For hotel owners everywhere, guests stealing hotel towels is a prime concern. A recent study suggested that the number of hotel guests who steal towels is as high as 85 percent in some chains.
Instead of seeing the perspective of the guest, imagine it from the viewpoint of the hotel manager and the frustrations of having to recoup the costs of stolen hotel towels. This is not paper clips or stationary. Hotel towel thefts add up fast!
Hotel towels are even more costly, if you don’t know where to buy them and/or how to take care of them. As a matter of fact, on the subject of taking care of hotel towels, it’s not uncommon for a hotel to lose as much as 20 percent of their linens every month from general use. Now, add to that the amount of hotel towels unaccounted for at the end of the month, and you begin to see how quickly things add up for hotel owners. With all of this to consider, buying high quality, affordable, durable towels is key for any hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast.
How to select the perfect Hotel towel
The vast majority of major hotel chains require management to order towels from a specific brand. For these chains, there’s not much advice that can be afforded them as they are already bound to a choice. For independent hotels, motels, or bed and breakfasts however, there might be big opportunities to save money.
Keep in mind that, no matter what, any hotel manager is still going to lose some towels and/or need to replace them at some point. First, identify what you are working with budget-wise for hotel towels. Second, choose the material. For managers seeking the most eco-friendly product, organic cotton is a solid recommendation for towels. Bamboo towels also provide strong resistance to mold and mildew, and are up to four times more absorbent than their cotton counterparts.
Buying wholesale is always a good idea when it comes to anything in the hotel industry. Before putting any money down though, consider how long it will take for the material to dry. Discuss it with a sales representative to see what information they have and ask about the pile, grams per square meter (GSM), how the towels are constructed, and the weave of the towels.
How to take care of your hotel towel
Even with the highest quality hotel towels, taking care of them is a necessary step in getting the most out of them. Prolong the life of hotel towels by washing them before first use, avoiding fabric softener in washes, and ensuring there is no built-in fabric softener included in the detergent being used. Always wash hotel towels with like colors and use the right amount of detergent as not to leave a hotel towel feeling overly stiff following a wash. A lasting point to remember is also never to wash and dry towels with any other materials other than towels.
Be on the lookout for opportunities to save money on hotel towels
To give your guests the kind of feel you want from your hotel towels, keep your eyes open for the right deal. By doing research into what kind of materials appeal to you, saving money on ordering is made that much easier. Though there’s no way to avoid hotel towel theft or wear and tear, any hotel can keep costs low by knowing where to shop and when’s the right time to buy.
