INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Getting ready to reopen your hotel

Smart hoteliers who are ready to hit the ground running are taking a strategic view on reopening, and are looking for ways to redefine cleanliness while supporting guests’ personal wellbeing to give both their staff and guests confidence to return to their hotels.

Hospitality linen experts, The Fine Cotton Company are using their textiles expertise to support their boutique hotel clients by advising on specially selected products that offer guests confidence and reassurance as they return to enjoy your hotel.

So if, like many of their hotel clients, you’re hoping to welcome back guests as soon as possible, we asked them to share their recommendations to help you to ease back into business. 

1) Protecting the guestroom on arrival

 Naturally, you’ll want your staff and guests to feel safe, confident and protected during their stay with you.

 So look for products that are designed to improve guest room cleanliness to reassure you and your team as you welcome them back. 

 Jane Robson, founder of The Fine Cotton Company says: “ The luxury experience guests expect from hotels will always be key. So it’s important that guests feel that you’ve thought about their every need for safety during this new season. It can be an opportunity for hoteliers to really review their guests’ experience”

Washable reusable three-layer face masks

Offering reusable three-layer certified face masks to guests to use is one way to enable them to feel secure in your hotel. The masks can be a gift left for them to take home and reuse. The Fine Cotton Company’s face masks can be made in any colour and even be branded with your hotel logo, which means they make a professional-looking option for spa staff and your cleaning team too. 

Slippers to greet them at their door

Encourage your guests to remove their shoes as they enter their room with a shoe bag and slippers that greet them as they enter their guest room. Not only will they stop dirt from shoes being trailed around your room and protect your flooring, but it’s a thoughtful gesture that won’t go unnoticed.

Luggage mats to protect your bed linen

How many of your guests put their suitcase or overnight bag on your beautifully made bed to unpack? It’s probably a high number, often with dirty wheels that can mark and more worryingly, transfer bed bugs to your bed. Fortunately The Fine Cotton Company has a simple solution. A luggage mat. There’s are heavy-duty cotton sateen and washable at 60°C . Adding luggage mats to your housekeeping routine is reassuringly easy too, simply place on your beds as guests check-in, launder after unpacking then on check out day place a clean luggage mat back on the bed for packing.  

2) Protecting your beds and mattresses

 Large or small, Mattresses and bedding are huge investments for any hotel, it pays to ensure they are protected.

 Choose encasement mattress protectors

Image credit: The Fine Cotton Company

These are waterproof, dust mite proof and bed bug proof and zip around the whole mattress to form a complete protective barrier. Be sure to look for a quality product though, The Fine Cotton Company’s encasement mattress protectors are made with a patented allergen barrier fabric and have just been certified to block viruses.

Protect your mattress, duvet and pillows with moisture-proof protection

If mattress and pillow protection makes you think of sweat-inducing, plastic crinkly feeling products you’ll be relieved to hear that The Fine Cotton Company’s team have sourced a collection of mattress, duvet and pillow made of Tencel with a breathable waterproof backing. Tencel is a super soft and naturally hygienic fibre that wicks away moisture to keep guests cool. It is more absorbent than cotton making it ideal as a waterproof layer between your bedding and linens.

The Fine Cotton Company recommend using zip-fastening pillow and duvet protectors to keep your pillows and duvets clean and fresh. Mattress protectors are like a waterproof fitted sheet, which simply need covering with your regular sheets, all can then easily be removed and laundered after each guests’ stay.

Washable duvets and pillows

If you wish to give your guests that extra reassurance with freshly cleaned duvets and pillows for each stay, look for light weight easily laundered products such as the Microfibre Duvet from The Fine Cotton Company to keep your laundering and drying costs down.

Opt for cotton throws you can wash at 60°C

Image credit: The Fine Cotton Company

With good reason, guest will look for every reassurance that their room and furnishings are clean. Heavy eiderdowns or blankets aren’t the best choice right now, opt for easy to clean, yet stylish cotton throws that can be laundered quickly and easily. The Fine Cotton Company have responded to their client’s requests and introduced a range of washable cotton waffle cotton throws that are easy to care for and come out the dryer ready to use.

3) In the bathroom

Image credit: The Fine Cotton Company

 Lighter-weight towels and bath robes

Opt for lighter-weight cotton towels and bath robes which are designed to launder more regularly and cut down drying time. Consider offering smaller size guest towels for general hand washing in your bedrooms too instead of full-size hand towels with faster drying capabilities.

Image credit: The Fine Cotton Company

The last few months have been the most challenging our industry has ever known. We can now work together to build our reputation and kickstart the season with enhanced levels of cleanliness and hygiene to attract guests again. With unchartered territory ahead it’s reassuring that experts like The Fine Cotton Company are here to help and support you as you take steps to reopen.

The Fine Cotton Company is one of the brands that has taken advantage of our Industry Support Package. To keep up to date with supplier news, click here. And, if you are interested in also benefitting from this  three-month editorial package, please email Katy Phillips by clicking here.

Main image credit: The Fine Cotton Company