The Backstage Heroes: Why Back-of-House Cleaning is Critical to Smooth Hospitality Operations

Front-of-house areas in any hospitality operation are the most noticeable spaces for both guests and staff. Lobbies, guest rooms, cafes and restaurants, and even entrances and grounds are at the top of everyone’s mind – especially staff’s. That’s why these areas are rarely overlooked, and most of the time and attention are focused on making sure that they are regularly cleaned and sanitized for a top-notch guest experience. 

The demands of front-of-house cleaning, however, often mean that less time and attention are paid to back-of-house spaces. Commercial kitchen and staff area cleaning can sometimes be overlooked because so much of the night cleaning and daily operations are focused on the front of the house that guests regularly see and interact with. 

Here we’ll dive into just why back of house (BOH) cleaning for hotels and other hospitality facilities matter, why they have a direct impact on operations, and the benefits that come from proper hotel operations support cleaning. 

Key areas to consider in hotel back-of-house cleaning

To begin, what does the industry consider “back of house” in the hospitality context? There are several important areas that guests and customers cannot see. These areas help operations run smoothly and keep staff safe at work. 

• Kitchens and food prep areas – One of the primary back-of-house areas that anyone is concerned with would be your kitchens, food prep spaces, and similar commercial kitchens. Ensuring that these spaces are regularly cleaned is not only necessary for food safety, but ensuring that they are cleaned and sanitized is critical to maintaining code compliance and avoiding any kind of contamination or illness for guests and staff. 

• Storage spaces and inventory – Commonly overlooked, storage areas and spaces where inventory is held are also critical BOH areas to maintain. Cleanliness here not only ensures staff safety but also prevents loss of supplies, linens, and other costly supplies due to contamination. 

• Staff breakrooms – Staff breakrooms are critical to the success of an establishment because they can contribute directly to employees’ health and job satisfaction. Properly maintained break areas can also reduce staff turnover and help develop a more cohesive team unit, which will be evident in both back-of-house and front-of-house conditions. 

• Offices – Most hospitality facilities have one or more office spaces for marketing, communications, financial operations, and other office tasks. Keeping these spaces clean is also essential for proper hotel operations.  

• Corridors – Cleanliness in halls and corridors, especially behind the scenes, has a direct impact on the flow of goods and services throughout any resort or hotel. It also makes it easier for staff to get to the areas that need attention, and ensures a safe space for any maintenance or emergency personnel who may need to use them as well. 

• Laundry rooms – The presence of cleaning chemicals, water, and other slip hazards is quite common in laundry rooms. Ensuring that these spaces are clean, then, helps to make sure that staff members are at lower risk for slip-and-fall hazards, improving safety and preventing any interruptions to your operations. 

• Staff quarters – For facilities where staff quarters such as cabins, rooms, or sleeping accommodations are present, these should be kept in the same condition as guest rooms. Doing so ensures both safety and employee satisfaction, and attention to detail here will translate into improved results throughout the property. 

Benefits of thorough night cleaning and hotel staff facilities cleaning

We mentioned some of the benefits above, but there are many positive impacts that come from putting time and attention toward hotel staff area cleaning services and hospitality back of house sanitation. Among those many benefits, some of the most important include: 

• Regulatory compliance: From OSHA standards to health code and more, there are numerous regulations and codes that any hospitality operation must comply with to remain in good standing. Cleaning protocols for dining areas and other spaces where team members spend significant time are critical for ensuring that any inspections are passed and operations remain unimpacted by compliance concerns. 
• Efficiency and satisfaction: Clean and safe spaces where staff members are performing work, gathering supplies, or taking breaks are essential to maximize efficiency, productivity, and employee satisfaction. From breakrooms to hallways, storage areas to laundry facilities, bathrooms to offices, anywhere your employees spend time can have a direct impact on their ability to work efficiently and effectively. 
• Pest control and overall conditions: Cleanliness, especially in back-of-house areas, can have a direct impact on preventing any kind of pest problems in a hospitality environment. Commercial kitchen spaces, breakrooms, and other areas can be considered a first line of defense against pests. Additionally, dirt, germs, and contaminants can be tracked from back-of-house areas to guest areas and public spaces, which can lead to wasted time and duplicated efforts in have to clean and reclean those spaces. 

Top reasons to partner with a professional hotel cleaning services provider

Looking at the list of BOH areas that require proper attention can seem daunting. And often, hotel and resort staff members have to focus much of their time on high-traffic areas that directly impact guest satisfaction. 

As we’ve seen, however, back of house cleanliness can have both direct and indirect impacts on operations, including guest satisfaction. The hospitality industry is one where limitations in time and resources often lead to compromises, and those often affect the spaces where team members perform critical tasks. 

One way to address the limited time or capabilities of in-house staffing is to explore the numerous cleaning solutions available from professional cleaning service providers like MasterCorp. Specifically, MasterCorp’s team has extensive training and experience providing night cleaning and deep cleaning services for hotels, resorts, luxury properties, and commercial facilities of all kinds. By developing a customized cleaning process and schedule with your team, MasterCorp staff are able to minimize any interruptions to your operation while providing support services and cleaning that will enhance any and all back-of-house areas. The benefits of that cleanliness and attention to detail will then be reflected throughout your facility with improved staff morale, enhanced efficiency and productivity, and further improvement in guest satisfaction. 

To explore the specific ways our team can partner with your staff to provide safer, cleaner, and more efficient back-of-house spaces, contact our team to request a detailed and customized proposal.