At Act-Clean, we pride ourselves on building strong relationships with the teams we work with. We recently caught up with Ilaria Avolio, Back of House Manager at Sofitel London, who we recently started working with to talk about the high cleanliness standards at Act-Clean and her experience so far.
1. How long have you been working with Sofitel, and what is your role?
I’ve been with Sofitel for five years, and since April 2024, I’ve taken on the role of Back of House Manager. My main responsibility is ensuring cleanliness across all back-of-house areas, including kitchens.
2. Why is it important for Sofitel to achieve high cleanliness standards?
Cleanliness is absolutely critical for us. It ensures food hygiene, safety, and builds trust with our guests. Ultimately, high cleanliness standards showcase the elegance and attention to detail that guests expect when staying at Sofitel.
3. What challenges were you facing before working with the team at Act-Clean?
Before we partnered with Act-Clean, we struggled with inconsistent staffing, especially during night shifts, and communication challenges between the day and night teams. These issues put our high standards at risk.
“Knowing that Act-Clean consistently meets our high standards without compromise has significantly reduced the managerial pressure.“
4. What made you decide to partner with Act-Clean?
Act-Clean impressed us with their clear communication and their commitment to maintaining high cleanliness standards, perfectly aligning with our needs. Their experience working with other luxury hotels also provided additional confidence.
5. How did Act-Clean manage the onboarding process? Was it easy to integrate them into the business?
The onboarding was incredibly smooth, almost effortless. The transition from our in-house team to Act-Clean was seamless, with minimal disruption to our daily operations.
6. How important are trust and communication when working with an external cleaning management company?
Trust and communication are essential. Without these, you simply can’t maintain the standards required. Our relationship with Act-Clean is built on open and continuous communication, and that’s what makes our partnership successful.
7. Who is your main contact at Act-Clean? How does this relationship work to ensure we meet your expectations?
My main contact is Yekini, Act-Clean’s operational manager for night operations. We communicate daily, exchanging feedback and updates. This constant communication ensures that our priorities and expectations are always met.
8. How have you found working with the team so far?
It’s been fantastic. The Act-Clean team genuinely feels like an extension of our own team. They share our vision and dedication, which isn’t always easy to find with external partners.
9. What do you value most about working with Act-Clean?
Consistency is what I value most. Knowing that Act-Clean consistently meets our high standards without compromise has significantly reduced the managerial pressure. Their responsiveness and proactive approach to feedback ensure continuous improvement.
10. Would you recommend Act-Clean’s services to other hotels?
Absolutely! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Act-Clean. They understand the luxury hospitality industry inside and out, and their team’s competence and reliability have truly made a difference for us.
We’re proud to support Sofitel’s dedication to excellence and grateful to Ilaria and her team for their continued collaboration and trust. To find out more about the services we provide, check out our full range of services here.