Hotel Laundry: Plan for the busiest day

One hotel, multiple textile flows

Hotel laundry is not a homogeneous quantity. Bed linen, towels, restaurant tablecloths and uniforms come at different times and go through different finishes. TOLON singles out these groups in its review Solutions for Hospitality.

Keep separate records for each group. Record the quantity, collection time and return deadline. This shows what must be finished before the next group arrives.

Average occupancy is not enough.

Alongside an average day, consider high guest turnover, events, increased towel use and seasonal peaks. Do not assume a universal quantity per room: use your own property’s records and linen replacement policies.

If you are just opening a hotel, create several scenarios with different occupancy and services. Write down your assumptions clearly, so that you can compare them with actual work later.

Track deadlines, stocks and final processing

Laundry is useful only when it is ready for use. Include drying, ironing, folding and distribution to the department in the shift plan. The deadline for the preparation of rooms may be different from the deadline for restaurant textiles.

Keep track of available linen stock. If all your stock is being washed at once, even a short delay becomes an operational problem. Set your reserve according to demand, processing time and the availability of additional support.

Questions for the hotel team

• What quantities come from rooms, spas and restaurants?
• When must the textiles be ready for each department?
• Which days have the most guest changes?
• Where is the waiting time between washing and returning to use?
• How are bottlenecks or unexpected increases in volume handled?

Coordinate the plan with the hotel's housekeeping and laundry teams. Equipment should match their actual working patterns, available space and utility connections.