Dubai: An unusual competition to be held in Dubai next month has put the spotlight on a segment of people we so take for granted: housekeepers in the hotels we frequent.
The first ever Middle East Housekeepers League of Champions, which will be hosted as part of the Hotel Show from September 18-20 in Dubai, will set up two ransacked hotel rooms and will require two teams of housekeepers to put them back in order in the fastest possible time.
Eye-opener
While the final line-up of participants and the winner’s trophy remains a surprise, those behind the unique event let on that it will be an eye-opener.
For starters, Lakmall Mawella, executive housekeeper at The Address Boulevard Dubai, who will be on the expert judging panel, said, “Housekeeping has moved a lot in the last decade in terms of technology and efficiency. A few years back it took one hour to clean one room – now it takes about 20 minutes.”
There are many other revelations about housekeeping that only Dubai hotels can claim, like scrubbing Dh100,000 worth of designer handbags, cleaning balconies during sandstorms, even helping guests deliver babies.
Information compiled ahead of the Hotel Show with help from the UAE Professional Housekeepers Group shows housekeepers here go to any lengths to make their guests comfortable. The requests can be as bizarre as polishing priceless jewellery, removing stains from expensive luggage or even making a pair of velvet loafers “shine”. Lost property is also an issue, as one team spent hours tracking down a guest who forgot to take the Dh10,000 he left beneath his bed.
Makeshift midwives
Several housekeepers have also recalled becoming makeshift midwives when pregnant guests’ babies decided to arrive unexpectedly early – and when they happened to be at hand.
One housekeeper said, “I was inspecting the rooms once when I heard an unusual sound – a lady crying loudly, seeking help. I called a female colleague, and together we entered the room and found that the guest was about to give birth. I called for more assistance – from duty managers to security – and she eventually had a baby girl there in the room. She was taken to hospital and we immediately shampooed the carpet, changed the entire bed linens and had the room perfect again in no time.”
Another housekeeper recalled how one guest wanted to have his entire room, bathroom included, covered with linen as he was allergic to walking on the floor. “Since the bathroom is a sensitive area, we covered the floor with bath rugs and anti-slip mats. The entire room was carpeted to ensure the guest had a good stay.”
Event director Gary Williams said, “The competition will be a great experience for all teams involved and for everyone watching. We’ll be sure to throw in some curveballs – whether this is a guest asking for something unusual, or adding a unique item to be cleaned – to keep the teams on their toes.”
