Housekeepers' lot set to get tougher

Housekeepers' jobs are safe despite rapidly advancing technology, but their roles will change and become harder, the UK Housekeepers Association's annual conference heard last week.

Linda Richards, director of consultancy Hotel Systems Support Services, told delegates that guests were set to become increasingly demanding of in-room facilities. "Rooms will have to become more like both home and office rolled into one," she said.

Ms Richards explained that, within a few years, many hotel bedrooms would contain sophisticated computers, games, home shopping channels, videos as well as music centres.

Marriott was piloting a concept called "The Room That Works" in 15 hotels and others were likely to follow its example, she said.

"It appears likely that room attendants will have to get involved with this equipment - checking and replenishing paper, changing toner cartridges, turning off what should be off and on what should be on," said Ms Richards.

"Forget about stainless steel and easy-to-clean surfaces - dusting will probably get harder," she added.

But hotel guests would not only be looking for an office with a bed in it. They would also require a home-from-home experience. Rooms would also have to offer the utmost comfort, she added.