Solutions for Hotel Staffing, Hygiene, and Sustainability
How Hotels and Resorts Can Tackle Five Pressing Housekeeping Issues Before Year-End
By Joe Sebestyen, Director, Limpidus US
As we move through the second half of 2025, U.S. hotels and resorts are under increased pressure to rethink how they manage housekeeping operations. Labor instability, changing guest expectations, efficiency demands, evolving health protocols, and mounting sustainability goals all collide at the housekeeping level—where guest experience meets daily reality.
The following five issues are not theoretical—they are happening right now across properties large and small. Tackling them head-on means taking an honest look at outdated assumptions and making practical changes that improve outcomes for staff, guests, and the property as a whole.
1. Recruiting and Retaining Housekeeping Staff
The challenge:
While demand has returned, labor has not. Housekeeping teams are still spread thin after years of instability. Too many workers have left the hospitality industry entirely. In many markets, it’s not just about hiring—it’s about keeping people past the first few weeks.
What’s changed:
Today’s workforce has more options. Many are seeking predictable schedules, livable wages, and workplaces that respect their time and effort. Housekeeping—physically demanding and often invisible to guests—won’t retain people unless the job feels like a two-way commitment.
What to do:
Recruit smarter. Partner with local job training programs, housing assistance organizations, and veterans’ networks. Cast a wider net than just online job boards.
Onboard with care. A disorganized first day leads to walkouts. New hires should feel welcomed, equipped, and supported—not thrown into the deep end.
Offer stable schedules. Predictability matters more than ever. Whenever possible, avoid “on-call” days and late schedule changes.
Recognize and reward loyalty. Small gestures—a supervisor thank-you, a team lunch, or a bonus for completing high season—go a long way in reducing turnover.
Give them room to grow. Housekeepers who know there’s a path to team lead, supervisor, or training coordinator roles are more likely to stay.
2. Rising Guest Expectations and Service Precision
The challenge:
Clean isn’t enough anymore. Guests are paying more, expecting more, and noticing everything—from fingerprints on the mirror to how the towels are folded. Social media and review platforms leave no room for error.
What’s changed:
Travelers are comparing your standards not just to other hotels, but to their own homes. They notice sloppy corners, scuffed linens, or rushed resets. And they’ll mention it online.
What to do:
Retrain for the eye of the guest. It’s not just about checklists. Teach staff to see what guests see—ask, “Would this feel fresh if you walked in right now?”
Use room-specific checkbacks. A manager or supervisor should randomly inspect rooms and provide in-the-moment coaching, not just score sheets.
Empower real-time feedback. A QR code on the desk where a guest can request more towels or a room touch-up signals responsiveness—and avoids front desk bottlenecks.
Celebrate high standards. Turn positive guest reviews that mention room cleanliness into recognition moments for the staff who made it happen.
3. Operational Efficiency Without Burnout
The challenge:
Higher labor costs and unpredictable demand mean that housekeeping must be lean without being brutal. That balancing act is difficult—especially during back-to-back sold-out weekends or group bookings.
What’s changed:
Operators no longer have the luxury of “extra hands.” Every room attendant needs to clean with purpose, but without being treated like a machine.
What to do:
Streamline room assignments. Group rooms by floor or section to reduce wasted steps. Assign based on experience and pace, not just headcount.
Use task-based tech. Mobile apps that send real-time updates (e.g., “Room 312 checkout early—clean now”) prevent downtime and help supervisors shift priorities fast.
Keep supply lines flowing. When carts are missing linens, delays cascade. Stocking systems should be reviewed weekly, not just seasonally.
Pair with engineering. Flagging low-level maintenance issues beforecleaning saves time and ensures rooms are truly guest-ready the first time.
4. Health Expectations and Disinfection Protocols
The challenge:
COVID may no longer dominate the news, but guests still care about hygiene. And health authorities are quietly updating standards in the background—particularly as flu variants and respiratory concerns rise again.
What’s changed:
Guests assume you’re doing the basics. The trick is showing them, without making them feel like they’re entering a hospital.
What to do:
Revisit your protocols. Make sure your team is using the correct dwell times on disinfectants. Update procedures to align with current CDC and state guidance.
Make safety visible, not loud. Subtle visual cues—a sealed room sticker, a sign noting the last surface wipe, a laminated card about “cleaned with green-certified products”—can reassure guests without overwhelming them.
Train for reassurance. Staff should know how to answer guest questions about sanitation in simple, confident language: “Yes, we sanitize high-touch points between every guest.”
Keep common areas spotless. Lobby bathrooms, elevators, and hallways are now part of the housekeeping brand. Don’t leave them to chance.
5. Environmental Responsibility and Sustainability
The challenge:
Pressure is growing from both regulators and eco-conscious guests to reduce waste, cut water use, and adopt cleaner products. Housekeeping plays a central role in every sustainability scorecard.
What’s changed:
What used to be a nice-to-have is now a must-have. Younger travelers, corporate clients, and even government groups are factoring environmental efforts into booking decisions.
What to do:
Cut the plastic. Shift away from individually wrapped soaps and bottled amenities toward refillable dispensers. Train staff on how and when to clean those systems properly.
Give guests real choices. If you’re offering opt-outs on daily linen changes, communicate them clearly—on check-in, via signage, and through the guest app.
Track water and detergent usage. Use software or in-house logs to monitor consumption per room. Share progress with staff—they’ll often help spot waste and suggest solutions.
Source better products. Move toward certified green cleaning agents that work efficiently but reduce chemical load. Make sure staff are properly trained in their use—“green” doesn’t mean “spray more.”
Learn More About Limpidus
International expertise. Hospitality focus. Results you can see.
Since 1980, Limpidus has earned the trust of more than 5,000 properties across international markets—experience we now bring to the dynamic and demanding American hospitality sector. Under the leadership of CEO Marcos Argenti, Limpidus remains dedicated to supporting Hotels, Resorts, Condo-Hotels, and Timeshare Resorts throughout the United States with tailored housekeeping solutions built on reliability, professionalism, and care.
We understand the daily challenges you face: staffing shortages, rising guest expectations, cost control, and the need for seamless operations. These aren’t just industry trends to us—they’re opportunities to demonstrate the power of true partnership.
Whether you operate a flagship hotel, a high-volume resort, a condo-hotel with hybrid needs, or a legacy timeshare community, Limpidus delivers the operational insight, staffing support, and service excellence to help you succeed.
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I would welcome the opportunity to schedule a call to share perspectives on current challenges in the industry.
Best regards,
Joe Sebestyen joe.sebestyen@limpidus.com 405-269-3182
Why do you think the topic discussed in How Hotels & Resorts Can Solve Housekeeping Issues in 2025 – Limpidus Latam is important?
I have been in the hospitality industry for 30 years and I have never seen a more important time to better train and support new associates in our lodging properties. With turnover at high levels, it is important to make new team members feel welcome and supported with learning their new responsibilities. A combination of online and hands-on training with a team leader member will equip new members with the right tools and knowledge to operate efficiently. By recognizing your best and brightest housekeepers and making them lead trainers you can better prepare your team and hotel for success. The topics discussed in the article are best practices that Limpidus uses to train and to retain the best people in our industry.
Joe Sebestyen
Director of Development , Limpidus USA
Hello Pastel,
I have been in the hospitality industry for 30 years and I have never seen a more important time to better train and support new associates in our lodging properties. With turnover at high levels, it is important to make new team members feel welcome and supported with learning their new responsibilities. A combination of online and hands-on training with a team leader member will equip new members with the right tools and knowledge to operate efficiently. By recognizing your best and brightest housekeepers and making them lead trainers you can better prepare your team and hotel for success. The topics discussed in the article are best practices that Limpidus uses to train and to retain the best people in our industry.
Best regards,
Joe Sebestyen
Director of Development , Limpidus USA
Hello Pastel,
I would welcome the opportunity to schedule a call to share perspectives on current challenges in the industry.
Joe