A Guide To Hotel Bed Linen

There are, of course, many aspects to running a hotel and you need to ensure all of these basics are covered. Your customers will probably have very high standards and it's completely understandable considering they are paying for this service. We’re sure that you have most of these areas covered but what about bed linen? In fact, bed linen is often overlooked in the hotel business. Of course, this is somewhat of an oversight and you will need to ensure that your bed linen is of the highest quality. Keep reading this blog to find out more.

 

Hotels have been a part of modern culture for many years. They are famous for providing luxurious short-term accommodation and creating a tranquil atmosphere. Of course, there is a lot that goes into this and you need to consider many things when setting up your own hotel. The front entrance for example is the first thing your guests will see and it needs to look stylish and grand. Then there’s the front desk. This must be approachable while still looking strong and well-designed. Of course, the main things that give a luxurious feel are the quality of the bedroom and the linen is a major aspect of this.

A brief history

Hotels in some iterations have existed for thousands of years. In ancient times for example travellers and passers-by would exchange money or items for a roof over their heads. Of course, in this era, it was far more dangerous to sleep outside than it is now and animal predators or fellow passers-by may use this as an opportunity to hurt you or steal from you. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that those with homes would take a small payment to keep someone safe for the evening. In the morning the traveller would give their thanks and head out on their way. So, there was no complimentary breakfast back then!

Roman history

During the Roman Empire, the first examples of modern hotels started to pop up around the city of Rome. Of course, it is only natural with all of the money that was coming into the city that new ideas would begin to formulate. The hotel was one of these new ideas and the industry changed drastically through Roman influence. The Romans changed this industry by setting up rooms and areas of large homes and palaces for people to stay in for a fee. These early hotels were named Hospitia which later became the English word hospitality. Of course, the hotel industry did not just stop there but it was the start.

The middle ages

During the middle ages travelling across Europe and large distances became more and more common for the average person. With the increased availability of horses and a better understanding of our geography, many people began travelling further afield. Naturally, these people needed somewhere to stay on their journeys and this became a slight issue. The more traditional method of opening an unused room up in your home for a small price was no longer sustainable as the large influx of people on the road could not be supported. So, something had to be done.

Businesspeople and quick thinkers in towns and villages that were close to main roads and highways built purpose-made buildings to house these hungry travellers. These buildings also served food and ale to everyone and the establishments became a central part of middle ages life. Of course, these buildings were named inns and they are still common today. Though many of our country's inns no longer house people and simply serve alcohol and food many of them do still have a bed or two for the weary traveller.

These inns grew and grew in popularity during the middle ages and they were soon epicentres for much of local areas' comings and goings. Often they would host large meetings about issues that needed attending to. What’s more, the rich and famous of the time would often need these establishments to find rest and refreshments on their long journeys. This meant that inns were arguably one of the most diverse areas of mediaeval society and most likely the only time the more and the rich would walk the same halls.

Modern hotel industry

The hotel industry as we know it today first started in the 17th century. Before this time there were in fact no laws or regulations on how a hotel should be kept. Therefore, you could offer any service you liked and charge whatever you wanted. This resulted in hugely inflated prices and dismal service. So, in England and France, laws were brought in where inn and hotel owners had to keep a register of who was staying under their roof. This meant that the hotel industry became far more agreeable, and many people began to trust the service.

Since then the hotel industry has grown and grown and now, they are some of the most reliable and comfortable places to stay if you need a short-term room.

The importance of bed linen

The fact is that ben linen is one of the first things people notice when they step into a hotel room. After all, they have chosen your hotel to have a bed for the night. If the bed is not comfortable then this will have a huge effect on your reputation. So, you must maintain your bed linen and choose materials that are comfortable for a variety of skin types and people. There are many people for example that suffer from sensitive skin and using harmful products may aggravate this. So, your bed linen is essential for building a good reputation.

Bed linen is also a contributor to how well people sleep. After all, comfortable fabrics will allow your guests to relax easier and settle into their new room. When you are in a hotel room you expect to get a good night's sleep and if you don’t you may even ask for some compensation due to the lack of comfort in the room. So, to avoid any nasty refunds make sure that you take good care of your bed linen. Often this will mean regularly replacing linen that looks tired and old and looking out for new developments in the linen industry.

How to maintain linen hygiene

Naturally, the short answer is to wash it as regularly as possible. Every night you should change the linen in your guests' rooms and wash the old set. Washing the linen will mean using a variety of products such as washing tablets and fabric softeners. You must do this as regularly as possible to maintain an impeccable standard of hygiene. Many customers will notice your hygiene standards and if you do not keep these in brilliant condition then they will likely complain. This is, of course, a huge amount of work for you and your staff to do but don’t worry we have a solution!

Why you should hire bed linen

When you hire bed linen through us we take care of all of these issues for you so you can get down to focusing on your guests. Having more time to host and create a great atmosphere will dramatically improve your customer experience and definitely stand you in good stead for building a brilliant reputation. What's more, hiring a bed linen company will also mean you can keep up with all of the latest linen trends!

Bed linen trends

Like many interior elements, bed linen has seen a variety of trends and movements throughout the years. The past century saw many linen trends follow a more extravagant and decadent style. However, in recent times many bed linen styles have become more simple and stripped back. An all-white bed for example is very popular at the moment as are pastel shades of green and blue. So, keep an eye out for these trends and make sure to change your hotel linen accordingly.

If you’re after a bed linen provider for your hotel then make sure you contact us today! We have many years of experience in the industry and can certainly help you to make your rooms shine!