2024 has seen one of the most active hurricane seasons in Florida. Having witnessed the disruptions and shutdowns these hurricanes result in, it’s more important than ever to have a backup plan in place for your business operations in the future. Florida is one of the states in the US that is most impacted by hurricanes each year, destroying homes and workplaces year after year. As a hotel owner or manager, the disruption to your business during and after a hurricane can be highly significant. With a backup plan, you can continue your operations during storm season. Today, we will share the key reasons for having a backup laundry plan to ensure your hotel faces only minimal impact by future hurricanes in Florida.
The Impact of Hurricanes on Hotel Operations
As a hotel owner, you no doubt know the challenges you may face in a hurricane. Power outages are very common, meaning some hotels have to cease operation altogether for a short period. Staff shortages are another issue you can expect to face, with many staff members dealing with personal challenges that stop them from being able to come to work. In the aftermath of a hurricane, supply chain issues are very common. Hotels often cannot get the supplies they need, making offering their usual services to their guests challenging.
When it comes to laundry operations, you may find that power outages stop you from doing your laundry on-site. With the required staff to complete your laundry, you can easily stay caught up and have the linen supplies you need for your guest turnover.
Why Laundry is Critical for Hotels in Tampa Bay Metro Area
Every hotel in Florida can operate with clean linens. They are a key part of guest satisfaction and health standards, and no guest should ever walk into a hotel room and not feel like they are sleeping on a bed made just for them. Laundry services are a key part of the overall guest experience in any hotel. During hurricane season, you’ll often find guests needing to stay at your hotel for a prolonged period due to storm evacuations. Therefore, you need to keep on top of your laundry changes and ensure you can still have a quick turnaround on laundry to maintain hotel standards. By having a plan in place, you can ensure you don’t risk your hotel’s reputation during a hurricane when so many guests may rely on your support and need a place to stay until they can return home.
Risks of Not Having a Backup Laundry Plan
After a hurricane, power outages often cause disruptions to daily operations. The loss of laundry equipment and disruptions to your laundry services may set you back many days, getting you behind with linen changes for existing and new guests. Without a reliable laundry service, there are potential health and safety concerns, and you may find that your guests don’t feel as comfortable or safe as they should when staying in your hotel. In worst-case situations, this discomfort can decrease guest satisfaction, cause negative reviews, or cause financial losses. It can leave you in a position that takes months or even years to recover simply because you didn’t have a backup plan.
Components of an Effective Backup Laundry Plan
Now that you understand the importance of having an effective backup laundry plan, you must start putting the elements into place to ensure you don’t find yourself in a challenging situation following a future hurricane or storm. Alternative power sources will ensure that you can continue on-site laundry services if you use them. Generators or battery-powered equipment ensure laundry operations continue during power outages and will allow you to independently continue your linen changes even during the worst business shutdowns.
One of the most important things we recommend any business owner consider is partnering with local off-site laundry services, such as laundromats or commercial laundry companies. They can handle large volumes during emergencies and rescue you if you cannot continue doing your laundry on-site. As hurricane season approaches, ensure you have a backup supply of linens and towels in case of delay, and pre-arrange your laundry supplies regularly to avoid any shortages. Finally, take the time to train your staff ahead of hurricane season. Prepare staff for quick shifts in laundry responsibilities or for using backup equipment. They should also be aware of the need to only change essentials in guest rooms instead of every linen or laundry item in emergencies and expect to have this conversation with guests should it arise.
How to Implement a Backup Laundry Plan
Before the next hurricane season or at the start of the year, you want to create and test a backup plan for your laundry. Don’t leave this until the last minute, and ensure you are confident in the plan you have in place. Collaborate with local vendors and suppliers to ensure preparedness and ask them all your questions ahead of time to avoid delays following a storm. Establish clear protocols for staff during an emergency and work with your team to listen to their questions and concerns. This plan will support you in an emergency and avoid panic and stress for your team.
A robust backup laundry plan will save you hours and a lot of stress in the long run. We encourage you to plan before the next hurricane season so your hotel can experience minimal disruptions. A professional laundry service, such as Nexa Laundry, will support you during this challenging time and discuss options beforehand to avoid panic after a storm. Contact Nexa Laundry today for help with your backup laundry plan or to learn more about our services to Florida hotels in the Tampa Bay metro area.