Do we really want more women in housekeeping?

During the Hotelier Middle East Executive Housekeeper Forum, the conference delegates separated in to four informal roundtable sessions. One session covered the topic of gender diversity in housekeeping departments.

Chaired by Marjona Aslitdinova, executive housekeeper at Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana Abu Dhabi, the session discussed the current male to female ratio in housekeeping departments and whether that ought to change. The statistic is estimated to be an average 70% male to 30% female ratio, Aslitdinova began. This figure, Aslitdinova and the roundtable attendees agreed, is more realistically 80% male to 20% female at the average hotel in the region.

“What ratio do we want then?” prompted Aslitdinova. The group offered very different opinions on the perfect ratio in housekeeping. Anushya Paramasivam Radison Blu Residence Dubai Marina room division manager argued for a 50/50 ratio as the perfect balance.

Other delegates insisted that the current 80/20 split is an ideal. For one, Asif Khatri, executive housekeeper at Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Resort was adamant that an 80/20 split is a good ratio, specifically in regards to the room attendant role, since Khatri argued, the role is essentially a “physical job, and it is difficult for ladies to push the heavy trolleys.” Khatri and most of the attendees conceded that women have positive skills to bring to the supervisor role in housekeeping.

Delegates continued to discuss the merit of the female versus male skill sets, some suggesting women are not strong enough for the room attendant role, and also not quick enough as a result. Others argued that the quality of clean by women room attendants tends to be better.

“Perhaps the women clean more slowly, because they are taking their time to do it better,” retorted Aslitdinova in jest. More seriously, Aslitdinova also added that she believes, in her experience, female staff tend to be “more stress resistance than the males.”

Female housekeeping staff, the attendees almost unanimously agreed, are also better at guest interaction.

Female room attendants Khatri continued to argue are “not retainable in our department” because the work is too physical for them. “After one or one and half years, they will want to leave,” Khatri continued.

“Even if you wish to have more women on the team, all the CVs I receive are always for men. Perhaps one CV for a female. We need to address this with the agencies,” suggested Anushya Paramasivam.

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