Clean India Journal has already spoken so much about housekeeping as a profession in our previous editions. Yet, a new perspective emerged when an all-women team who have been closely associated with housekeeping met at Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. Three professionals — Sonia Mital, Director-Business Operations, Work Dynamics, Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated; Priya Ranade, BDM and Training Manager at Charnock Equipments Pvt. Ltd; and Anupama Deshmukh, Independent Housekeeping Consultant and Trainer, who began their careers in hospitality housekeeping — share some inspiring stories with Editor Mohana M.
A decade ago, the rigmarole of housekeeping in the hospitality industry was considered a daily routine, with the Taj and Oberoi setting unmatchable standards in this labour-intensive role. In fact, housekeeping gained its reputation among those graduating from these and other reputed organisations. However, housekeeping get its recognition mostly within the classy doors of hotels.
“Hospitality housekeeping has practically built a solid foundation for those who have successfully got out of the comfort of the hotel environment.” In fact, some of the leading professionals in facility management and other managerial posts today have been part of the hospitality industry as housekeeper, chef, front office assistant and even GM.
Years back, while playing the role of housekeeping in the bustling corridors of leading hotels, Sonia, Anupama and Priya honed their skills, gaining the much-needed confidence, preparedness, timeliness and meticulousness. The lessons learnt day after day in housekeeping were a masterclass in their professional development that have become useful tools in their new roles today.
Making a Bold Move
“Spending years within hotels and then moving out to take up another profession — facility management — was a complete transition,” says Sonia. “Working in the facility management space is a completely different experience compared to doing housekeeping in hotels.
” Sonia’s hospitality roots continue to guide her leadership style — blending empathy, precision and an unbreakable focus on quality in facility management.” — Sonia Mital
Initially, it was like leaving behind something and entering an altogether new world! But it was like a schooling in one profession to excel in the next one. I had a significant advantage having the hospitality background. Some of the immediate points that I can list include:
- The importance of putting the customer first and never saying no
- A strong technical knowledge of cleaning processes and standards
- Dealing with multiple surfaces and various cleaning aspects
- A higher standard and an eye for detail
- Completion of tasks in time
Over and above this, hospitality taught me how to manage teams with empathy. Dealing with junior staff taught me to understand and build strong relationships.
Most of this staff come from backgrounds with little or no formal learning. Getting down to teaching and working with them not only builds patience but also builds experience in identifying where things can go wrong.
These skills learnt during the fast pace of hotel work, where services must be delivered quickly, within strict timelines, without errors, have particularly been useful in facility management.
Leveraging the Sales Edge
Moving on from hotel housekeeping to sales of cleaning products is not just a transition but a total change of profession. “However, it is closely connected,” says Priya. In hospitality, cleaning is one of the major roles played by the housekeeper. But at the same time, understanding the products used for cleaning becomes a challenge. In most cases, working on strict timelines seldom leaves time for studying deeply on what products should be used for cleaning.
“ Priya’s journey from hospitality to sales has turned her into a bridge between users and technology — combining product knowledge with practical housekeeping insight.”
— Priya Ranade
“Now being in the sales end, I have been able to understand the product functions and its suitability for various operations in the hotels and for that matter any facility. This gives me an edge as I know exactly what housekeepers need and what exactly will suit their requirements.”
In most cases, sales are done by non-professionals who do not have hands-on experience in housekeeping to professionals in cleaning. “As a housekeeper, I have the insight of the real needs and requirements of my clients today. I completely understand what housekeepers and facility managers are looking for and can offer the right solution.
Having the hospitality background also allows me to offer better advice to clients on the practical use of cleaning machines and not just the technical specifications. This helps in building long-term relationships with clients instead of just making a single sale.
“Training is an integral part of housekeeping, and now I can train the sales team to better understand a housekeeper’s perspective and needs. Especially, not to oversell a product, which often happens when salespeople are only concerned with meeting their targets.” The connection established with customers from sharing the same background makes for a more comfortable working relationship.
Choosing the Training Path
“My days in hotel housekeeping involved rigorous training, where perfection was the only way forward,” says Anupama. Associating with top brands in the hospitality sector gave her a strong foundation in housekeeping.
Moving on from housekeeping to becoming a corporate trainer and consultant was a gradual transition. “Based on the initial experiences, training students in hospitality schools and colleges was the first step.” Concentrating more on etiquette and soft skills for the hospitality industry was the starting point. This added a perspective of what areas required more focused training.
” The foundation in hospitality has become a stepping stone for Anupama to train professionals across various industries, teaching them the importance of soft skills.”
— Anupama Deshmukh
Thereafter, moving on to corporate training for leading companies, “I was teaching managers social and dining etiquette. I also started training staff of different sectors, including banks and hospitals, on customer service. “I am continuously honing my skills in training, which all began with my hospitality housekeeping days, especially Taj, which gave me a strong foundation in soft skills and professional etiquette.”
This knowledge has helped connect a wide range of people requiring training, right from rural housekeepers to corporate managers and security guards.
The stories of Sonia, Priya and Anupama prove that a career change is not an end but a new beginning. Their experiences show that the skills gained in hospitality — from a relentless focus on the customer to an eye for detail and an empathetic approach to people — are not confined to hotels. They are universal assets that can drive success in any industry.