Housekeeping Par
Housekeeping Par refers to the standard amount of linens, towels, and supplies that a hotel needs to maintain for smooth operations. Think of it as the minimum stock level needed for each room to be properly serviced. For example, if a hotel has 100 rooms, they might need a "par level" of 300 sets of sheets to ensure they always have clean linens available (one set in use, one in laundry, and one in storage). This term is important in hotel management because it helps control inventory costs while ensuring guest satisfaction.
Examples in Resumes
Managed Housekeeping Par levels for a 200-room luxury hotel, reducing linen replacement costs by 15%
Established new Par Level systems for all housekeeping supplies across 3 hotel properties
Optimized Par Stock inventory management resulting in 20% reduction in storage space needs
Typical job title: "Housekeeping Managers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Housekeeping Managers
Professional Associations
Online Communities
Job Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you establish par levels for a new 150-room luxury hotel?
Expected Answer: A senior candidate should explain the three-par system (in use, in laundry, in storage), discuss factors like occupancy rates, seasonal changes, and special events, and mention budget considerations and vendor relationships.
Q: How do you handle inventory management during peak season with limited storage space?
Expected Answer: Should discuss strategies like just-in-time ordering, relationships with suppliers, temporary storage solutions, and how to balance guest needs with space constraints.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What systems do you use to track par stock levels?
Expected Answer: Should mention inventory management systems, daily counting procedures, and how they maintain records of damaged or discarded items.
Q: How do you train staff on proper par level maintenance?
Expected Answer: Should explain training methods, inventory counting procedures, and how to teach staff to recognize when supplies need replenishing.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is a par level and why is it important?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain that par level is the standard inventory needed for smooth operations and why having too much or too little inventory can be problematic.
Q: How do you count and record par stock?
Expected Answer: Should describe basic inventory counting procedures, documentation methods, and understanding of minimum stock levels.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic inventory counting
- Understanding par level concept
- Supply organization
- Basic linen management
Mid (2-5 years)
- Inventory management systems
- Staff training
- Budget monitoring
- Vendor relations
Senior (5+ years)
- Par level system design
- Cost optimization
- Strategic planning
- Multiple property management
Red Flags to Watch For
- No knowledge of basic inventory management
- Unable to explain par level concept
- No experience with linen and supply tracking
- Poor understanding of quality standards
- Lack of budget management experience
Related Terms
Need more hiring wisdom? Check these out...
Ghostbusting in Recruitment: How to Keep Candidates Engaged
Cutting HR Costs Without Sacrificing Quality: A How-To for Savvy Executives
From Panic Pacing to Productive Hiring: How to Truly Improve Recruiter Efficiency
