Those who do without room cleaning harm the staff

What is being sold as an environmentally friendly initiative turns out to be a brutal cost-cutting measure at the expense of hotel employees. Since the pandemic, many guests have voluntarily opted out of daily room cleaning – believing that they are doing something good for the environment.

The reality is different: fewer cleaned rooms mean fewer shifts for the cleaning staff—and therefore, less income. If a guest chooses not to have their room cleaned, it does not give the chambermaid (who, in most cases, is a woman) extra time for other rooms. Instead, as reported by Business Traveller, fewer staff members are scheduled to work.

Maids are already on strike in the US because the ‘new normal’ puts them under enormous time pressure and leads to a loss of income. Ironically, after several days without cleaning, rooms become so dirty that they must be restored to pristine condition in record time—despite reduced staff and increased oversight.

Hotels save – staff pay the price

An example from the US shows how problematic this practice is: a dog owner opted out of daily cleaning, but when he left, the room could not be cleaned in just 30 minutes. Instead of getting more time, the cleaner received a written warning.

This pressure is also evident in Europe. In Germany, more than 80% of chambermaids are women from migrant backgrounds working in the low-wage sector. While the hotel industry profits, the staff bear the burden—and ultimately, guests receive less service for the same price.

What can guests do? It's quite simple: insist on daily room cleaning! This not only helps the employees, but also ensures that your stay remains pleasant. In addition, please be considerate – dispose of rubbish properly and report any major soiling promptly.