Tradition and innovations complement the rapidly evolving hotel industry.
The hospitality industry witnessed tremendous changes during the 1990s, especially in
hotels, due to industrialization. Innovations are necessary in hotels to provide
experiential services to guests. Hence, in this chapter, the changes in housekeeping
operations with blended technology are discussed, illustrating the examples of national
and international hotel chains. The chapter is based on secondary data focusing on
sustainability for environment-conscious travelers. Examples of hotels with
modifications in miniature-size amenities like shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer
bottles, smart lighting systems, inventory control systems, and robotic cleaning due to
the pandemic are elucidated. Hotels are using germ-killing UV robots to disinfect guest
amenities and surfaces post COVID-19. To cater to the sustainable development goals
(SDG), hotels have started using eco-friendly cleaning agents that are safe for the
environment and ecosystem, thus reducing pollution. Comprehensively, this chapter
provides a view of the progress in housekeeping operations based on the technological
innovations and suggestions to infuse the best personalized guest experiences in the
hotel industry. Embracing this balance of tradition and innovations will enhance the
competitive advantage and ensure the optimization of operational practices with the use
of advanced technologies.
Keywords: Innovation, Housekeeping operations, Sustainability, Technology, Tradition.
