The main difference between housekeeping and room service is that housekeeping involves the provision of a clean, comfortable and safe environment for guests, while room service involves allowing guests to order food and drink to their rooms.
Housekeeping and room service are two important services provided by many hotels. Both of these ensure guests’ comfort and convenience and contributes to creating a positive experience for the guest.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Housekeeping
– Definition, Features
2. What is Room Service
– Definition, Features
3. What is the Difference Between Housekeeping and Room Service
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Hotels, Housekeeping, Room Service
What is Housekeeping
In the hotel industry, housekeeping involves cleaning, maintenance, and improving the appeal of all rooms and public areas of an establishment. We can basically define it as the provision of a clean, comfortable and safe environment for guests. A hotel or any such commercial establishment usually have a housekeeping department for this purpose. They are mainly responsible for turnarounds, i.e., cleaning and preparing guests rooms on time, but also in cleaning and maintaining everything in the hotel property. Generally, there are more staff in the housekeeping department than in any other departments. However, providing a clean, comfortable, and safe area for guests is not only the concern of the housekeeping department. Other staff in the hotel also have some responsibility to ensure that their guests receive a positive experience. Moreover, housekeeping’s efforts to provide guests with a clean and comfortable environment directly affects guests’ experience in the hotel.
Role of Housekeeping
- Establishing a welcoming atmosphere for the guest
- Ensuring high standards of cleanliness
- Achieving maximum possible efficiency in ensuring the care and comfort of guests
- Catering to the laundering requirements of the hotel linen and guest clothing.
What is Room Service
Room service is a hotel service that allows guests to order food and drink to be brought to their rooms. In this service, the food is delivered from the onsite restaurant to the guest’s room. This allows the guests the convenience of eating in the privacy of their room and outside of regular restaurant hours. Guests can also order alcoholic drinks through room service. In addition to food and drinks, room service also provides guests with dishes, cutlery and trays, which allows the guests to enjoy their meal in bed or at the table.
Furthermore, room service is a very convenient service as it saves guests’ time. Most hotels take food orders during any time of the time, catering to both early risers and latecomers. However, room service is not available in some hotels and most motels.
Difference Between Housekeeping and Room Service
Definition
Housekeeping is the provision of a clean, comfortable and safe environment for guests, while room service is a hotel service that allows guests to order food and drink to be brought to their rooms.
Involves
While housekeeping involves cleaning, maintenance, and improving the appeal of all rooms and public areas of the hotel, room service involves food and beverage.
Department
Housekeeping is usually handled by the housekeeping department of a hotel, while room service is handled by the food and beverage department.
Availability
Moreover, housekeeping is an essential service, available in almost all hotels, while room service may not be available in all hotels.
Conclusion
The main difference between housekeeping and room service is that housekeeping involves the provision of a clean, comfortable and safe environment for guests, while room service involves allowing guests to order food and drink to their rooms.
Reference:
1. “Room Service.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 30 Jan. 2021, Available here.
2. “Housekeeping – Introduction, Definition, Role, Responsibilities and Layout.” Setup My Hotel, Available here.
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