First Impressions Count – the Importance of a Spotless Lobby

Updated on December 5th 2022

To ensure the success of any business, it is important to keep the customer satisfied and make the right impression as soon as they enter your building. In the hospitality industry, this is first and foremost rooted in the appearance of the premises. A positive or negative first impression of a hotel, for example, can influence a customer’s total experience whilst the cleanliness of the venue plays a key role in building customer satisfaction and repeat visits. Overall hotel cleaning and housekeeping should be viewed as a priority to keep areas spic and span.

Setting the right impression in the hospitality industry

We all know that first impressions are very important, and this is certainly true of the hospitality industry. The lobby and public spaces of any venue have to be perfect for when the guest arrives. The impressions that customers make when entering your building are vitally important, however just as important are back of house areas such as private bedrooms/bathrooms and the other facilities provided such as fitness suites and communal washrooms.

Unsurprisingly, hoteliers report that it is the standard of the private bathrooms and public washrooms that guests comment on most frequently, so it is imperative that these rooms in a hotel are kept as clean as possible throughout the day. Hospitality is a highly competitive industry therefore it is highly important that guests enjoy their stay, consider coming back and recommend your location to their friends.

The importance of keeping your lobby clean

Keeping a lobby spotless isn’t an easy task as it sees very high traffic. Guests will constantly be checking in and out, meaning that lobby windows and doors must be cleaned frequently to remove hand prints and streaks. The weather is also an important factor to consider in the maintenance of lobby areas as floors can quickly become dirty and slippery if there is a sudden downpour of rain.

Regular maintenance of the floors is required, along with daily cleaning of the front desk and dusting lobby furniture to ensure cleanliness is maintained. This can also help to reduce premature wear and tear being caused to floors and carpets. Dust is common in highly populated areas and can trigger allergies in sensitive customers, which will have a negative effect on customer experience and satisfaction. In addition, when dust settles it can make a room unhygienic and look shabby. If guests notice dust around a lobby, then this will be sure to give them a negative opinion of the premises overall.

Hotel lobby areas that need cleaning

Achieving a clean hotel lobby requires a few key areas of consideration. Let’s have a look at some below.

Hotel lobby floor and furniture

A hotel lobby sees a lot of foot traffic, with many guests checking in and out throughout the day. This makes it a key area to accumulate dirt, dust, food particles and other debris. Ensuring you have a clean lobby can help you stand out from competitors and exceed customer expectations.

The key areas you should focus on for a clean lobby include:

• Trash cans
• Glass doors
• Floor mats
• Hard floors
• Upholstered furniture
• Window ledges
• Contact points
• Desks

Reception desk area

Having a cleaning schedule can really help you keep on top of the cleanliness of your hotel lobby. Commercial cleaners will be able to professionally take care of your hotel premises and give it  proper maintenance so you can keep delivering outstanding service in a spotless environment.

• A daily routine could involve wiping down surfaces, door handles and other contact points, sweeping floors and daily vacuuming, including lobby furniture.
• A weekly cleaning routine should involve glass cleaning, as well as dusting higher up areas as well as everything listed in the daily routine.
• A monthly routine could involve a deep clean of floors and walls

Increase positive online reviews with effective cleaning

Reviews and recommendations can make or break a business. With the rise of social media and smartphones, it’s not just immediate family and friends who are privy to a negative hotel review. The digital word of mouth can spread fast, as increasing numbers of people take to Facebook and Twitter as well as tailor made sites such as TripAdvisor to express their opinions

With that in mind, it is critical to make an excellent impression straight away and retain it throughout each stay to avoid any possible negative reviews. Negative reviews can have a negative impact on future business growth and profit by putting off potential customers, so make sure that people don’t have chance to say a bad word by providing a clean and impressive environment. Just as negative reviews can damage reputation significantly, positive reviews can work in the opposite way to ensure your business goes from strength to strength. It is undoubtedly worthwhile investing in the effective cleaning and maintenance of your hotel or resort to ensure the best possible hotel customer experience.

Maximise success with a clean environment

Now you know why it’s so important to make the right first impression to visitors to your premises, it’s time to take the necessary action required to ensure that your building is kept clean. Partnering with Jani-King brings peace of mind that your hotel is clean, hygienic and welcoming from the staff areas to front of house and turn that all important first impression into a lifelong positive one. We offer a flexible commercial cleaning service that will work around your schedule, so you can focus on managing your hotel without the added worry of correct cleaning. Let Jani-King handle the tough work for you.

If you’re looking for exceptional cleaning results, get in touch to discuss your hotel and venue cleaning requirements with our team.