Best Western, the world's largest hotel chain, is undergoing some changes to make cleanliness a higher priority in their hotels. They are implenting the use of some high-tech tools by their housekeeping staff.
Researchers for Booz & Company found that hotel guests number one priority when choosing a hotel is cleanliness over customer service or style and design. As a response to this, Best Western housekeepers will be equipped with gadgets that might look like something you've seen on CSI. They'll be using black lights to find biological matter that cannot be seen with the naked eye and ultraviolet light wands to get rid of the hidden filth.
Ultraviolet light has been used since the 1930s to kill germs. The light is strong enough to kill close to 100% of illness causing bacteria. Also, these high-tech gadgets are able to highlight bacteria in places that may not usually be thoroughly cleaned,
Best Western will also be covering one of the most used, and possibly dirtiest part of a hotel room--the TV remote control--with disposable plastic coverings.
Customers have expressed concerns over various travel bacteria and illnesses such as e-coli, norovirus, bird flu and others as they make news headlines. More public places like hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets are displaying hand sanitizers for customers and Best Western if following this trend in their own way.
The popular hotel chain hopes to be using these new cleaning techniques in all of its 2,200 hotels in North America by the end of the year. So far, they're being used in about half of the hotels and have been seen in places like Tempe, Ariz. And Boston, MA.
Best Western is starting to get ahead of the game as far as cleanliness goes and it may create more competition or inspire other hotels to follow suit.
According to Best Western's internal measures, the cleaning program has already made guests happier. They found that guest satisfaction for cleanliness rose by 12%, msking their overall experience rise by 13%. The survey also showed that guests are 12% more likely to recommend Best Western hotels.
The program has already made guests happier, according to Best Western's internal measures. For hotels already using the wands, Pohl says, guest satisfaction for cleanliness of the room rose by 12% and for the overall experience, by 13%. Guests are also 12% more likely to recommend their hotel, he says internal surveys show.
Best Western Vice President believes that guests are now increasing how long many days they spend at the hotel due to the new cleaning regimen.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
