Electrolux Professional laundry facility installed at Hotel Healdsburg for best wash results, lower water and energy use, higher productivity.

In the luxury hotel business, where sumptuous experiences are the norm and exceeding guest expectations are everything – there’s a lot that goes on behind the picture-perfect scenes that keep Hotel Healdsburg in the “Best of” category. One place to look is the hotel’s newly constructed laundry facility.

Paolo Petrone, owner of Hotel Healdsburg and its sister properties H2 Hotel and H3 Guesthouse (set to open later this year), greenlighted the new facility. “Between Hotel Healdsburg and H2 Hotel, we were already reaching capacity at our on-site laundry room,” shared Petrone. “When the decision was made to open the third hotel, we knew we needed a larger laundry facility to keep up with demands. The laundry operation is very important to us. Guests expect a superior experience – right down to the linens.”

A Trio of Boutique Hotels

Located 67 miles north of San Francisco, California, in the heart of Sonoma wine country, Hotel Healdsburg is a unique and impressive property. From rejuvenating spa treatments, to gourmet menus featuring Sonoma’s seasonal bounty, to eco-chic rooms with private balconies or patios – there’s always some thoughtful and creative amenity to take your breath away. Suffice to say, this attention to the finer details makes for quite a lot of laundry.

“Between both properties, total loads can vary between 24-30 daily,” said Petrone. “Weekly it’s about 168-210 loads. These numbers are based on 80-100 percent occupancy. And once we open our third property, we will be adding on another 8-12 daily loads.”

In anticipation of opening H3 Guesthouse, Petrone turned to experienced laundry distributor, Ahmet Ibrahim, president of A2Z Laundry Systems.

The Ultimate in Service and Knowledge

Petrone first worked with the Roseville, California-based distributor 7 years prior, when they decided to improve the efficiency of their in-house laundry operation.

“We were very pleased with the form and function resulting from that renovation, and with Ahmet and his team,” explained Petrone.

Well-versed in the laundry needs of premier hotel properties, Mr. Ibrahim set to work creating a spacious laundry environment that would increase productivity, while lowering water and energy consumption. That meant installing on-premises laundry (OPL) equipment developed by a global leader known for its sustainable and innovative products – Electrolux Professional.

Mr. Petrone couldn’t have agreed more with the decision. For the 27-year hotel veteran, being “green” went much deeper than the eco-friendly aesthetics of his hotels.

“In the hotel business, the laundry is the third largest energy consuming area,” he explained. “It was highly important that the equipment was ultra-efficient as well as environmentally friendly. In my opinion, the Electrolux brand of equipment is simply the best that’s out there.”

Electrolux makes all the difference

Once the Electrolux Professional high-speed washing machines, dryers, and flatwork ironer were installed in the 2,000-square foot space – the results were substantial.

“We have definitely seen a reduction in water use,” shared Mr. Petrone. “So much so that we now also use the facility for the laundry needs of our hotel restaurants, which lowers our costs and extends our linen life.”

What’s more, Mr. Petrone is pleased with the ultimate wash results, “Stains are coming out and there is noticeably less wear and tear.”

The installation of the new equipment took about a month, including testing and training. The facility is now well equipped to handle a steady stream of guest and hotel laundry, including staff uniforms and linen from the rooms and suites, spas, swimming pools, and restaurants.

A Positive Experience – for guests and behind the scenes

A proper set up with enough space and materials, expertly trained staff, and impeccable results, are the most important guidelines to any successfully run laundry room in a luxury hotel, according to Petrone.

The hotel owner also appreciates that his guests will be none the wiser to all the people and equipment working hard behind the scenes to make their stay exceptional.

“After all, our guests come to Hotel Healdsburg and H2 Hotel, and soon to our H3 Guesthouse, to get away from their everyday realities,” Petrone shared. “Thanks to a well-trained staff and Electrolux professional laundry equipment, we can oblige them in every way.“