How to keep your hotel bedding and bath supplies on Par (Part 1 of 4)

In this blog series, we will be discussing the best practices for managing hotel bedding  & bath supplies, also known as hotel inventory.

Par Levels

One of the first and most essential tasks in effectively managing an Inn, motel, or hotel supplies is determining each supply item’s par level. The standard number of inventory items on hand to support daily, routine hotel room cleaning operations is called PAR. Par level is a system meant for stocking and measuring inventory levels needed for housekeeping to function. The par level is a numeric value formatted as a multiple required to support day-to-day functions. The par level of linen mainly depends upon a hotel’s laundry cycle.

Linen: Linen-like personnel is one of the most critical responsibilities of a head housekeeper; linen also called hotel bedding and hotel towels can be one of the highest expenses in the housekeeping department. Conservative policies and procedures are thus needed to control the hotel’s linen supplies. A responsible executive housekeeper will develop and maintain the procedures for the storage, issuing, use, and replacement of all linen inventories.

Types of hotel bedding & Towels

The head-housekeeper is generally responsible for three types of linen: top of the bed, bedsheets, and bath terry. Bedding typically comes in bedspreads, coverlets, comforters, duvets, blankets, and mattress pads or waterproof covers & Bed Sheets come in flat & fitted. Both are usually labeled as a twin, full, queen, and king sizes and are commonly purchased in white or bone with matching pillowcases or shams. Bath terry include bath towels, hand towels, specialty towels, washcloths, and fabric bath mats.

Establishing Par levels

If you are a new hotel owner, one of the 1st tasks of housekeeping operations is to determine the proper inventory level for all types of bedding used in the hotel or motel. The inventory level for bedding & towels must be sufficient to ensure the operational integrity in the housekeeping department. When a property gets undersupplied for laundry, you risk disrupting your housekeeping department, irritating guests, and being forced to reduce the number of guestrooms you can sell. Additionally, you will hamper the life of linens due to intensified laundering. Housekeeping operations can run smoothly when inventory levels are set too high; however, the excessive amount of tied-up resources is not a good ROI. One Par of linens equates to the total number of each type of bedding required to outfit all of the hotel rooms one time. One Par of linen is sometimes called the house setup.

An efficient operation would not use one Par of linen as your bed and bath supplies are usually above what is needed to supply your hotel rooms one time. Two Par of linens is the total number of each type of linen required to equip all guest rooms two times, and Three Par is the total number needed to outfit all guestrooms three times; and so on. In this blog, our goals are to help you determine how many pars of bedding and towels are necessary to support efficient housekeeping operations. There are three things to consider when establishing a par number for linens:

  1. The laundry cycle:
  2. replacement linens & terry
  3. emergencies

The hotel’s Laundry cycle is the most critical factor in determining linen pars. Effective hoteliers strip and launder linens daily. At any given time, housekeeping carts are moving large amounts of linen between guestrooms and the laundry. When setting a proper linen inventory level, your executive housekeeper must think through the laundry cycle in terms of the hotel’s busiest days when it is at 100 percent occupancy for several days in a row. Suppose housekeeping manages an efficient on-premise laundry operation. A proper laundry cycle indicates housekeeping maintains three Par of linens,One par-linens for cleaning, a second Par for the shelf, and a third that is currently on the bed. Many guests will request extra linen, a rollaway, sofa bed, and cribs, which must factor this into your purchasing decision.

The laundry cycle in motels that use commercial laundry service will be somewhat longer than the properties with their laundry equipment. The laundry pick-up and drop-off frequency will affect the quantities of linen the hospitality facility needs to stock. The more frequent the service, the less inventory is required to cover those days.

Replacement linen: The second factor to consider when setting linen par levels is the replacement of worn-out, damaged, missing, or stolen linen. Linen losses will vary from property to property, so an executive housekeeper will want to figure out what a reasonable replacement par level will develop from its history. The rate of linen replacement can be determined by studying monthly, quarterly, or annual inventory reports in which losses and replacement needs get tracked. A common rule of thumb is to store one Par of new linen for your replacement stock on an annual basis.

Emergency Situation: Finally, emergencies can put any executive housekeeper on their heals so they must be prepared for any emergency. For example, a power failure or equipment damage may shut down a hotel’s laundry operations. Today, the threats of Covid-19 could shut down supply chains, making it impossible to keep the hotel serviceable. Your head housekeeper may decide to hold one full Par of linens in reserve so that their operations will continue to run smoothly during an emergency.

Therefore, a hotel’s laundry cycle, bedding replacement needs, and emergency linen reserves suggest maintaining a minimum of five Par of bedding and bath towels on an annual basis. Properties using outside commercial laundry service will need to add a sixth par to cover linens in transit. 

How to keep your hotel bed and bath supplies on Par (Part 1 of 4)

In this blog series, we will be discussing the best practices for managing linen supplies, also known as hotel inventory.

Par Levels

One of the first and most essential tasks in effectively managing an Inn, motel, or hotel supplies is determining each supply item’s par level. The standard number of inventory items on hand to support daily, routine hotel room cleaning operations is called PAR.

Par level is a system meant for stocking and measuring inventory levels needed for housekeeping to function. The par level is a numeric value formatted as a multiple required to support day-to-day functions. The par level of linen mainly depends upon a hotel’s laundry cycle.

Linen

Linen-like personnel is one of the most critical responsibilities of a head housekeeper; linen can be one of the highest expenses in the housekeeping department. Conservative policies and procedures are thus needed to control the hotel’s linen supplies. A responsible executive housekeeper will develop and maintain the procedures for the storage, issuing, use, and replacement of all linen inventories.

Types of Bed Linen & Bath Terry

The head-housekeeper is generally responsible for three types of linen: top of the bed, bedsheets, and bath terry. Bedding typically comes in bedspreads, coverlets, comforters, duvets, blankets, and mattress pads or waterproof covers & Bed Sheets come in flat & fitted. Both are usually labeled as a twin, full, queen, and king sizes and are commonly purchased in white or bone with matching pillowcases or shams. Bath terry include bath towels, hand towels, specialty towels, washcloths, and fabric bath mats.

Establishing Par levels

If you are a new hotel owner, one of the 1st tasks of housekeeping operations is to determine the proper inventory level for all types of bedding used in the hotel or motel. The inventory level for linens & terry must be sufficient to ensure the operational integrity in the housekeeping department. When a property gets undersupplied for laundry, you risk disrupting your housekeeping department, irritating guests, and being forced to reduce the number of guestrooms you can sell. Additionally, you will hamper the life of linens due to intensified laundering. Housekeeping operations can run smoothly when inventory levels are set too high; however, the excessive amount of tied-up resources is not a good ROI.

One Par of linens equates to the total number of each type of bedding required to outfit all of the hotel rooms one time. One Par of linen is sometimes called the house setup.

An efficient operation would not use one Par of linen as your bed and bath supplies are usually above what is needed to supply your hotel rooms one time. Two Par of linens is the total number of each type of linen required to equip all guest rooms two times, and Three Par is the total number needed to outfit all guestrooms three times; and so on. In this blog, our goals are to help you determine how many pars of linens are necessary to support efficient housekeeping operations. There are three things to consider when establishing a par number for linens:

  1. The laundry cycle:
  2. replacement linens & terry
  3. emergencies

The hotel’s Laundry cycle is the most critical factor in determining linen pars. Effective hoteliers strip and launder linens daily. At any given time, housekeeping carts are moving large amounts of linen between guestrooms and the laundry. When setting a proper linen inventory level, your executive housekeeper must think through the laundry cycle in terms of the hotel’s busiest days when it is at 100 percent occupancy for several days in a row. Suppose housekeeping manages an efficient on-premise laundry operation. A proper laundry cycle indicates housekeeping maintains three Par of linens,One par-linens for cleaning, a second Par for the shelf, and a third that is currently on the bed. Many guests will request extra linens, linen, a rollaway, sofa bed, and cribs, which must factor this into your purchasing decision.

The laundry cycle in motels that use commercial laundry service will be somewhat longer than the properties with their laundry equipment. The laundry pick-up and drop-off frequency will affect the quantities of linen the hospitality facility needs to stock. The more frequent the service, the less inventory is required to cover those days.

Replacement linen: The second factor to consider when setting linen par levels is the replacement of worn-out, damaged, missing, or stolen linen. Linen losses will vary from property to property, so an executive housekeeper will want to figure out what a reasonable replacement par level will develop from its history. The rate of linen replacement can be determined by studying monthly, quarterly, or annual inventory reports in which losses and replacement needs get tracked. A common rule of thumb is to store one Par of new linen for your replacement stock on an annual basis.

Emergency Situation: Finally, emergencies can put any executive housekeeper on their heals so they must be prepared for any emergency. For example, a power failure or equipment damage may shut down a hotel’s laundry operations. Today, the threats of Covid-19 supply chains could get shut down, making it impossible to keep the hotel serviceable. Your head housekeeper may decide to hold one full Par of linens in reserve so that their operations will continue to run smoothly during an emergency.

Therefore, a hotel’s laundry cycle, linen replacement needs, and emergency linen reserves suggest maintaining a minimum of five Par of linen on an annual basis. Properties using outside commercial laundry service will need to add a sixth par to cover linens in transit. 

How to find a “Good” hospitality supplier post Coronavirus: Part 1

Hoteliers want hotel supplies that can meet the quality standards and price while also having a supplier that provides dependable service. In this regard, it’s wise for general managers to build long-term relationships with suppliers who consistently furnish useful information, meet quality standards, and provide competitive prices. As the routine business of ordering, expediting, invoice processing, and payment get transacted, hotel managers will benefit from a supplier who participates in a “partnership.” rather than one who fosters an adversarial relationship.

The “Good” Hotel Supplier

A good supplier is one with whom the operator can have a long-term relationship. Below are performance questions to ask yourself when choosing a supplier which will form the basis for a long-term relationship include the following:

  • Does my supplier have the capability and commitment to make sure my products will arrive at my property?
  • Does my supplier provide price changes to maintain a competitive wholesale price level?
  • Does my supplier understand the market my hotel operates in, and are they willing to meet these market’s needs?
  • Does my supplier consistently provide the proper quality and quantity of bulk hotel supplies?
  • Does my supplier inform me of new or improved products that may be of value to my hospitality operation?
  • Does my supplier have an ongoing interest in improving the products and services provided to my lodging facility?
  • Is my supplier professional? It should be easy to follow up on problems, to resolve difficulties that arise, and to negotiate any concerns.

The interest of both you and your supplier gets achieved when a cooperative working relationship exists. If either party tries to take advantage of the other by engaging in an “I win, you lose” Strategy; then problems will be created. You can find more information about purchasing strategies in deciding which hotel supplier fits your operational needs here.

How to find the best hospitality supplier: Part 1

Hoteliers want hotel supplies that can meet the quality standards and price while also having a supplier that provides dependable service. In this regard, it’s wise for general managers to build long-term relationships with suppliers who consistently furnish useful information, meet quality standards, and provide competitive prices. As the routine business of ordering, expediting, invoice processing, and payment get transacted, hotel managers will benefit from a supplier who participates in a “partnership.” rather than one who fosters an adversarial relationship.

The “Good” Hotel Supplier

A good supplier is one with whom the operator can have a long-term relationship. Below are performance questions to ask yourself when choosing a supplier which will form the basis for a long-term relationship include the following:

  • Does my supplier have the capability and commitment to make sure my products will arrive at my property?
  • Does my supplier provide price changes to maintain a competitive wholesale price level?
  • Does my supplier understand the market my hotel operates in, and are they willing to meet these market’s needs?
  • Does my supplier consistently provide the proper quality and quantity of bulk hotel supplies?
  • Does my supplier inform me of new or improved products that may be of value to my hospitality operation?
  • Does my supplier have an ongoing interest in improving the products and services provided to my lodging facility?
  • Is my supplier professional? It should be easy to follow up on problems, to resolve difficulties that arise, and to negotiate any concerns.

The interest of both you and your supplier gets achieved when a cooperative working relationship exists. If either party tries to take advantage of the other by engaging in an “I win, you lose” Strategy; then problems will be created. You can find more information about purchasing strategies in deciding which hotel supplier fits your operational needs here.

Formal Vs Informal Hospitality Supply Purchasing

The objective of an adequate purchasing manager involves purchasing hotel supplies with the right quality and quantity at the right time and price from the right supplier.
Several buying methods and options influence the selection of a hospitality supplier. For example, BnB owners with relatively few rooms may have difficulty in meeting the quantity requirements of large-wholesale case pricing. By contrast, large resorts and casinos may have less interest in purchasing supplies from small vendors. While today, the idea of one-stop shopping is ideal for many hoteliers.
Here is a general contrast that will help in understanding the difference between formal buying operations and informal.

1. Formal vs. Informal hotel supply buying methods

The Professional purchaser must be aware of all the options available so that finding the right supplier to get the right products is realized. The mission to move purchasing from routine order-placing to careful, considerate buying. What this means is the best suppliers are those that meet and exceed a hotel or BnB purchasing needs and, in doing so, follow two buying strategies Formal and Informal. Let us take a look at what those methods are below.
Informal:
Hospitality professionals must incorporate basic management principles into there buying methods. Keeping hotel supplies stocked is expensive, and operating problems arise when products get purchased in incorrectly. Therefore an organized method should be used by even small lodging properties.
Some hoteliers may regularly order from the same supplier. Because they have complete trust in their hotel supplier, they may use a very informal buying method. For example, some customers at hotels4humanity.com call in their orders, and our customer service team makes an order without inquiring about purchase pricing, knowing that all our product prices are online, and we offer full transparency.
Hospitality managers are very busy, and recalling details about purchases of the several hundred or more products is not feasible. So managers must have some in house record keeping usually an invoice that in the form of an email or as a pdf attachment to confirm that the incoming bulk supplies match the price, quantity, and quality.
Formal:
Using invoices via email or pdf is very useful for hotels, Inns, and VRBOs, which require practical yet straightforward record-keeping. By contrast, large casinos and resorts may make use of a formalized purchase ordering system. Some necessary procedures are listed below in many formal hotel supply purchasing.

  • Large suppliers will use a “request for price quotation” (RFP). Frequently, the RFP form gets created as the purchase order for the successful supplier.
  • In the RFP a there will be quality requirements for hotel items to be purchased.
  • All eligible hotel suppliers will get RFP to ensure accurate and best pricing and quality options.
  • A wide range of legal/contractual concerns are defined by the operation. These may be included as part of the purchase specifications and made to apply to all orders placed by the hospitality operation.
  • When the purchase order is issued, one copy is for the supplier, and additional copies are for other departments within the property. For example, food and beverage, receiving, accounting, and purchasing department staff may require copies.

When large operations use formal bidding, several other requirements get established for the purchase of wholesale, bulk, and discounted hotel supplies, including bidding time frames, penalties for delivery issues, and procedures. 

Why Are US Hotels Replacing Bedspreads with Bed Scarves?

Bedrooms are at the
heart of a hotel’s value proposition. Luxury hotels, in particular, need to pay
extra attention to their bedrooms’ décor. It’s important to select a high-quality
bedding product that will create the best impression on customers.

Bed scarves are the
latest trend in the hospitality industry, and a lot of hotels are preferring
them over bedspreads. But what’s so special about bed scarves? Why do hotels
prefer bed scarves these days?

You will know the
answers here in this blog post.

Bed Scarves: What’s So Special About Them?

Bed scarves improve
the appearance of the bedrooms by adding a splash of texture and color to the
bed. They are a great way to freshen up the bedroom decor. The bedding
accessory is usually placed at the middle or foot of the bed. However, it can
also be laid lavishly across the bed similar to a bedspread. The use of bed
scarves has become popular in hotels since they offer aesthetic as well as
functional benefits.

Improve Appearance

Placing bed scarves
can give a stylish touch to a bedroom. The bed scarves are available in a wide
variety of designs and colors. Dark-colored scarves provide a striking contrast
with light-colored bed sheets. They can accent the décor of any bedroom by
offering a unique flair.

Bed scarves provide
more options as compared to bedspreads when it comes to improving the
appearance of the bedroom. The unique stitching adds to the style and aesthetic
of the bed scarves. They are available in different styles ranging from plain
solids to stripes and prints. You can select a style that perfectly complements
the interior décor of the room.

Functional Benefits

Apart from aesthetic
benefits, bed scarves also offer functional benefits. They act as a protective
covering for the bedsheet. Bed scarves can protect the bed from getting damaged
or soiled when you put luggage on the bed or lie down with the shoes on.

Furthermore, bed scarves
can keep the guests warm during chilly winter nights. There is no need to throw
a quilt or bedspread over the bed. While a bedspread does offer some warmth, it
is not as practical for cold weather as bed scarves.

Final Remarks

Whether you select a
bedspread or a bed scarf, always choose a material that is durable and can be
easily cleaned. You should select a product with a high thread count and
eco-friendly fiberfill such as WestPoint Martex Rx bed scarves and bedspreads.

Buying high-quality
bed accessories for your hotel is important as it will create a good impression
on the customers. So, you should never compromise on quality when it comes to
selecting a bedding product for your hotel. 

What Today’s Guest Expects to Find in Their Hotel Bathroom

While it is perhaps not the most exciting area of the standard hotel room or hotel suite, the hotel bathroom is an important part of it. And while no traveler would really expect to find everything they have in their bathroom space at home in the bathroom in their hotel room, there are certain things that the modern traveler simply expects to find there, And the hotelier who ensures that their establishment meets – and ideally exceeds – those expectations – is one who should see a good return on their investments in the form of increased guest satisfaction.

So just what is the 21st-century traveler looking for in a hotel bathroom? Let’s take a look at some of the essentials.

An Abundance of Amazing Towels

Whenever a guest steps into their hotel bathroom for the first time the one thing you can be sure they are looking for is a plentiful supply of towels. It’s the rare person who makes use of just a single towel after a shower or bath and so it’s only natural that a guest expects that their ‘towel needs’ – and those of anyone else sharing the room with them, will be met.

When it comes to the towels themselves guests expect them to be clean (of course), available in several different sizes (body, face, hands etc) and soft and fluffy, rather than thin or scratchy. A hotelier shopping for hotel bathroom supplies does have a budget to stick to though, so must balance the need for ‘soft and fluffy’ with the need not to break the bank.

A great choice? The Five Star Hotel Collection® from WestPoint Hospitality. 100% Ring spun, combed cotton loops provide plushness, enhance absorbency and give the towels elegant appearance. Easy to launder, they are available in several different sizes and color options, making stocking a hotel bathroom with just the right towels a breeze. 

Complimentary Toiletry Basics

Hotel guests simply expect that, even if they have brought along their own plentiful supply of toiletries that the hotel will also provide the basics – free of charge – in their hotel bathroom. And while they may not expect that these be of the most luxurious, salon quality standard they do expect them to be usable. So stocking up on (at least) soap, shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste and maybe even a scented body wash (which many guests will prefer to bar soap) should be a must for any hotelier.

The Little Extras That Make a Big Difference

The average hotel guest tends to value establishments that ‘surprise them’ with little extras during their stay. And the savvy hotelier will go that extra mile to do so, as the ROI on a small investment in additional hotel bathroom supplies in the form of improved reviews on Yelp!, TripAdvisor and the like alone will be significant.

What kinds of extras are we talking about when it comes to hotel bathroom supplies? A robe and slippers are always very much appreciated by both men and women and choosing options like the 1888 MILLS 100% cotton waffle robe allows hoteliers to supply high-quality robes to guests at an affordable price.

Also appreciated are small electronic appliances like hairdryers and even irons, especially by those who are traveling for business and need to look their best!

By making the extra investment in stocking your hotel bathrooms with the supplies guests want – and even expect – to see in such a space you will be helping to ensure a better experience for all of your guests, which can only lead to better results for you too.

This post originally appeared on
hotels4humanity.com/blog

Duvet vs Comforter – What’s the Difference and Which Should You Choose?

Any hotelier wants to provide their guests with the highest level of comfort possible, especially when it comes to the bed they will sleep in during the course of their stay. When it comes to hotel bedding, after the sheets and pillows – and pillow cases – are chosen, hoteliers are faced with another choice; will a duvet or comforter top off the bedding ensemble?

Ultimately, of course, the answer comes down to personal preference and budget. Each option has its pros and cons. But when making the choice between comforter and duvet there are some basics that should be kept in mind. Here’s a look at some of the most important.

What is the Definition of a Duvet?

In the most basic terms, a duvet is an especially plush quilt that is typically filled with feathers, down or a synthetic down alternative. A duvet is quilted in either a box or channel pattern and often they resemble a rather large, soft, fluffy sack. Duvets are commonly sized so that there is a minimum amount of ‘hang over’ from the bed, which allows for a very neat, modern look when the bed is fully made.

When shopping for a duvet hoteliers will usually find them offered in either white or beige. This is because they are designed to be used with a duvet cover, an item that is basically a pillowcase for the duvet. This means that almost any look can be achieved, as the number of duvet covers available is very extensive and a custom-made cover that matches a hotel’s decor exactly is another option as well.

Important Duvet Pros

Duvets definitely offer some great benefits, including all of the following:

  • People – as in guests in this case – love duvets because they are warm but surprisingly lightweight.
  • The removable duvet cover can be changed as often as needed – or desired – giving hoteliers the option to change up the look of their bedding with ease and at a relatively affordable cost.
  • There’s no need for a top sheet when using a duvet as a part of a bedding ensemble, so making the bed is a faster, easier process.

Possible Duvet Cons

  • Duvets do tend to be a little more expensive
  • A duvet cover does have to be used at all times. They should be laundered once a month and this does call for extra effort on the part of the housekeeping staff in terms of taking the cover on and off.

What is the Definition of a Comforter?

The comforter began to replace duvets in the late 19th century in the US – the duvet remains the bedding of choice in Europe to this day – and these days they are the most common bedding choice for the general public.

A comforter, like a duvet, is a quilt crafted from two layers of fabric stuffed with feathers, down, or most commonly a synthetic alternative. Usually, a comforter is not as soft and ‘fluffy’ as a duvet as it does not contain as much fill. It does not require a cover and is designed to be a one piece item.

Important Comforter Pros

  • A comforter is often the more affordable choice versus a duvet.
  • A comforter is a ‘one-piece’ item that does not require a cover, making it, in the eyes of some, the easier choice for a hotel’s housekeeping staff.
  • A comforter is easy to place attractively over additional sheets and/or blankets, so they are great for those who want to create a layered hotel bedding look.

Possible Comforter Cons

  • A comforter is not as soft and ‘fluffy’ a duvet
  • A comforter needs to used with a top sheet to prolong its useful life.
  • A hotel comforter needs to be laundered far more often than a hotel duvet, around once a month versus once a season for a duvet, as the duvet is protected by a washable cover which a comforter is not.

Once you have considered all of this information, you will find that there are extensive options available for both hotel comforters and hotel duvets. Armed now with the basic knowledge you need you should now be able to make the best hotel bedding choice for your establishment – and your budget. 

This post originally appeared on
hotels4humanity.com

Choosing The Best Gym Towels For Your Hotel Gym

One of the things that travelers have almost come to expect they will be offered at any hotel is access to gym facilities. Even those who are traveling for pleasure, not business, don’t want to miss a week – or more – of workouts simply because they are far away from their local gym.

For those hotels and motels that do boast gym facilities, there is a lot to consider in order to provide the best possible guest experience. And while the big stuff is important – the machines, the instruction, things like that – so are the ‘little things’ that can make a big difference. One of the most important of those ‘little considerations’ is making sure that guests are provided with the best gym towel to make use of while they work out.

The Importance of a Great Gym Towel

If you stop and think about it, towels are an important part of going to the gym – any gym – in lots of different ways. Their obvious use to mop up the sweat that the average gym goer usually produces in abundance during the average workout, of for toweling off after that great post-workout shower.

But many gym goers also use gym towels for other purposes. They use them to wipe down the equipment they are using (sticky, wet and sweaty weights, for example, can spell real trouble) and some even incorporate their gym towel into their workouts. So not only does the average hotel gym need to provide the best gym towel for each guest but they need to provide quite a lot of them as well!

Gym Towels and a Healthy Workout Environment

The best gym towel can help a hotelier do something else that’s very important as well; provide a healthier environment for their guests to work out in. Even the best maintained of hotel gyms is, inevitably, a hotbed of germs. Given a great gym towel to keep on hand., most people will regularly wipe down their face and body as they work up a sweat, meaning that germs are less likely to reach their hands. As the hands are always the primary way bacteria spreads this helps create a healthier workout environment for everyone.

What Makes a Towel the Best Gym Towel?

Guests love to be greeted with a plentiful supply of soft, fluffy looking towels when they hit a hotel gym. But choosing the 
best gym towel calls for more than simply buying the ones that look nice. There is, in fact, more to choosing the right hotel gym towel than you think. Here are some of the most important things to keep in mind.

Towel Material

Gym towels and bath towels are not interchangeable, or they should not be anyway, and so the ‘guidelines’ you might follow for towel materials for use in the rest of your establishment are likely to be a little different.

When shopping for 
gym towels you’ll quickly find that you have several main options in terms of materials. Most people usually find, however, that 100% cotton, while a fairly standard choice, is still the best one. Cotton Terry, to be specific, tends to be best for the gym, as it is soft, durable and does not ‘shed’. The last thing a hot, sweaty gym goer wants is to end up covered in lint because their gym towel sheds. So 100% cotton really does tend to produce the best gym towels for sweat.

A high-quality cotton polyester blend is not quite as soft as 100% cotton, but they are more resilient and durable. In a high traffic gym, this is an important consideration, especially in terms of cost. One idea that some hoteliers find worked very well for them? Provide 100% cotton towels in the gym locker room and cotton polyester out in the gym itself.

But what of those other options? Microfiber has become a very ‘trendy’ choice over the last few years, and it does have its upsides as a gym towel. It’s durable, absorbs moisture well and is even good at trapping germs and dirt. As a gym towel choice, it may be a good option, especially if you can find the right price, but the fact that it is not quite as soft as a good quality 100% cotton towel may be a little off-putting for some gym goers.

There is a considerable buzz around bamboo towels as well at the moment. The claim is that they are as absorbent as cotton while also boasting natural antibacterial properties. For some hotel gyms, especially smaller ones, they may be a viable option but you should definitely do your homework and perhaps just buy a sample or two before ordering in bulk!

The Sweat Factor

A gym is a sweaty, sticky place and gym-goers are sweaty, sticky people. This means that the best gym towel needs to be the best gym towel for sweat! The best gym towels for sweat are those that can absorb moisture quickly and easily. This does not, however, mean that the best gym towels have to be as absorbent as a big bath towel. Look for a towel that offers good absorption without being too thick, as no gym goer wants to lug around a heavy towel as they move from machine to machine.

Sizing

As we just mentioned, a heavy towel does not make for a great gym towel and neither does one that is too big. A medium weight, medium sized – around 13″ X 44″ is often ideal – is often the best gym towel choice for general guest use, although you may want to consider offering a couple of different sizes so they can choose for themselves.

In the end, the best gym towel for your hotel gym will be a personal decision, one based on facility size and budget as well as towel quality, However, if you keep these tips in mind, and take your time when shopping for the best hotel gym towels, making that decision should be a lot easier.

This post originally appeared on
hotels4humanity.com