THE IMPORTANCE OF BUYING RELIABLE PRODUCTS
BY MURRAY ROBERTS , SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR , ASLOTEL
I n the world of hospitality it is true to say that guests want and need a level of service that meets – or goes beyond – their expectation during their stay . A consistent and genuine desire to welcome and satisfy guests ’ needs is the bedrock of creating long-term relationships with guests , building loyalty , and creating a positive reputation .
This is where the reliability and trustworthiness of products and equipment you provide are key as they form an essential element of your brand standard . Whether your hotel is part of a group or an independent hotel / B & B and no matter what star rating , there is little justification for not investing , and buying , the best quality products - as the adage goes ‘ buy cheap , buy twice .’
Customers have an expectation that what has been provided for them , by the hotelier , is in their best interests for a pleasant and comfortable stay . This is , perhaps the reason why people choose a recognised brand or chain of hotel , as they can anticipate that the selection of equipment and branded toiletries will be of a high standard and carefully selected for them , and in addition a level of quality with attention to detail - but shouldn ’ t this be the objective of every hotel operator ?
It is not just the obligation of hotel operators - suppliers and designers of hotel products have a responsibility to ensure their products , and services , are safe for the hotel environment . Working with internationally recognised brands , and industry names with impeccable safety standards , whose manufacturing facilities adhere to a rigid corporate social responsibility provides reassurance .
Suppliers must ensure the safety and conformity of all products they supply whether it is equipment or toiletries . In the instance of toiletry products , this responsibility extends to registration of ingredients and finished products , to correct marking on packaging and batch coding for effective traceability . All cosmetic products and their ingredients should have a cosmetic file , recorded with organisations such as the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients ( INCI ) and the CTFA ( Cosmetic , Toiletry and Fragrance Association ) to guarantee conformity . It is also incumbent upon suppliers of equipment to ensure products are CE marked to confirm EU regulatory compliance . This conformity must be supported by relevant test certificates such as TUV and VDE to verify the validity of the CE declaration .
Suppliers who comply with such organisations and whose factories adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices to ISO 22716 and ISO 14001 standards offer comfort for all accommodation providers and customers – who can be secure in the knowledge that equipment and toiletry products and their ingredients are safe to use . It is always advisable to ensure that your hotel equipment and toiletry supplier complies with good practices and EU safety regulations ; it is of supreme importance that such declarations can be verified for ultimate peace of mind .
Housekeeping Management is at the very core of the hotel operation and a significant factor in hotel operations , which is why buying reliable products from reputable , well-known suppliers , is so important – for everyone involved .
8 Housekeeping management