Initiatives for safety assurance through hygiene management and countermeasures against infectious diseases
Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills (Mori Hospitality Corporation)
Manager General Affairs and Human Resources,
General Manager’s Office
Mr.Isamu Sano
Overview
Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills (Mori Hospitality Corporation)
The 126th Lumitester Seminar featured a special lecture by Isamu Sano, Manager of General Affairs and Human Resources at Andaz Tokyo. Sano shared insights into the hotel's initiatives for safety assurance through hygiene management and countermeasures against infectious diseases. Andaz Tokyo, a luxury lifestyle hotel, prioritizes security and safety, with a particular focus on hygiene management.
Andaz Tokyo is a hotel under the Andaz brand, one of the brands owned by the Hyatt Hotels Corporation (“Hyatt”), an international hospitality company, and is operated by the hotel business division of Mori Hospitality Corporation of Tokyo, Japan.
Efforts for food safety involved obtaining HACCP certification, with detailed processes outlined for certification attainment and ongoing maintenance. Continuous efforts included monthly committee meetings, external and internal audits, and staff education on hygiene principles.
An example of the kitchen hygiene check, Results of the microbiological tests that are used for improvement (excerpt from the HACCP comminittee’s document).
Andaz Tokyo also pursued GBAC STAR accreditation, focusing on environmental hygiene management. The accreditation process involved organizational restructuring, documentation, and training, with emphasis on criteria like risk assessment and emergency preparedness.
The application of ATP tests aided in understanding hygiene conditions, with detailed analyses before and after cleaning efforts in guest rooms and common areas. The ATP tests were integrated into regular cleaning procedures to ensure ongoing maintenance of hygiene standards.
The comparison before and after cleaning across all tested locations. The data pre-cleaning exhibited a broad distribution with notably high RLU values. Post-cleaning, many locations displayed lower RLU values. The reference value, set at the 80th percentile, decreased from 11,142 RLU before cleaning to 4,670 RLU after cleaning. The average value also decreased from 11,339 RLU to 3,132 RLU post-cleaning.
In guest rooms, the distribution of RLU values widened prior to cleaning, but post-cleaning, we noted a higher frequency of lower RLU values. The 80th percentile decreased from 7,854 RLU to 5,167 RLU after cleaning, with the average value dropping from 7,232 RLU to 3,431 RLU.
Additionally, doorknobs, refrigerator handles, kettle handles, and safety box handles displayed slightly elevated RLU values even after cleaning, signaling the necessity for meticulous cleaning in these areas (green circles). Hangers and shoehorns also exhibited high RLU values post-cleaning (blue circles), likely due to their wooden composition and complex surface structure, which may trap dirt brought to the surface by cleaning agents.
Examination of common areas, we observed a shift in RLU values from a broad distribution before cleaning to a prevalence of low values post-cleaning. The 80th percentile decreased from 9,797 RLU to 1,437 RLU after cleaning, with the average value declining from 7,712 RLU to 821 RLU. Most of the areas surveyed included stainless steel doorknobs, which proved to be easily cleanable.
Currently, we've established our initial reference value at 5,000 RLU and the second at 10,000 RLU. Our future goal is to lower the first threshold to 2,000 RLU, aligning with the handwashing standard recommended by Kikkoman Biochemifa.
