A wearable technology solution and research agenda for housekeeper safety and health

Abstract

Purpose Adopting an interdisciplinary perspective, the purpose of this paper was to posit an industry-wide technological intervention for hotel housekeeper safety and health through the advancement of wearable technology. Design/methodology/approach Using the task-technology fit (TTF) model and examples of successful safety and health applications of wearable technologies in the health-care and construction management industries, interventions and future research directions are presented to address workplace hazards experienced by hotel housekeepers. Findings The fit between a variety of hotel housekeeper user requirements, task demands and wearable functions are explored with justification for the use of wearable devices to improve safety and health-related outcomes. Research limitations/implications A research agenda is proposed for the adoption and use of wearables in the hospitality industry with the intention to generate meaningful interventions beyond corporate wellness, and the mitigation of employee privacy concerns to enhance wearable adoption. Practical implications Given the importance of consumer safety and health assurance in a post-pandemic business environment, hospitality and tourism organizations should place greater emphasis on protecting front line employees who will be essential in regaining economic viability. Social implications Theoretical and practical foci should move beyond a simplistic view of hospitality and tourism worker safety and health that generally centers on wellness initiatives and other baseline strategies, toward a more holistic view benefitting the hospitality industry. Originality/value Extant concerns about hotel housekeeper safety and health, in addition to new concerns and threats in a post-pandemic work environment, are largely understudied and worthy of investigation.

The Impact of Smart Services on the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Employees Performance in Hotels

“…Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are defined as systems that consist of a collection of control loops that work together to perform the tasks required to maintain the required environmental conditions as precisely as possible, help approximate temperature and humidity, and improve indoor air quality in the building (Buhalis & Moldavska 2021). Many types of smart services technologies are used in hotels such as: wearable technology is a technology that allows the user to link it to a cell phone or computer using android devices, which allows them to click on the notification on the watch by issuing smartwatches to its employees, combined with task management software to help speed service by responding to its messages and improving communication with the guest and its efficiency (Abdelmoaty & Soliman, 2020;Mejia et al, 2021). Guests sleep, so a watch or bracelet with vibration (used in Western hotels) can wake them up; additionally, the wristband can pass hotel room keys (Stankov et al, 2019).…”

A systematic and critical review of Internet of Things in contemporary hospitality: a roadmap and avenues for future research

“…IoT, robots and artificial intelligence could enhance visitors' experiences and the quality of services in the hospitality field (Kim et al , 2022). Mejia et al (2021) confirmed that IoT technologies such as wearables are significant in protecting hotel housekeepers' safety and health amid and post-COVID-19.…”

“…Thus, training programs are essential (Akyazi et al , 2020). According to Mejia et al (2021), to avoid COVID-19 and protect hotel housekeepers' safety and health, it is recommended for hotels to adopt and use a wearable technology solution which is an important part of IoT. In addition, robots are important amid and post-COVID-19 in hospitality to perform routine tasks, avoid virus transmission (Çakar and Aykol, 2021) and reduce employee–clients contact (McCartney and McCartney, 2020).…”

Smart hospitality: from smart cities and smart tourism towards agile business ecosystems in networked destinations

“…Smart hospitality can help alleviate these challenges by eliminating repetitive and monotonous tasks; enhancing the work environment; reducing stress; and creating more interesting, fulfilling roles for employees (Ivanov et al , 2020; Liu and Hung, 2020). Smart technologies can also facilitate employee–customer interactions and elevate service effectiveness (Marinova et al , 2017) as well as help housekeeping staff to carry out tasks more safely (Mejia et al , 2021).…”