Rik Holliday claims he’s [...]]]> The Boston Hyatt has offered to re-employ the sacked housekeeping staff, and it’ll be done via Hospitality Staffing Solutions, a temp agency in the USA. The ‘president’ of HSS, Rik Holliday (fitting name), has been boasting that his staff will be paid $8 per hour, to clean 25 bedrooms per day.

Rik Holliday claims he’s giving these staff  ‘a start on the ‘American Dream”. Previously they were paid to clean 15 bedrooms per day. But because they no longer change sheets daily, they can do 25. That’s a cut from 30 minutes per room to just 17. Unfortunately techniques haven’t changed much, it’s not just about changing the sheets.

The Hyatt chain is known for top class luxury and service. I’m struggling to find the top class service if my housekeeper is struggling to scrub the toilet, clean the coffee maker, dust, vacuum, mop the floor etc with only 17 minutes to spare. Staff are already skipping breaks, going without lunch, and more than 65% are on pain medication.

Rik Holliday was all over the news in the USA claiming a green victory. Changing the sheets less frequently is just the first step on the ladder. The staff are still outsourced, and at risk. Cheap publicity shot? Maybe.

If you want a clean room, with happy housekeeping staff, don’t stay in a Hyatt in Boston.

At Hyatt, we’re committed to making a positive and lasting impact in every community in which we operate.

You expect that you’re dealing with an impeccable brand . Not so with Hyatt.

Some of the Hyatt’s hotels in Boston tricked their housekeeping [...]]]> When your corporate website includes a section on corporate responsibility which begins with:

At Hyatt, we’re committed to making a positive and lasting impact in every community in which we operate.

You expect that you’re dealing with an impeccable brand . Not so with Hyatt.

Some of the Hyatt’s hotels in Boston tricked their housekeeping staff to train ‘holiday replacements’ from an agency, then sacked their own staff.

There have been protests, boycotts and lots of angry responses to the Hyatt’s tactics. The Hyatt’s defence is that they couldn’t afford their staff – bear in mind that housekeeping is the part which makes or breaks a hotel. These sacked staff are key to the success or failure of the hotel and it’s reputation. Some of the staff had been working at the hotel for more than 20 years.

Boston taxi drivers have threatened to boycott the Hyatt’s hotels in Boston. Governor Deval Patrick threatened a Government boycott of the hotel chain. Several hundred union members protested outside a hotel in Boston.

In the UK, londontravelpack.com has removed the Hyatt hotel chain from its London hotel listings section.

Giving money to this hotel chain is supporting their stance that their workers are not important.