Hospitality
Hygiene concerns in hotels span a range of issues - from unclean rooms and insufficient disinfection to unsanitary communal spaces and lapses in staff hygiene.
To mitigate these risks, hotels must adopt rigorous cleaning protocols, including frequent disinfection of high-touch surfaces and strict adherence to personal hygiene standards among staff.
The Problem
A striking 97% of hotel guests cite linen quality as their top concern.
Although the likelihood of infection from hotel linens is generally low, effective cleaning and handling procedures are essential to limit germ transmission.
Hotel rooms are high-traffic environments, increasing the chances of exposure to bacteria and viruses.
Items like sheets, towels, and pillows come into direct contact with guests’ skin, making them prime conduits for microbial transfer.
If not properly disinfected between uses, these textiles can harbour harmful pathogens and become sources of infection.
Illnesses contracted in hotel settings may include emerging viral strains such as future variants of Covid, as well as common infections like the cold, influenza, rotavirus, norovirus, diphtheria, Legionella, E. coli, hepatitis A, and bacterial threats like staphylococcus and streptococcus (linked to skin infections, sore throats, cellulitis, impetigo, and scarlet fever), along with Hemophilus influenzae (H. flu, Hib), among others.
The Solution
Everyone has a role to play - and hotels can become part of a nationwide ‘antimicrobial shield’ that helps curb disease transmission, ultimately reducing hospitalizations and saving lives.
Traditional laundering and machine washing in hotels do not offer lasting antimicrobial protection.
Within just 20 minutes of cleaning, bacteria, fungi, and microbes begin to recolonize textiles.
Similarly, while surface sanitizers may eliminate microbes temporarily, they do not prevent rapid recontamination.
To truly elevate hygiene standards, we must enhance the sanitization of all fabrics and textiles.
By suppressing microbial growth, antimicrobial treatments can significantly reduce the risk of pathogen transmission - creating safer environments for both guests and staff, especially in high-contact zones like guest rooms and shared spaces.
