Every major hotel brand has a strict schedule in which they recommend performing preventative maintenance (also known as PM’s). The guiding principle of this practice is to ensure the quality of your property over the long term.
In the economic climate with which we have found ourselves, many hoteliers are finding themselves tightening their labor belts wherever possible. Don’t let PM’s fall into that trap! Neglecting the upkeep of your property could have tragic consequences.
In designing a PM program you need to analyze the size, age, condition, seasonality and average occupancy of your property. An examination of these factors will give you an idea of the number of PM’s you should do per year. Under normal circumstances, quarterly inspections would be recommended for each room, but twice a year would be more practical during hard economic times.
Guestrooms will require most of your preventative maintenance attention, as that is where the guests spend most of the time. A thorough PM checklist should include a detailed cleaning and inspection of the PTAC/HVAC unit. These units operate much more efficiently when clean and it can extend the life of the unit as well. All lights should be inspected and fixtures should be tightened and secure. Carpets should be cleaned (at least in the heavy traffic areas). Plumbing needs to be inspected to make sure the sink and shower operate and drain properly. Make sure you check the phones and alarm clocks as well! Mattresses should be on a rotation schedule to ensure they wear evenly. Doors need to be inspected along with the lock system to ensure the doors close properly (they should be able to close on their own when released at a 90 degree angle) and the lock mechanism operates as it should. Batteries in each lock should be dated to make certain they are changed routinely. All furniture should be spruced up and drawers should be tested and cared for. Walls should be repainted (make sure you match the paint first) as necessary. Another important factor is maintaining a list of serial numbers for the televisions, PTAC/HVAC units as well as other valuable pieces in your rooms. Last, but not least, make sure the curtains and drapery are in good condition and function as they should.
If you view PM’s as an investment, your property will maintain its value long into the future!
