everything in your room is in order and also to check if you have any special request or concern”. After the room check, thank the guest and wish him a pleasant day. “Thank you sir. Have a nice day. Please call us should you need any assistance.” 6. Do not insist on entering the room if the guest shows resentment or directly expresses that he/she does not want to be disturbed at all. 7. Discreetly try to find out if there are unregistered joiners who slept with the registered occupant. This has to be reported to the Front Office and a bill for” extra person” shall be charged to the guest during the check out. 8. During the room check, also check the status of each room and indicate it in the room status report. Enter the status in the computerized front office system or make a hard copy of the report and endorse it to the front office. EXECUTING TURN DOWN SERVICE Turn down service is one of the special services in which a room is cleaned and refreshed, and bed linen is turned down for sleeping, usually during the period wherein the guest is not in the room. This procedure is done late in the afternoon by the night service room boy. A turndown service or evening service is one amenity that can be availed by a guest. Turndown service means the room of a guest is prepared ready for sleeping. It includes the following: cleaning the room, having one corner of the blanket folded for easy sliding, chocolate or fresh fruits placed on the bedside, the room lights dimmed, and heavy drapes or night curtain was closed. Below are the steps on how to conduct turndown service. Preparation for Turndown Service 1. Take the status report of the floor from the desk. 2. Get the floor key or card and sign the logbook. 3. Check the floor corridor for tidiness. 4. Take out the trolley with linen and amenities. 5. Clean vacant rooms at 6:00 in the evening onwards. 6. Finished all turndown service by 10:00 pm. 7. Clear departure rooms as per hotel requirements. Entering into the Guest Room 1. Follow the two-knock, three-announcement rule. Knock at the door and check if the guest is inside the room. Say “housekeeping” before entering. 18 2. If the guest wants you to come back later, politely go out and position the maids cart in front of the guest room. Materials needed: Room boys cart, complete with stock of supplies and amenities. STEPS INSTRUCTIONS 1. Roll the room boy’s cart towards the guest room. Once inside the room greet the guest and say “ I am from housekeeping. Sorry to disturb you, may I turn down your bed?” 2. Remove the bed cover, fold it neatly, and place it in the wardrobe cabinet either at the topmost shelves or in the lowermost shelf. 3. Set aside the pillows. Smooth the top sheet blanket. 4. Grasp the top sheet and second sheet blanket. Fold the corner back and pull them down to the center of the bed. 19 5. Make a folded corner a neat 45-degree angle. 6. Straighten the pillow and place it neatly on the bed, making sure that the pillow case opening is facing inwards. 7. Following the hotel procedures, place the turn down amenities on top of the pillow. This is usually any of the following: flowers, a chocolate, candies, cookies, and the like. 8. Place the breakfast menu card on the folded quilt at an angle. 20 9. Place the foot mat in front of the bed with a pair of slippers 10.Turn on the bed side lamp or night lamp. Take a final look. Leave the room close the door. MAKE-UP BED Materials needed: Bed pad 1st bed sheet Bed cover-comforter or duvet Pillow with slip and case Gloves on top of the mattress on top of the bed pad on top of the finished bed at the head of the bed Steps and Procedures 1. Gather the needed supplies and materials, place them on the trolley. 21 2. Pull the bed. Strip off soiled linen and put them in the canvass of the cart or in a laundry bag or inside a plastic, making sure it does not get in contact with your uniform and other linen. When stripping soiled linen use gloves as protection against bacteria coming from linen used by infected guests. Shake out any mattress pad, pillow protectors that don’t need to be laundered. Remove soiled bed skirt if any. 3. If a bed skirt is used and it is already soiled, replace it with a fresh one. 4. Lay down the bed pad on the bed. Place it on top of the mattress. Keep it smooth-flat over the bed. Secure it by tucking-in the garter on the corners. 5. From the head side, lay down the 1st flat sheet evenly with right side up. Miter the corner, then tucks tightly and wrinkle free. 22 6. Tuck-in the undersides of the sheet then miter all corners in such a way that the sheet tightly covers the mattress. 7. Lay down the duvet/bed cover on top of the finished bed. Fold the top hem about 6-12 inches from the head side. Either leave the duvet hanging on the sides or they could be tucked in, with corners mitered. 8. Place the pillow inside a pillow case and lean it against the headboard. Accessory pillows maybe added to add beauty to the bed and as added comfort to the guest. Bed liners are sometimes used as additional accessory to the bed. 9. Smoothen the bed to make a nice presentation. Install room amenities. Spray air freshener, leave the room, close the door. Demonstrate proper handling of guests requests in housekeeping following safety and security standards Guest request must be handled properly to satisfy the guest. This will not only make his stay pleasant but it will also ensure repeated business. Guests request in housekeeping could be items or services like rollaway beds, additional pillows and blankets, irons, hair dryers, additional cleaning, additional 23 room, supplies, and lost property inquiries. Handling guest requests is a simple task, but if you fail to follow all procedure properly this might lead to a bigger problem. TAKING REQUESTS AND HANDLING COMPLAINTS FROM GUEST 1. Remember not to argue with the guest, remember also that the guest is always right. 2. Listen attentively to the guest and understand what exactly is wrong. 3. Have a log system in place. Make sure all requests are written and properly documented. Handover to the next shift the problems still unresolved. 4. Apologize for the inconvenience caused. 5. Find out exactly what the guest expects during the request. Make sure you ask the right questions to deliver exactly what is expected. 6. Record the time for handling the request. 7. Rectify the situation if you can. There are some instances where common sense will prevail but do not forget the standard procedure of rectifying complaints. 8. Inform the manager of all complaints immediately, even if you have successfully resolved the situation. 9. Complaints need to be handled positively and with empathy for the guest, aspiring for 100% guest satisfaction. 10. If the problem is out of your authority, inform the manager or Duty Manager. 11. Record all the details in Guest Call Register-noting down any request or complaint made by hotel guest. 12. Repeat the request back to the guest before ending the call. TIPS IN HANDLING GUEST REQUEST 1. Handle all guest requests within ten minutes. 2. Use proper door knocking standards when arriving at the guest’s room. 3. Be prepared to handle situations like angry guests when you arrive at the room. 4. Inform the front desk staff by radio or cell phone as soon as you have completed the request. 5. Guest should be kept informed of the developments of his or her request. A. Request for Room Service MAKE UP SIGN/DND SIGN hanged in the door knob late in the afternoon or early in the morning for a request, also if breakfast is requested Request for Wake Calls The Housekeeper may up sell wake up calls to the guest. One may say: Mr. Smith, should you like to avail our wake up call service, you may request directly to the Telephone Operator to this nos.04-733 or to the Front Desk. Thank you, Sir”. The guest shall call the operator directly or may relay the request through the Front Desk. When the operator rings a room for the wakeup call, she should answer do it graciously by calling the guest by the name as follows: “Good morning Mr. Smith. It is now 5:00 A.M. 24 When the guest does not answer the wake up morning call, request the bellboy or the room boy to knock on the guestroom. If there is still no response, the Duty Manager may enter the room with the emergency key. Other Request items 1. Roll away bed- a portable single bed used to accommodate additional guest in a room. 2. Additional pillows, blankets and towels. 3. Flat irons and ironing board. 4. Hair dryers 5. Additional room supplies 6. Change of linen 25 7. First aid kit 8. Baby crib 9. Electric kettles and jugs 10.Fax machine Other Requested Services may include: 1. Baby Sitting- ask first the permission of your supervisor before granting the guest request. 2. Errand, like buying the guest of daily newspaper, housekeeping supervisor should be notified. 26 As part of hotel services, the hotel may allow certain items to be lent to guests for their use while in the hotel. However, anything that is issued should be recorded and acknowledge-signed by the guest so that in case the items is lost or not returned, the guest could be made accountable. The cost of the item shall be charged to his account in case of lost. What’s more A.Directions: Answer the following questions on your activity notebook. 1. What is the significance of the Room Status Report? What possible problems can be prevented when a Housekeeping supervisor makes daily check of room status and reconciles them with the record of Front Office? 2. Why are good interpersonal and communication skills needed in performing the job as a housekeeper? 3. Why do room attendant or floor supervisor conduct room check? 4. Why is it important to ensure timely delivery of items requested by a guest? B.Explain the following room status below: Write your answer on your activity notebook. VR- Vacant Ready BLO- Blocked room SO- Slept out room HU- House use VC- Vacant clean OC- Occupied clean DND- Do not disturb C. Supply the table below with the correct answer. Write your answer on your activity notebook. STATUS STATUS CODE OC Occupied Clean The room is occupied but not yet cleaned. VR The room is vacant, already made up but not yet checked by the supervisor. VD Vacant Dirty 27 HSUD The room, occupied by non-paying person is already clean. OOO Blocked No Show What I Have Learned To sum it up, below are important points one should remember to be able to perform the job discussed in this lesson: In entering a guest’s room, most hotels have a mandatory two-knock, threeannouncement rule. A housekeeper must knock twice and say “housekeeping”. Going above and beyond guests’ expectations while staying within professional boundaries ensures guests continued patronage. Guest’s personal items should also be respected by not touching them or moving them anywhere. Interpersonal and intrapersonal skills have long been recognized as important factors for success in any job. All personnel in a housekeeping department must not only gather together as a team, but should work into a coordinated, cooperating group of people capable of functioning together for a common goal: to have a satisfied guest. Housekeeping department represents the largest workforce of a hotel. What I Can Do Directions: Share your learning insights/reflection about the lesson: Handle housekeeping requests. Write your answer on your activity notebook. I have learned that ______________________________________________________________ I have realized that______________________________________________________________ I will apply ______________________________________________________________________ 28 Essay Rubrics Areas of Assessment Ideas Organization Understandin g Mechanics A Presents ideas in an original manner 10 points Strong and organized beg/mid/end 10 points Writing shows strong understandin g 10 points Few (if any) errors 10 points B Presents ideas in a consistent manner 7 points Organized beg/mid/end C D Ideas are too general Ideas are vague or unclear 1 point No organization; lack beg/mid/end 1 point Writing shows little understandin g 1 point Numerous errors 1 point Writing shows a clear understandin g 7 points Few errors 4 points Some organization; attempt at a beg/mid/end 4 points Writing shows adequate understandin g 4 points Several errors 7 points 4 points 7 points TOTAL POINTS Assessment Directions: Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if the statement is incorrect. Read each item carefully and use your notebook to write your answers. 1. Hotel rules are designed to instill discipline among hotel staff, thereby ensuring guest satisfaction in terms of comfort, safety, and security. 2. Housekeeping department represents the largest workforce of a hotel. 3. In entering a guest’s room for cleaning, a housekeeper must knock three times and say “ housekeeping”. 4. To be able to efficiently perform the job as a housekeeper, one is expected to complete a series of cleaning and sanitizing procedures. 5. While cleaning a guest room, guest’s personal items should be respected by touching them or moving them anywhere. 29 6. Making reports are a very useful method for keeping track of important information. 7. In cleaning a guest room, remember to clean in one direction, clean from top down, and clean from farthest point out. 8. In handling chemicals, it is alright not to wear personal protective equipment. 9. Out of order or OOO is a room status indicating that the room should not be entered and cleaned because the guest does not want to be disturbed. 10. Lost and found items such as cash, gadgets, and jewellery are categorized as valuables. B. Recite the procedures in executing turndown service. Document yourself while doing the task by taking video. Submit the video in our official group chat. Note: For those who don’t have internet access you may ask your family members to check/monitor your performance and accomplish the checklist provided below after the activity. Rubrics for Practicum Materials needed Room boys cart complete with stock of supplies and amenities. No. PROCEDURES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. SO 30 O 15 NO 0 Greet the guest if the guest is inside the room and say “ I am from housekeeping. Sorry to disturb you, may I turn down your bed?” Remove the bed cover, fold it neatly, and place it in the wardrobe cabinet either at the topmost shelves or in the lowermost shelf. Set aside the pillows. Smooth the top sheet blanket. Grasp the top sheet and second sheet blanket. Fold the corner back and pull them down to the center of the bed. Make a folded corner a neat 45-degree angle. Straighten the pillow and place it neatly on the bed, making sure that the pillow case opening is facing inwards. Following the hotel procedures, place the turn down amenities on top of the pillow. This is usually any of the following: flowers, a chocolate, candies, cookies, and the like. Place the breakfast menu card on the folded quilt at an angle. Place the foot mat in front of the bed with a pair of slippers. Turn on the bedside lamp or night lamp. Take a final look. Leave the room close the door C. Recite the procedures in making up bed. Document yourself while doing the task by taking video. Submit the video in our group chat. Note: For those who don’t have internet access you may ask your family members to check/monitor your performance and accomplish the checklist provided below after the activity. 30 Rubrics for Practicum Materials needed: Single bed 1 bed skirt 1 flat sheet/fitted 1 pillow case No. 1 bed pad 1duvet 1 pillow slip PROCEDURES 1. Gather all needed supplies and materials, place them on the trolley. 2. Pull the bed. Strip off soiled linen and put them in the canvass of the cart or in a laundry bag or inside a plastic, making sure it does not get in contact with your uniform and other linen.When stripping soiled linen use gloves as protection against bacteria coming fromlinen used by infected guests. Shake out any mattress pad, pillow protectors that don’t need to be laundered. Remove soiled bed skirt if any. 3. If a bed skirt is used and it is already soiled, replace it with a fresh one. Lay down the bed pad on the bed. Place it on top of the mattress. Keep it smooth-flat over the bed. Secure it by tucking-in the garter on the corners. 4. 5. From the head side, lay down the 1st flat sheet evenly with right side up. Miter the corner, then tucks tightly and wrinkle free. 6. Tuck-in the undersides of the sheet then miter all corners in such a way that the sheet tightly covers the mattress. 7. Lay down the duvet/bed cover on top of the finished bed. Fold the top hem about 6-12 inches from the head side. Either leave the duvet hanging on the sides or they could be tucked in, with corners mitered. 8. 10. Place the pillow inside a pillow case and lean it against 9. the headboard. Accessory pillows maybe added to add beauty to the bed and as added comfort to the guest. Bed liners are sometimes used as additional accessory to the bed. 11. Smoothen the bed to make a nice presentation. Install room amenities. Spray air freshener, leave the room, close the door. 31 1 pillow 1 bed runner SO 30 O 15 NO 0 Additional Activities Go around the area or rooms in your house like the bedroom, bathroom, dining room, living room, and kitchen. Identify the different amenities that you have at home. Follow the sample below. Write your answer on your activity notebook. Area Bathroom Amenities Example: shampoo Answer Key 32 References Aleta A. Nitschke, Managing Housekeeping Operations, Published by the Educational Institute of the Amer Hotel, 2002 Amelia Samson Roldan.2010. Housekeeping Management: AR Skills Development & Management Services, Inc. Andrew and Sudhi, Hotel Housekeeping Management and Operations, Taba Mc Graw Hill Publication Basbas, Leonora D. 2016. Housekeeping: Rex Bookstore. Urbiztondo, Laarni. 2016. Housekeeping: Rex Bookstore. Thomas A Jones, Professional Management of Housekeeping Operation 5th edition, Culinary and Hospitality industry Publications Services 2007 William S. Gray and Savatore C. Liguori, Hotel and Motel Management, Prentice Hall Publications, India 2002 Piyush Bhatnagar, Rajesh Garg, Hotel Industry and Housekeeping Management, By SBS Publishers, 2009 33 For inquiries or feedback, please write or call: Department of Education – Schools Division of Negros Oriental Kagawasan, Avenue, Daro, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental Tel #: (035) 225 2376 / 541 1117 Email Address: negros.oriental@deped.gov.ph Website: lrmds.depednodis.net 34 35