Our Housekeeper’s Most Memorable Hotel Guest Experiences

Nov 06, 2023
When you step into the exciting world of hotel housekeeping, it's not just about fluffing pillows and making beds, because every now and again, you get to rub shoulders with high profile guests! So, as part of our 30th anniversary celebrations, we asked some of our housekeepers about their most unforgettable and heart-warming guest experiences. Read on to see what they had to say:
Leanne – Housekeeper, Queensland, 10 years with ahs hospitality

“I have worked at many of hotels across Australia that have had their fair share of celebrities, but one particular Melbourne hotel I was working at during the time had the highs of celebrities.


In our morning briefings we were given the heads up on any well-known people that were staying or being interviewed at the hotel. These guests included Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Hugh Jackman, Samuel Jackson, Keanu Reeves and many more.


This one morning in 2017 when they were giving us the information that celebrity rock band Guns n Roses was staying with us, I had the biggest smile on my face and had to hold in the excitement. They were staying with us for few days and when they were informing us their allocated rooms my jaw dropped as Slash and Axle Rose were allocated on the floors that I looked after. I was so excited! It was an honour to meet them both.”

Deb – Housekeeper, Queensland, 20 years with ahs hospitality

“One time during the Gold Coast 500 I was standing at the window at the end of the hotel corridor and a man stood next to me. I asked him what he reckons they are waving around, he looked at where I was pointing and said they are waving ‘Go Brocky’ signs. I look back at him and I was standing next to Peter Brock. I had no clue!


Another time, a guest was having trouble getting into his room. I asked him if he needed any help and he said he could not open his door. I asked for his name so I can confirm with the front desk if the name and room number matched. The name he told me was ‘Mark Lizotte’, but as soon as I looked him in the eye, I realised immediately that it was rock star Diesel. I had to pretend I did not know him. But when I called the front desk I told them, “OMG I’ve left Diesel standing outside his door!


Another memorable guest experience I had was when I was working opening night of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018. I was in the lift with Delta Goodrem and a family. It stopped at their floor, and they got out, the dad looks back and said, you are Delta, right? She said yes, I am. He called to his kids saying kids it is her, they came running back to hug her. She stepped out of the lift to chat, and I held it open waiting for her. She hopped back in and thanked me. I said that was a very nice thing to do. She said it is her favourite part of her job. “

Tracey – Housekeeper, Queensland, 9 years with ahs hospitality

“My highlight was meeting Tane from Home and Away. As he walked around the corner, I saw him and called, "HEY, TANE!". He called back, "HEY!" As if we had known each other for years.


He was lovely and friendly and keen to have a chat. Got a hug off him as we finished chatting. This is definitely my highlight during my time working in housekeeping!”

Patricia – Housekeeper, South Australia, 10 years with ahs hospitality

“I have two unforgettable guest experiences. The first one is from Burt Bacharach, the famous American songwriter, composer, and pianist. He was a lovely guest, very kind and made you feel very welcome with his sense of humour. It was the best experience I had as a room attendant.


The second one is from Danny Green the boxer. I was servicing his room and he walked in the room, I escorted him out of his room not knowing who he was, and I asked him to open the door using his key. Doing that he was so impressed that his room had high security. He was a gentle man and at the end of my shift he gave me 4 tickets for his last boxing match!”

New Zealand Housekeeping Manager and leader
By Lucia Fong 15 Apr, 2024
In the bustling world of hospitality, where every guest interaction and experience matters, hotel housekeeping stands out as an unsung hero. Beyond the daily tasks of tidying rooms, making beds, and wiping down public areas, working in housekeeping in the hotels and accommodation industry can serve as an effective pathway into leadership. While it may not be immediately apparent, the skills acquired in hotel housekeeping – including attention to detail, communication, cultural awareness, and adaptability, lay a strong foundation for aspiring leaders. In this blog we will explore the soft skills people learn being a housekeeper and how they are transferable within the hospitality industry and valuable for those in any leadership positions.
By Lucia Fong 15 Mar, 2024
As we approach World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2024 on April 28 th , we take immense pride in how we recognise and prioritise the safety and well-being of our employees and housekeepers through our daily operations. As Australia and New Zealand’s leading provider of outsourced hotel housekeeping services, we show our dedication to fostering a culture of safety through various innovative initiatives and partnerships.
By Lucia Fong 12 Mar, 2024
ahs hospitality have proudly been providing outsourced housekeeping service to the New Zealand Market since 2013. 10 years on, with the support of our Australian team, and offices in both Auckland and Christchurch, the team have been growing from strength to strength with hotel partnerships across both north and south islands. We had a yarn with Tim Reynolds, General Manager New Zealand to get to know more about his team and the housekeeping operations he is leading.
Why Labour Hire is a Cost-effective Housekeeping Solution in New Zealand
09 Feb, 2024
Managing your hotel or property’s housekeeping needs efficiently is paramount to providing an exceptional guest experience in 2024. As a hotelier in New Zealand , you understand the challenges of maintaining high quality standards while keeping costs in check. This is where the innovative solution of outsourced short-term labour hire in housekeeping comes into play, offering a cost-effective and flexible approach to meet your staffing requirements that does not compromise on quality.
24 Jan, 2024
2023 was a big year for us at ahs hospitality. We celebrated 30 years of providing outsourced hotel housekeeping solutions across Australia and New Zealand, had record levels of hotel-based celebratory team morning/afternoon teas, and delivered our strongest operational efficiencies to date. And in 2024, we are excited to continue the successful collaborative momentum we achieved over the past 12 months with our housekeepers, hotel clients and support office teams. We sat down with our Executive General Manager, Leanne Graham, to not only reflect on the year we had, but to also get the inside scoop of what is in store for the business in 2024. You can read our exclusive interview with Leanne below.
14 Dec, 2023
In the world of hotel hospitality, first impressions are everything. From a seamless online booking experience, a warm welcome from the receptionist at the hotel lobby, and clean, tidy rooms presented neatly by friendly housekeepers, these are some of the touch points of a hotel that play a key role in shaping the overall positive guest experience.
27 Oct, 2023
As the world becomes increasingly focused on sustainable practices, hotel management is taking a closer look at their daily operations and how they can reduce their carbon footprint. As hoteliers and business leaders, you know how important it is to stay competitive in the hospitality industry. But with increasing pressure on businesses to become more sustainable, are you aware of all the ways that outsourcing your housekeeping services can help you reach your sustainability goals? Not only does outsourcing free up internal resources and allow hotels to focus on their core competencies, but it can also reduce the environmental impact of their operations. By partnering with a company that has expertise in sustainable cleaning, hotels can ensure that practices such as using eco-friendly cleaning products, minimising water usage, and proper disposal of waste are being implemented. Outsourcing hotel housekeeping is a smart way for hotels to not only meet their sustainability goals, but also improve the overall guest experience.
11 Oct, 2023
We're thrilled to celebrate 30 incredible years of hotel housekeeping excellence at ahs hospitality, where we've been proudly delivering our hotel housekeeping solutions across Australia and New Zealand to our clients. As we reflect on this journey, we had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with our longest serving employee, Cheryle, who has been an integral part of the ahs hospitality community for 29 amazing years! Join us as we dive into Cheryle's unforgettable moments and her best-kept housekeeping secrets in our exclusive interview.
30 Sep, 2023
In our 30 years of operation, we have collected so many great stories, from our humble beginnings in Perth, our expansion into the New Zealand market and how we survived and thrived through the COVID-19 Pandemic. But at the heart of everything we do is our people. So, we thought there was no one better to hear from, than one of our longest serving team members. Join us as our Quality and Training Manager, Verena, shares her incredible career journey from housekeeper supervisor to the leadership role she continues to make her own.
25 Sep, 2023
The year was 1993, Nelson Mandela won the Noble Peace Prize in recognition of his efforts to end apartheid and promote reconciliation in South Africa, Robin Williams redefined fatherly love in Mrs Doubtfire, and the world was introduced to the sounds of Radiohead with the release on their debut album, Pablo Honey. And in Western Australia, ahs hospitality was established as the first company to provide outsourced housekeeping services in Australia. It was a big year. In the 30 years since, ahs hospitality has continued to expand and grow throughout all Australian states and territories, as well as establishing a presence in New Zealand. In that time, the hospitality and hotel industries have undergone dramatic transformations. Sweeping advances in technology, shifting consumer preferences, and increased global connectivity have played key roles in reshaping this dynamic industry. Gone are the days of using an actual room key that had to be left with reception every time you left the premises- now we book and check in on our phones, use electronic keys to enter, with some hotels enabling radio frequency identification (RFID) allowing customers to use their phones as keys, and more avant-garde hotels are even allowing our furry family members to enjoy a life of luxury with us. We’ve seen huge changes in room configuration and layout with open plan bathrooms becoming more popular, and equally as divisive! We’ve moved well past pay-per-view and free to air televisions, and paid access to dial-up internet, to smart TVs, Wi-Fi connect ability throughout hotels, and a more tech savvy, personalised ability to connect to the rooms we stay in. Let's delve into the major changes that we’ve seen through the years at ahs hospitality, how they have impacted the industry, and how these changes impact our team.
More Posts
Share by: