Hilton changes everything: goodbye to daily room cleaning

Covid-19 has turned the world of tourism upside down, and some of the effects will not be temporary. This is evidenced by the decision to Hilton Hotels and Resorts. The company has announced that it will disrupt a pivotal element of the hotel stay. To get away from one's room, wander the streets of a new city, and then return, to find everything neat and spotless is a great feeling.

In the near future this will not happen automatically. It will not be a service, so to speak, imposed on customers. Room cleaning must be requested at the front desk, in person or with a simple phone call. A choice that is part of a general plan of cuts.

Hilton, a major cut

During the "hottest" and most complex period of the pandemic, many hotels decided to eliminate daily room cleanings unless requested by guests. Hilton plans to extend this practice, following specific standards:

• Room cleaning, performed daily, will be available only upon request in non-luxury Hilton brand facilities. To obtain the service you will need to contact the front desk
• A full room cleaning is provided, even without a specific request, on the morning of the fifth day, should the guests' stay exceed this period
• Daily cleaning will remain always included among the Guaranteed services in hotels belonging to luxury brands By Hilton: Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and LXR

Hilton CleanStay

The pandemic has prompted the Hilton brand to announce a new program of sanitary practices within its facilities. After the announcement of the choice made regarding room cleaning, more updates to the CleanStay program were unveiled.

The changes will be adjusted according to the different geographical target areas. For the time being. the cut in daily cleaning only affects the United States. In Hilton USA hotels, the custom of sealing the room with a sticker stating how no one has set foot in the room as a result of cleaning it will also be abolished.

Here are the other points of the CleanStay program:

• Cleaning the most exploited areas: Hilton has identified what turn out to be the 10 most touched areas within the rooms. These will undergo extra disinfection treatment. These are light switches, doorknobs, the main bathroom surfaces, devices such as remote controls, alarm clocks and telephones, thermostats, bathroom accessories, hard surfaces, food and drinks from the mini-bar
• Items such as paper and pen will be removed, available upon request or replaced by digital items
• Gyms could be closed several times a day to allow for thorough cleaning. Space could also be made for restricted access
• Increased cleaning of public areas
• Greater number of disinfected wipes. Space, for example, for a station to disinfect the call button for elevators
• Customers will be able to request a digital, contactless check-in by leveraging Digital Key technology, proceeding with check-out through a mobile device, leveraging the Hilton Honors app
• New technologies will be introduced, such as electrostatic sprays and ultraviolet lights