The idea of writing a book about housekeeping did not come about overnight. It grew gradually – out of everyday practice, real needs, and many years of hands-on experience.
In 2001, I was offered a position in the housekeeping department of a recently opened hotel in Prague. Until then, I had worked exclusively in the catering sector, so I accepted the offer as a new professional challenge. Very soon, however, I realised that I lacked specialised knowledge in this area – and began actively looking for ways to educate myself.
I searched for seminars, professional articles, and books. After a year of intensive research, it became clear that there was no professional literature or systematic education focused on housekeeping in the Czech Republic. The available materials were exclusively foreign and often did not reflect local conditions or realities.
This experience eventually led me, several years later, to propose and develop a housekeeping seminar for the training academy of the Association of Hotels and Restaurants of the Czech Republic. Over time, this developed into three loosely connected modules, and in 2012 I also produced an instructional video in collaboration with industry experts. The interest in both the courses and the video tutorial exceeded all my expectations.
And then came the next step – the book.
I decided to write a book that would present housekeeping as a sovereign and key part of hotel operations. A book designed to offer a comprehensive perspective and serve educators, students, managers, and owners of hotels and guesthouses alike. I gathered material over the course of several years, drawing on everything I had learned through daily practice. There can never be a single, universally valid guide to how housekeeping “should” work. Every facility is different – its size, focus, guests, and internal setup all vary. Still, I’ve tried to outline methods and general rules that apply in most cases. At the same time, the book reflects changes in the industry, economic conditions, trends in people management, and the growing emphasis on sustainability and ecology.
Many international housekeeping publications are reprinted without updates to reflect the current realities. Yet housekeeping is a living system that needs to be continuously updated, streamlined, and made more efficient – and this principle forms one of the core pillars of the book.
I decided to approach it like a kind of cookbook: practical, visual, and peppered with stories from real life. Alongside the photographs, you’ll also find QR codes that lead to instructional videos that demonstrate processes and give visual cues.
I hope that Housekeeping: Complete, Smart & Efficient serves as a valuable guide for anyone who crosses path with housekeeping – whether in daily practice, at school, or when managing a hotel.
👉 You can order the book here