This week, we discussed how guest segmentation in hotels can introduce operational complexities. Now let’s take a closer look at how these complexities manifest in day-to-day operations—especially around housekeeping and cleaning planning.
Forecasting Cleanings: Not All Departures Are Equal
A common oversight is assuming that 200 departures mean 200 identical cleanings. But what if 40 of those are long-stay departures? These take significantly more time than a short-stay room turnover. The duration of a guest’s stay affects cleaning time—deep cleans, appliance checks, or reorganization may be needed.
What’s considered a “long stay” can differ:
- For some hotels, it's 7 nights
- For others, 14 nights, 3 weeks, or even 6 months
Regardless of the duration, there is a universal principle across properties: the longer the stay, the more thorough the cleaning. So how do we set this up intelligently in a system?
The answer lies in dynamic cleaning rules—departure cleanings can be adjusted based on the number of nights stayed. This allows hotels to forecast labor and resources more accurately. If 20 of your 200 departures are from guests who stayed 15 nights or more, your system should automatically allocate more cleaning time to those rooms.
Layering In More Complexity: Cleaning Customizations Based on Reservation Data
But length of stay isn’t the only factor.
Let’s say:
- A pet stayed in the room? Add +10 minutes for allergy-safe cleaning.
- The booking included 2 adults and 2 kids, and a sofa bed was delivered? That sofa bed needs to be cleaned and closed.
- Someone on the cleaning team is allergic to pets? The system should flag pet rooms for reassignment.
In short, a cleaning is never just a cleaning—hotels can (and should) adapt cleaning tasks based on dozens of variables.
Smart Stayover Cleanings: Moving Beyond Daily Housekeeping
Stayover cleanings can also be optimized.
Hotels now commonly adjust the recurrence of stayover cleanings based on the length of reservation. For example:
- A 7–14 night stay might include 2 mid-stay cleanings
- A 15–20 night stay could include 3 cleanings, evenly spread out
This not only saves operational costs but also sets expectations for the guest. You’re not just cleaning less—you’re offering a smart, planned, and communicated service.
Alternatively, some hotels prefer to clean every X days from check-in:
- For example: every 2nd, 4th, or 5th day
This fixed-interval model is simpler to set up and works especially well for long-term stays.
Custom Rules Based on Rate Codes, Notes & Guest Types
Beyond the stay duration, many hotels now use reservation metadata to further tailor cleaning plans.
This can include:
- Rate codes: some might not include any cleaning service at all (e.g. budget or self-service stays)
- Group names: cleaning rules for business retreats might differ from family reunions
- PMS notes: instructions to deliver extra towels, set up baby cribs, or prep for a honeymoon couple
- Guest category: VIP guests might receive turndown service with extra chocolates, slippers, or personalized amenities
By integrating this data into the cleaning system, your hotel moves from a one-size-fits-all approach to precision hospitality.
Skipping Cleanings Strategically Before Check-Out
Finally, let’s talk about operational efficiency: if a stayover cleaning falls just 1 or 2 days before departure, some hotels choose to skip it altogether. Why clean a room thoroughly if it will go through a full departure clean in 48 hours?
Setting a rule like “Skip stayover cleaning if check-out is within X days” helps save time, cost, and labor—without sacrificing guest experience.
Hotels that view cleanings as simple, repetitive tasks are missing out. Cleaning operations can (and should) be deeply personalized and data-driven. By adapting cleaning types, timing, and staffing based on guest behavior, stay duration, booking data, and operational rules, properties can optimize performance, reduce costs, and delight guests—all at once.
This isn’t just about cleaning. It’s about smart hospitality and you need a system to support your vision.
