Converting to a hotel laundry service and shutting down your on property laundry can be one of the smartest decisions you make, and it can feel like one of the most complex.
There are logistics to consider, staff training to cover and a new vendor relationship to initiate. It can feel overwhelming, but you and your staff will likely soon find that the trade-offs are worth it if you take the right steps.
To help ease the transition, here are some tips for how to convert to a hotel laundry service.
Make Sure You’re Clear on the Costs
One of the chief benefits to closing your on property laundry is to save money. To make sure you’re saving all you can, be careful in comparing your current costs to the costs for a commercial laundry service.
That means you’ll need to accurately calculate your entire hotel laundry service cost, from water, to utilities, to labor and more. It isn’t unusual for properties to underestimate how much their laundry is truly costing, so make sure to include every laundry-related expense, no matter how small. It all adds up.
Being clear on the costs also means knowing exactly what your laundry outsourcing contract covers – and what it doesn’t. The right vendor will charge for clean pounds, not dirty, and will include services such as delivery. To avoid surprises down the road, gather as many details as you can about what’s included.
Play Up Your Green Highlights
Commercial laundry services are not only better technologically equipped to handle large quantities of linens than your on property laundry, they do so using less water, gas and electricity. Energy efficient and water-saving laundry equipment can process loads using up to four times less water, for instance.
By not having to do your own laundry, your property will also use less water and other resources, making you more eco-friendly overall. That’s a plus for the environment and for your marketing efforts. The shift to an eco-friendly vendor may also give you an advantage in securing a green certification.
Get Your Staff Ready
While this is a big change for your whole team, the shift will impact some staff more than others, and everyone needs to be prepared. Training is the key to a smooth transition, and you’ll want to work with your hotel laundry service partner to develop a training plan that works for your property.
Together, you’ll be able to determine what parts of the laundry process are changing and what’s staying the same.
It’s also important to treat training as an ongoing activity, not just a one-time session. As issues come up over time, many will be adequately addressed with training. It’s also part of a healthy relationship with your laundry vendor to keep the lines of communication open between both your management and frontline staff.
Determine the Best Laundry Pickup and Delivery Times
Many hospitality laundry services promise turnaround times of 24 hours or less from pickup to delivery. You and your housekeeping staff can work with your vendor on the best times that make sense with the demands of your property and the needs of your guests.
To make the most of your hotel laundry pick up and delivery service, be prepared to change the time as occupancy levels shift.
Don’t Just Shut Down Your Laundry, Transform It
Transitioning to a commercial linen service can save you money and so much more, including space. You can reclaim the square footage being occupied by your commercial laundry equipment and repurpose it in any number of ways.
Properties that have shut down their on property laundry rooms have turned the space into corporate offices, conference rooms, coffee shops, spas or restaurants, to name a few. A new purpose that makes money is the perfect antidote to commercial washers, dryers, ironers and folders that are expensive to purchase, repair and maintain.
Make the Call
Now that you have a better idea of how to convert to a commercial laundry service, the only thing left to do is make the call that will save you money, time and natural resources.
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