The recovery of tourism industry must be supported by strengthening local Human Resources (HR). This includes the importance of honing the skills of housekeeping staff because they play an important role in the success of a hotel business. “Housekeepers who are in charge of maintaining the cleanliness and sanitation of hotels play an increasingly important role in developing sustainable and eco-friendly tourism,” said Chairman of the Indonesian Housekeepers Association (IHKA) of Bali Chapter, I Gede Cahaya Adi Putra, Friday (Jun 23).

In the Seminar and Exhibition entitled Innovative Leadership taking place at the Prime Plaza Hotel and Suite Sanur, Denpasar, Cadi, as he is familiarly addressed, emphasized that there were 800 IHKA members who are ready to hone their talents again in the tourism industry after the Covid-19 pandemic. Even the number of housekeepers in Bali reaches thousands. These local talents need to be given the opportunities and capacity building. “We hope this seminar with the theme Innovative Leadership can help develop housekeeping human resources,” he hoped.

The IHKA Bali seminar was also meant to celebrate the 26^th anniversary of IHKA Bali by presenting speakers like General Manager of The 101 Oasis Sanur, Nyoman Astika, Owner of Krisna Bali Souvenirs, Gusti Ngurah Anom (Ajik Krisna) as well as Chairman of the IHGMA of Bali Chapter, Agus Made Yoga Iswara. The activity attended by 312 housekeeping leaders (executive housekeepers) also presented 48 vendors related to housekeeping as exhibitors. “This activity is an effort to increase the competence of housekeeping leaders who are members of IHKA Bali in facing the challenges of the world of tourism which has experienced many changes after the Covid-19 pandemic,” he explained.

This theme was raised because of the many new experiences during the pandemic. There have been many operational changes, so the struggle has increased. In the midst of a campaign for sustainable tourism development in Bali, the housekeepers are expected to play a more active role in supporting hotel development, not only in maintaining the cleanliness of the hotel but also providing maximum services for guests. “Manning (number of employees) is our current challenge. Many have been laid off, but cleaning duties must continue,” he added.

Technological developments also have an impact on the increasingly sophisticated equipment used to maintain the cleanliness of the hotel environment. It is hoped that the activity will also provide new insights for housekeeping leaders as well as an effort to support sustainable tourism. “Bali took the sustainability initiative because of that we need to sound it to the housekeepers. Maintaining the environment is something that a housekeeper must do,” said Deputy Chairman of the IHKA of Bali Chapter, I Komang Semadi.

Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, in the video footage stated that housekeeper is a very strategic profession because it involves optimal products and services for tourists. On that account, members of IHKA Bali are expected to continuously improve their competence. At the same time, the activity will become a moment to improve quality. Hopefully, the hotel human resources must continuously improve competence according to their fields. (BTN/015)