Preparing for Summer Peak Season: Getting Hotels, Commercial Spaces, and Student Accommodation Ready
Camilla Yang • November 18, 2025
As we move into the summer holiday period, many industries begin to experience their own version of “peak season.” Hotels welcome a surge of guests, shopping centres see heavier foot traffic, offices prepare for year-end shutdowns, and student accommodation providers manage large-scale move-outs. With demand rising across the board, now is the perfect time for businesses to plan ahead, strengthen their cleaning and housekeeping operations, and ensure they’re well-prepared for the busy months ahead.
1. Hotels: Preparing for the Summer Travel Rush
For hotels, the summer peak season brings higher occupancy, faster room turnarounds, and guests with even higher expectations. A strong and well-prepared housekeeping operation is key to maintaining exceptional room presentation and delivering an outstanding guest experience during the busiest time of the year.
- Forecast labour needs early
Understanding upcoming occupancy trends helps hotel teams plan the right number of room attendants, supervisors, and public area cleaners, ensuring they can keep up with demand without compromising quality.
- Refresh training and safety procedures
Pre-season refreshers, covering manual handling, chemical safety, and room-cleaning SOPs help maintain consistency, efficiency, and high guest satisfaction.
- Consider flexible housekeeping models
Whether a hotel requires a Full-Service solution or Top-Up/Labour Hire support, flexible models make it easier to respond to fluctuating occupancy and sudden changes in demand.
- Support team wellbeing during peak season
Small but meaningful efforts, such as recognition programs, open communication, and structured breaks can greatly boost morale and help teams perform at their best during the fast-paced summer period.
2. Commercial Spaces: Cleaning for High-Traffic Holiday Periods
Retail centres, office buildings, and commercial spaces also experience a significant increase in activity during peak season. Shopping centres see heavy daily foot traffic, while many offices use the quieter period to complete end-of-year deep cleans before the holiday shutdown.
- Plan ahead for increased traffic in retail environments
Food courts, bathrooms, entry points, escalators, and high-touch surfaces require more frequent and detailed cleaning to maintain a safe, hygienic, and welcoming environment for holiday shoppers.
- Schedule end-of-year deep cleans for offices
The shutdown period is the perfect time to refresh carpets, kitchens, meeting rooms, and workstations, ensuring employees return to a clean, healthy workspace in the New Year.
- Build flexible cleaning schedules
Extended trading hours and late-night shopping call for adaptable cleaning teams who can provide ongoing support throughout the day and night to keep high-traffic areas looking their best.
- Maintain safety in busy environments
Crowded retail spaces increase the risk of spills, waste buildup, and trip hazards, making experienced, WHS-focused cleaning staff essential for ensuring a safe environment for employees and visitors.
3. Student Accommodation: Preparing for University Breaks
As university breaks approach, student accommodation providers enter their own peak period, with hundreds of students moving in or out within a short timeframe. A well-planned and organised cleaning strategy is essential to ensure rooms and shared spaces are refreshed, safe, and ready for the next intake.
- Plan large-scale exit and departure cleans
Bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and shared living areas need thorough resets to prepare for incoming students or short-stay holiday tenants.
- Schedule deep cleaning during vacant periods
Quiet periods are the ideal time to complete detailed cleaning in gyms, lounges, study rooms, and common kitchens, helping keep facilities fresh and well-maintained.
- Maintain regular cleaning of shared spaces
High-traffic areas such as hallways, lobbies, and study zones benefit from consistent cleaning to uphold hygiene, safety, and a welcoming environment year-round.
- Use a scalable, compliant workforce
Engaging trained staff with Working with Children Checks and Police Checks ensures a safe, secure, and compliant environment for all residents.
How We Support Peak Season Success
We provide tailored solutions across multiple sectors, including:
- Hotel housekeeping support through Full-Service, Labour Hire, or Hybrid models
- Commercial cleaning services for offices, retail centres, and high-traffic spaces
- Student accommodation cleaning for end-of-year turnovers and ongoing maintenance
- Trained, compliant teams focused on WHS, quality, and efficiency
- Scalable staffing to meet short-term peak demands or ongoing operational needs
Whether you’re preparing for holiday travellers, supporting thousands of shoppers, or managing large student move-outs, our teams are ready to help ensure a smooth, professional, and stress-free peak season.
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