Doing your laundry on-site in your Florida hotel is a massive task requiring a lot of thought and planning. As a hotel owner or general manager in Florida, you need to make sure using an on-premise laundry (OPL) is the right option for your hotel and one that will offer you the efficiency and results you need to provide the best service possible to your guests. Even small mistakes can lead to increased costs, lower efficiency, and guest dissatisfaction, which can damage your hotel’s reputation. Keep reading as we share the four most common mistakes hotels make with OPL and the implications these errors could have on your business operations.
Mistake #1 – Overloading Machines
One of the most common mistakes concerning OPL in Florida hotels is trying to be too ambitious with your laundry loads. Overloading machines hurts machine performance, increases wear and tear, and leads to uneven cleaning. This overloading can increase costs over time for your business, as you may need to replace your machines and linen more often than you would like. The increased risks to your linen quality and the high downtime for repairs to your machines can greatly impact your overall business operation and the service you are offering to your customers. Uneven cleaning can result in the linen not being of the expected quality for your guests, which may result in complaints and issues for your hotel’s reputation.
There are a few tactics to remember when resolving this issue. We suggest that you monitor your load capacity to avoid putting too much in each load. From there, you’ll also want to train your staff about this issue and ensure they are following the protocols you put in place. Make sure you also schedule regular machine maintenance, which can help you enjoy years of use from the machines you invest in.
Mistake #2 – Using the Wrong Chemicals or Detergents
Incorrect chemical usage can damage linens and reduce their lifespan. While this sometimes occurs by accident, you need to ensure you invest in the correct chemicals for the task you are completing. When you use the wrong chemicals, there’s a strong chance they will be a potential safety hazard for your staff, resulting in accidents and injuries. Improper chemical use leads to higher operational costs and environmental concerns, which you want to avoid to make your business more sustainable.
To avoid this issue within your OPL, we recommend partnering with a reliable chemical supplier. They’ll be able to supply you with the correct chemicals for your needs and help you make adjustments to your current processes to minimize your impact on the environment. Once you have the correct chemicals in place, train your staff on optimal usage so that they feel confident in choosing the right chemical for each task.
Mistake #3 – Inefficient Workflow Design
A poorly planned laundry room might be the top reason your Florida hotel’s OPL is not producing the results you desire. Without the right setup, you may experience bottlenecks, delays, and unnecessary labor, which can delay the laundry process and put extra strain on your team. These inefficiencies affect turnaround times and increase operational stress during peak seasons, which you need to avoid to keep offering the best service possible to your hotel guests.
As a solution to this issue, review your current workflow and try to make it more ergonomic and effective. If you have the opportunity to do so, look at automation technology. This could save you hours of manual labor, improve working conditions for your team, and give you a higher daily output.
Mistake #4 – No Backup Plan
If you’re a large-scale Tampa Bay hotel depending on a centralized laundry room, then you’re just one severe hurricane or major equipment failure away from being unable to turn guest rooms. No redundancy in your laundry operation means that there is no backup in case of an emergency, which could lead to your hotel being unable to complete its laundry in time for the next guests to arrive. Partnering with a professional laundry service, such as Nexa Laundry, with multiple facilities in the Tampa Bay area, is the best backup available. If an emergency should occur, you’ll have a team of professionals who can rush through your current laundry loads and ensure you are still offering the best welcome to your next guests.
Even if one plant is affected during a storm or emergency, the others in the network can absorb their linens to keep their Florida hospitality clients running as smoothly as possible. Our team always has a backup plan during the hurricane season and more challenging times in Florida, as we know how disruptive this can be for local businesses. When operating a Florida hotel, you don’t want to leave anything to chance, as you know how often these issues can arise. Almost every year, we help Florida hotels in a time of trouble, and we’ll be here to support you should you find yourself in this situation.
Avoiding these common mistakes with OPL in your Florida hotel can help to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance guest satisfaction. We encourage hotel owners to regularly audit their OPL systems and consult experts like Nexa Laundry for professional guidance. Are you the owner or manager of a hotel in the Tampa Bay metro area? If so, contact Nexa Laundry to discuss the solutions that can be tailored to your specific needs. Our team will be here to answer any questions you have on the topic and ensure you never experience delays or issues with your laundry again.