10 Ways to Show Your Housekeeping Team They’re Valued

Teri Quance-Ahdan
9/4/2026

As a property manager, finding quality housekeeping staff is one of the most difficult parts of my job. When we find top-notch personnel, we want them to know how valued they truly are. They are the foundation of a successful business model, and a housekeeper has the ability to make or break your reputation.

Housekeepers are on the front line of showcasing your company brand. They must be pleasant, thorough, and timely. A completely clean environment creates a feeling of safety, comfort, and peace. We instruct our housekeeping staff to “clean to the point you can’t tell anyone else has been there—make the home brand new, every time.”

Housekeeping is not just about cleanliness; it’s about standards. It is one of the most important services we offer to our homeowners and guests alike.

Knowledgeable housekeepers who are self-starters, dependable, and never cut corners are a treasure. They take pride in their work, and as a company, we take pride in them. We also want to make sure they know it.

These 10 team-building principles are some of the ways we show our housekeeping staff how much we value their role in our company and our brand. We are a team, working together to maintain outstanding standards and provide exceptional hospitality for the guests and owners we represent.

1. Training. Thoroughly train your housekeeping staff on your company standards, core values, policies, and procedures. Understanding expectations through proper training gives staff the confidence to complete their work effectively and efficiently. Training also reinforces that housekeeping is an integral part of delivering on your company’s promise to guests and owners.
2. Flexibility. Offer flexible scheduling where possible. Give housekeepers some say in their schedules, whether they are full-time or part-time. For example, if a full-time housekeeper is required to work overtime during a particularly busy week, consider offering a bonus paid-time-off day during a slower week in addition to overtime pay. Let your housekeepers know you recognize that their personal time is valuable, too.
3. Feedback. Regular staff reviews provide an opportunity to document performance, acknowledge strengths, and communicate expectations going forward. Consider also giving housekeeping staff the ability to provide feedback on their supervisors for team-building purposes. Objective and transparent performance measures for both housekeepers and supervisors can help make those conversations more productive.
4. Education. Give your housekeepers opportunities to learn new skills and build their expertise. Training programs, certifications, and other educational opportunities can strengthen their skills while giving them another reason to take pride in the work they do.
5. Growth. Is there an opportunity for promotion or movement within your company? Make those opportunities clear and measurably achievable. Periodic pay increases tied to performance and increased responsibilities can also demonstrate that good work and professional growth are recognized.
6. Empowerment. Give your housekeepers a voice. Do they have ideas about more efficient ways to schedule or organize their work? Are there better supplies or tools that would make their jobs easier? Do they have an open channel of communication with their supervisors? Are they able to make decisions that help them complete their work effectively? The people doing the job every day can be an excellent source of ideas for improving it.
7. Acknowledgment. When guests provide written or verbal kudos related to housekeeping, share that feedback with the housekeeping staff. Include it in performance reviews and make a point of acknowledging a job well done. Great work deserves to be recognized.
8. Rewards. Do you have a reward program? Consider quarterly or annual bonuses based on performance or other incentives that recognize exceptional work. A thank-you is important, but tangible rewards can also show employees that their contributions are valued.
9. Supplies. There is nothing more frustrating than not having the supplies or equipment needed to do a job effectively. Make sure your housekeeping staff has the proper tools to be thorough and efficient. If possible, entrust them with a company credit card so they can purchase necessary supplies. Do they need access to a vehicle? Can they easily restock cleaning products when needed? Removing these obstacles allows good housekeepers to do their best work.
10. Benefits. What benefits do you offer? Do you provide PTO, paid holidays, insurance, or 401(k) matching? Competition for valuable staff is high, and setting yourself apart as an employer is critical. A strong benefits package sends a clear message that housekeeping staff are valued members of the company—not simply the people who clean the properties.

An effective housekeeper is an absolute gem. When you find great people, make sure they know it. Give them the training, support, flexibility, acknowledgment, and rewards they deserve, and recognize just how important they are to your team, your brand, and the experience you provide every guest and homeowner.