Job Description, Duties, Interview Questions and Salary for Executive Housekeeper / EHK Position

An Executive Housekeeper, also known as an EHK, is responsible for managing and overseeing the housekeeping staff in a hotel, resort, or other hospitality establishment. This role involves a wide range of responsibilities, including hiring and training new staff members, developing cleaning schedules, and ensuring that all guest rooms and public areas are kept clean and presentable.

In addition to managing the housekeeping staff, an EHK is also responsible for coordinating with other departments within the hotel or resort to ensure that the needs of guests are met. This may involve working closely with the front desk staff to ensure that guest requests are fulfilled in a timely and efficient manner, or with the maintenance team to ensure that any issues with guest rooms or public areas are addressed quickly.

To be successful as an Executive Housekeeper, candidates should have strong leadership skills, excellent communication abilities, and a keen eye for detail. They should also have a deep understanding of cleaning and sanitation practices, as well as the ability to develop and implement effective cleaning schedules and protocols.

Overall, the role of an Executive Housekeeper is an important one in the hospitality industry, as it helps to ensure that guests have a clean and comfortable stay. If you are interested in pursuing a career in this field, be sure to develop the skills and experience needed to excel in this challenging and rewarding role.

Supervises all housekeeping employees, has the authority to hire or discharge, plans and assigns work assignments, give training for newly recruited employees, audit and inspects housekeeping personal work assignment, and requisition supplies. Take care of the budget and budget control for the department.

EHK Duties and Responsibility:

Supervises all housekeeping employees, hires new employees as needed, discharges employees when necessary, and takes disciplinary actions when policies are not followed. Evaluates employees to upgrade them when openings arise.

Plans the work for the housekeeping department and distributes assignments accordingly. Assigns regular duties and special duties for the housekeeping staff. Schedules employees and assigns extra days off according to occupancy forecast. Maintains a time logbook of all employees within the department.

Recruit and train new employees. Assign new employees to work with experienced help. Checks on the work of these employees occasionally and observes the reports made by the supervisors.

Approves all supply requisitions, such as those for spreads and bathroom rugs. Maintains a lost-and-found department and is responsible for all lost-and-found items. Determines the rightful owner and sends correspondences.

Responsibility & AuthorityAuthority is the Possessing the rights and powers needed to make the decisions and take the requisit...:

• Responsible for cleanliness, orderliness, and appearance of the entire HotelA Hotel or Inn may be defined as an establishment whose primary business is providing lodging facili....
•  Ensure that rooms are made as per company standards.
•  Prepare Annual HousekeepingA department of the rooms division; responsible for cleaning the hotel's guest rooms and public area... BudgetBudget is an operational plan for the income and expenditure of money for a given period..
•  Maintain par stock of guest supplies, cleaning supplies, linen, and uniforms.
•  Organize inventories with Accounts and General Store for linen, uniform, and fixed assets.
•  Pay particular attention while organizing pest eradication activities.
•  Develop and implement Housekeeping systems and procedures
•  Prepare reports for management information.
•  Assist the Purchase department in selecting suppliers for items related to Housekeeping.
•  Planned, controlled, and supervised Horticultural activities.
•  Attending and resolving guest complaints.
•  Verification of supplies consignments.
•  Organize on-the-job training and evaluate its effectiveness.
•  Approval of the Functional Manual of the department.
•  Recommend recruitment of new personnel.

Other Routine Responsibilities:

• Daily inspection of public areas and employee’s locker rooms.
•  Daily briefing of Supervisors/ Executives.
•  CoordinatingCoordinating (efforts of employees)� relating the efforts of employees in the most effective combi... the preventive maintenance schedule of rooms and public areas with the maintenance department.
•  Immediately attending to guest requests.

JOB TITLE: Executive Housekeeper

REPORTS TO: General ManagerManager is a person in the hotel operations who is assigned to manage or supervise a group of employ... / Resident ManagerThe manager in charge of the rooms division in amid-size to a large hotel. Sometimes resident manage...

PREREQUISITES:

Strong Leadership abilities and organizational skills, Entrepreneurial, thinks out of the box, and Able to drive change and look for operational efficiencies/synergies across the network.

Education:

Three Years Degrees or diploma in hotel management, 

EXPERIENCE:

Minimum 8 to 10 years of experience of which at least 2 to 3 years in a similar role. Strong Operational/Technical Knowledge. Successful Pre-opening experience & records a distinct advantage

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Executive Housekeeper / EHK Interview Questions

Interviewing candidates for an Executive Housekeeper (EHK) position requires a mix of questions that assess their managerial skills, industry knowledge, and interpersonal abilities. Here are some interview questions you might consider:

1. Managerial and Leadership Skills:

• Can you describe your experience in managing housekeeping staff and ensuring efficient workflow?
• How do you prioritize tasks and delegate responsibilities among your team?
• Can you provide an example of a successful strategy you implemented to improve housekeeping operations in your previous role?
• How do you handle performance evaluations and address any performance issues within your team?

2. Industry Knowledge:

• What housekeeping standards and regulations are you familiar with, and how do you ensure compliance?
• How do you stay updated on the latest trends and technologies in the hospitality industry related to housekeeping?
• Can you discuss any experience you have with sustainable and eco-friendly housekeeping practices?

3. Communication and Interpersonal Skills:

• How do you communicate expectations and standards to your housekeeping staff?
• Describe a situation where you had to resolve a conflict within your team. How did you handle it?
• How do you ensure effective communication between housekeeping and other departments, such as front desk or maintenance?

4. Problem-Solving Abilities:

• Can you provide an example of a challenging situation you faced in a previous role and how you resolved it?
• How do you handle unexpected issues or emergencies, such as room damage or staff shortages?
• What strategies do you use to address guest complaints related to housekeeping?

5. Training and Development:

• How do you train new housekeeping staff to meet the standards of the hotel?
• What methods do you use to ensure ongoing training and development for your team?
• Can you share an example of a successful training program you implemented in a previous role?

Salary for an Executive Housekeeper PositionStatus of the number of rooms available for sale.:

The salary for an Executive Housekeeper can vary based on factors such as the size and location of the hotel, the candidate’s experience, and the overall economic conditions. As of January 2024, the average salary for an Executive Housekeeper in the United States ranged from $45,000 to $70,000 per year, depending on the mentioned factors.

It’s essential to research the current industry standards and salary ranges in your specific location and sector to determine a competitive and fair salary for the Executive Housekeeper position. Websites like Glassdoor, Payscale, and industry reports can provide valuable insights into salary expectations.