As a room attendant at the South Thompson Inn, tourism student Akhil Sreekumar spent his summer co-op preparing suites and maintaining the public areas to ensure that guests had a comfortable stay during their visit to the property.
Room attendants play a vital role in the accommodation sector by ensuring guests enjoy a clean, safe, healthy and welcoming environment. Paying close attention to cleanliness and hygiene directly contributes to guest satisfaction and retention. The roles play a part in protecting the hotel’s reputation, as a negative experience can conjure online reviews that may attract (or detract) new guests.
“Foundational experience, such as room attendant positions, help students understand the full guest experience in hospitality management,” said Jamie Noakes, tourism co-op co-ordinator. “Ask any hotel general manager, and most will say they started as a room attendant. It’s the perfect access point to understanding day-to-day operations.”
This co-op experience has been a journey of growth and perseverance for Sreekumar, who honed his skills through dedication and hard work, overcoming initial challenges to better contribute to the hospitality team. During the training process, Sreekumar found it challenging to make the bed and reset the room within the assigned time frame.
However, through practice and determination, he quickly adapted to the pace and demands of the job. “More practice helped me achieve the task and master it in a few days,” Sreekumar added.
Shadowing more experienced room attendants taught him different techniques to speed up the process. “Working constantly and timing myself helped me achieve it easily.”
He was allowed to wear earphones to listen to music but embraced any social opportunities whenever possible. “I’m very extroverted — I like talking to people or engaging with others. But if you are quiet or introverted, housekeeping is ideal as there can be minimal interactions with guests or colleagues.”
Sreekumar’s dedication and hard work helped him excel in the hospitality industry and showed him what goes on behind the scenes to ensure guest satisfaction. He felt rewarded by the uniqueness and beauty of the property. “I enjoyed the views from every room, with one side of the property overlooking the lush green golf course and the other facing the South Thompson River. What a beautiful place to work.”
Akhil’s workplace viewpoint.
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