Check Safety First’s Room Check auditing system, which monitors room hygiene scientifically suggests that women need to be more aware of the room risks as hotels fail to meet adequate standards.
The hotel room represents a minefield of hygiene risks for female guests according to research from Check Safety First.com. Nearly 1 in 5 (18 per cent) female guests suffer from illness whilst staying in a hotel, highlighting that hotels need to raise standards in all areas including the hotel room.
Women account for about half of business travellers with hotels increasingly catering for their needs. 1 60 per cent of women ranked price as the most important preference, with the overall cleanliness of the hotel being less of a concern.
Check Safety First’s Room Check auditing system, which monitors room hygiene scientifically suggests that women need to be more aware of the room risks as hotels fail to meet adequate standards. The company recently launched Room-check.co.uk which provides consumers with the latest room hygiene information from hotels that have consistently high scores.
“It is important that guests realise how poor hygiene levels in a hotel can be,” says Steve Tate, Chairman of Check Safety First. “People often associate illness and their stay with the hotel food, but our auditing finds that the room can also be a major cause. With a high turnover of hotel cleaning staff, maintaining high standards is difficult, with some of the most reputable hotels not living up to these standards.”
To keep guests safe, Steve Tate has put together a room risk review of hazards to look out for when booking your stay.
1) It appears that the bathroom is the most hygienic place to consume food. Nearly 80 per cent of women prefer to eat food sitting on their bed, but this is actually one of the filthiest parts of a hotel room. Mattresses and duvets are rarely changed, meaning that a horrific number of guests before you have left potentially harmful bacteria behind. Always ask a member of staff how often bedding and mattresses are changed at the hotel to make sure you’re not at risk.
2) A staggering 98 per cent of women surveyed watch TV in their room. Television remotes are never usually cleaned, leaving guests at a high risk of picking up germs. Beware- channel flicking can be costly and good hygiene habits are vital.
3) Be aware that surfaces including tea making facilities are usually left when cleaning, even though they are used by 83 per cent of women. Guests are recommended to wash their hands immediately after touching these surfaces or to avoid them completely.
4) 65 per cent of women order room service which can carry its own risks. Check that food is piping hot before eating, and make sure that it is consumed in a clean area of the room.
5) Despite hotel reviews proving to be the second most popular influencer behind price when choosing a hotel, online review sites can be unreliable and open to false entries. Do not take them literally. Instead ask friends and family for their trusted opinions on where to book.
6) If you spot signs of a poorly cleaned room, report it immediately. It might be a recurring problem that hotel management need to be aware of.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
