Pool towels might seem like a straightforward expense, but their ongoing upkeep and inevitable replacements can add up significantly over time.
Hotels need to invest in high-quality detergents and fabric softeners to maintain quality and hygiene. Laundering also requires a significant amount of water and electricity. You also need to factor in the labor costs for the hours spent washing, drying, folding, and distributing towels.
Beyond the laundering costs, frequent use leads to wear and tear. Over time, towels need replacing due to thinning fabric, fraying edges, or discoloration.
Yes, pool towels incur a surprisingly significant expense. Are you keen to tackle this often-overlooked expense? Thankfully, there are ways to lower the ownership cost of pool towels without compromising quality.
1. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity and Invest in Large Towels
You might be tempted to opt for low-priced pool towels to get your operational expenses under control.
But, if you focus solely on the price tag or buy pool towels in bulk without due diligence, your property may incur higher costs in the long run.
Low-quality towels will wear out faster; you’ll need to replace them more often. Plus, those thin threads get cold and damp quickly, and leave your guests shivering and reaching for another towel…and another.
Investing in larger, more absorbent towels means guests are more likely to use just one towel instead of grabbing several at once. High-quality towels can also withstand more washes without losing their plushness and absorbency.
2. Stack Pool Towels as Rolls Instead of Folds
Folded pool towels appear smaller and more inviting to grab in multiples. Guests often think that one pool towel might not be enough; they end up taking several at once.
Rolled towels, on the other hand, appear bulkier and are inconvenient for guests to grab more than one at a time. This discourages the common practice of taking more towels than needed.
Thus, strategic stacking of pool towels alone can reduce your laundry load and minimize wear and tear.
3. Comfortable Furniture
Guests often grab extra pool towels to use as chair covers. Have you ever laid down on a lounge chair with straps or wicker? You would understand why. Towels are a go-to solution for uncomfortable furniture by the poolside. This increases the ownership cost of pool towels.
The more comfortable your chairs, the less likely guests will feel the need to use towels as cushions. So, invest in plush, comfortable lounge chairs or source larger towels that can easily double as a personal towel and a chair cover. Or, you can provide guests with chair towels separately.
4. Regulate Pool Towel Inventory to Prevent Misuse and Theft
Limit the number of towels available in poolside areas at any given time.
With a limited supply, guests may be less inclined to take them, knowing it would be more noticeable.
However, be sure to restock pool towels throughout the day and respond promptly to guest requests for extras.
Can Lilo Help Reduce the Ownership Cost of Pool Towels?
With Lilo, an all-in-one hotel procurement platform, hotels can now rely on a cutting-edge AI engine to find the best wholesale deals on pool towels and thousands of other supplies.
Hotels can save up to 30% on pool towels, cleaning supplies, equipment, and amenities with Lilo.
Since Lilo provides real-time visibility into all hotel purchases, hoteliers can more easily select the right suppliers, access quality pool towels at wholesale rates, and track and monitor their inventory to prevent stockouts or overstocking.