By Charlie Robards, business development director at Miele Professional
The outsourcing of laundry is still a popular option for many hotels across the UK, with around 80% of British hotels choosing to use external operators to wash and dry items such as bedding and towels. Yet, with laundry costs on the rise thanks to inflation, energy price hikes, and wage increases, this can have a huge impact on budget in the long term. Whilst outsourcing might seem like a hassle-free solution, there are a number of risks involved that could impact the reputation of your hotel.
Lengthy turnaround times means that you will need to have a good stock of linens and towels available for your guests at all times. You will also need to partner with a provider who has a sterling reputation; they will need to deliver fresh laundry on time and in a perfect condition. And, as you won’t have visibility on the type of machines being used to wash and dry items, you will also need to trust your laundry provider that items are processed hygienically to ensure any potential infections are eradicated. Finally, how environmentally friendly is the company you are sending your hotel’s laundry to? With sustainability high on the agenda for many businesses (and guests), outsourcing to external agencies can increase carbon emissions through transportation as well as through washing operations. Instead, we recommend considering the benefits of an on-premises laundry (OPL).
Five benefits of an OPL
Bringing laundry processes in-house can make a big difference to your business’ reputation and bottom line. Great control over laundry management means you can ensure items are being washed thoroughly and to a high standard. An OPL will also help your hotel with its green credentials, deliver shorter turnaround times, and support overall quality standards. If you’re thinking about investing in an OPL, here are five factors to include in your decision-making.
- It will help you main extremely high guest expectations
As laundry stays on-site, it will make it easier to manage and deliver faster room turnaround times. You are able to define and oversee correct laundry procedures for hygiene and cleanliness, enabling quality values to be instilled within staff. Enhanced control also reduces the risk of laundry items being lost or damaged, and it makes it easier to spot and remove items that fall below your quality benchmarks.
2. An OPL will bring financial benefits
The lifetime costs of appliances and associated services will be lower than outsourcing, as long as you choose a brand that is renowned for quality and longevity. Energy efficient appliances mean lower than anticipated utility bills and staff that would usually be managing the outsourced relationship could be running the OPL instead. A quality, reliable OPL does not need to be replaced often, helping you save money in the long term and contributes to less waste in landfill.
3. Ensures bedding and towels arrive before your guests do
An OPL will cut out the time it takes to transport laundry to and from an outsourcer, improving the workflow between laundry and housekeeping teams. This can also reduce the quantity of linen and towels you have to buy as you will be able to turnaround laundry faster. Best-in-class washers and dryers should also feature specialised programmes suited to the type of item that is being laundered, meaning no more time than necessary is being spent on the laundry process.
4. Not enough room for an OPL? Think again!
The minimum space requirement for a machine is as little as 1m3. If you don’t have a lot of room, consider investing in a washer and dryer that can be double stacked to save on space. This means machines can be easily housed in a cellar, cupboard, or unpopular guest room. Specialist laundry suppliers can help with site surveys, layout suggestions, and machine specifications to make an OPL work for your unique requirements.
5. It can support your green credentials
In more ways than one, an OPL can give you sustainability assurance and help your hotel be kinder to the environment. This can be done by opting for equipment that offers low energy and water consumption, using eco-friendly washing and drying programmes, and choosing detergents that are made from sustainable raw materials. It can also reduce your carbon footprint, as there is no reliance on transport to collect and deliver laundry.
A wash process that is independent of third parties can boost guest satisfaction, save on costs, and bring more control over your laundry management. If you think it’s time to invest in an OPL, find out how industry experts, Miele Professional, can help.