The Importance of PAR Levels for Luxury Hotel Efficiency

In the fast-paced and demanding world of luxury hotels, working quickly while staying under budget is non-negotiable. One of the often-overlooked secrets to running a seamless operation is keeping the proper PAR levels for your linens. This promotes efficiency, cost control, and, above all, delivering a flawless guest experience.

Here is a breakdown of what PAR levels are and why luxury hotels should invest in maintaining proper PAR levels.

What Are PAR Levels in Luxury Hotel Housekeeping?

PAR levels, or periodic automatic replacement levels, is a system that determines the minimum linen inventory a luxury hotel should have to avoid shortages.

Which PAR Levels Are Best?

In luxury hotels, appropriate PAR levels can vary depending on the number of guests, the types of linens used, and your specific operational needs. However, the general recommendation is to have at least three sets of linens per room—one set in use, one being laundered, and one in reserve.

The Costs of Inadequate PAR Levels

On paper, cutting back on PAR levels might seem like a quick way to reduce costs. However, in reality, it can lead to several problems that end up costing luxury hotels much more in the long run. Here’s what can go wrong when luxury hotels don’t maintain proper PAR levels:

Increased Linen Replacement Costs

With fewer linens in circulation, the same linens will need to be washed more often. This leads to faster wear and tear, meaning you’ll have to replace linens sooner than expected—driving up costs.

Higher Housekeeping Costs

When your housekeeping staff doesn’t have enough linens on hand, they’ll need to make extra trips to restock. This slows down room turnover and increases labor expenses, as staff spends more time restocking linens rather than getting rooms guest-ready.

Guest Service Delays

The slowdown in room turnover can lead to delays in room availability, which creates unhappy guests and potential dips in revenue. No luxury hotel wants to keep a guest waiting.

Room Cleanliness & Guest Satisfaction Risks

Fresh, high-quality linens are at the heart of the luxury hotel experience. Running low on linens, or worse, reusing worn-out ones, can leave a negative impression on your guests and tarnish your brand.

Increased Commercial Laundry Delivery Costs

When you’re short on linens, you may need to get rush deliveries, which can be more expensive than getting deliveries on your routine schedule. When you’re forced to take on rush delivery charges consistently, the charges can add up.

The Bottom Line on PAR Levels

Maintaining proper PAR levels isn’t just about keeping things running smoothly day-to-day—it’s a long-term investment in your hotel’s cost efficiency and reputation. In addition, cutting corners by keeping inadequate PAR levels doesn’t actually save money. It leads to higher costs over time due to more frequent linen replacements, increased labor costs, and, most importantly, unhappy guests. Investing in maintaining proper PAR levels can help keep your hotel running efficiently and keep your guests coming back for more.

Keeping the Right PAR Levels for Luxury Hotel Efficiency

Have questions about the proper PAR levels for your luxury hotel? Our team of commercial laundry experts is here to help. Contact us.