What Kind of Towels Are Used in 5-Star Hotels?
HANBI - Revealing the material selection criteria and business logic of luxury hotel towels
HANBI Introduction:
Towels in five-star hotels are not only the core detail of room service, but also the key to shaping brand image and customer loyalty.
According to statistics, high-quality towels can increase customer satisfaction with the bathroom experience by 35%. From material,
process, functional design to supply chain management, this paper deeply analyzes the "invisible standard" of five-star hotel towels,
and reveals the commercial value behind it.
one：material and process: the gold standard of five-star towels
High count long staple cotton:
Five-star hotels generally use 60 to 100 Xinjiang long staple cotton or Egyptian cotton, the fiber length is more than 35mm, the yarn is
fine and uniform, and the touch is smooth like silk. Compared with ordinary cotton, the water absorption of long-staple cotton is
increased by 40%, and the washing resistance can reach more than 300 times, far exceeding the life of household towels.
White main color:
White is not only a symbol of hygiene (stains at a glance), but also a reflection of the grade of raw materials. Printed or dyed towels may
conceal defects in low-quality cotton, so international hotel standards strictly stipulate that white or light plain colors are the main color
to ensure that there is no risk of chemical residue.
Reinforcement process:
Three-needle and five-wire wrapping: the joint bearing strength is increased by 50% to avoid deformation after frequent machine washing.
Jacquard weaving: High-end hotel bath towels often use jacquard technology to increase beauty and durability, while economy hotels use
flat weaving to reduce costs.
Second, functional classification: from bath towel to floor towel fine design
Five-star hotel rooms are usually equipped with 4 types of towels, each with strict specifications:
Bath Towel
Specification: 1400mm×800mm, weight ≥600g (four five-star standard).
Use: Dry the body or wrap the body to keep warm, the material should be both absorbent and fluffy.
(Face Towel)
Specification: 700mm×400mm, weight ≥150g.
Use: Wash face or remove makeup, soft touch to avoid skin irritation.
(Hand Towel)
Specification: 320mm×320mm, weight ≥55g.
Use: To wipe hands or clean the table, often stacked next to the sink.
(Bath Mat)
Specification: 750mm×450mm, weight ≥350g.
Application: Non-slip on bathroom floor, with high friction and quick drying characteristics.
Special design:
Good Morning and Good Night towels: Some luxury hotels offer custom squares for morning cleaning or turndown service to enhance
the sense of ritual.
Antibacterial treatment: Approved by OEKO-TEX® to inhibit the growth of bacteria and mites, especially for sensitive skin.
Hygiene and Durability: The invisible "Trust Project"
Washing standard:
Heat-resistant chip tracking: Some hotels implant heat-resistant chips in towels to record the number of washes to ensure
"one guest for one change".
Soft water washing: reduce mineral residue, maintain the softness of the towel, while controlling the water temperature at 30-35 ° C
to avoid fiber hardening.
Life Management:
Hotel towels need to withstand 1-2 times a day of high-intensity machine washing, the average life of 100-150 washing. By optimizing the
process (such as double yarn weaving), the life can be extended to more than 200 times, reducing the annual procurement cost by 18%.
Supply chain and cost control strategy
Mass customized production:
LOGO embroidery: enhance brand recognition, while reducing the risk of being "taken away" (according to statistics, bath towels are one
of the high-frequency items taken by guests).
Large packaging replacement: In response to environmental protection policies, some hotels have changed small bottles of washing supplies
to large capacity filling, and gradually reduce the supply of disposable supplies.
Global Supplier cooperation:
High-end hotels often cooperate with professional linen brands, such as Frette in Italy and Downia in Australia, whose products have passed
SGS wash resistance tests to ensure compliance with international standards.
5. Establish and maintain consumer trust
Despite the five-star hotel's emphasis on hygiene control, the survey shows that 70% of guests still have doubts about the cleanliness of towels,
choosing to bring their own towels or only use them to wipe their feet and pave the floor. To this end, the hotel takes the following measures:
Transparent process: Towel washing and disinfection process is displayed on the official website or room card.
Environmental Certification: Use GRS (Global Recycling Standard) certified biodegradable materials to attract a sustainable consumer base.
Epilogue: The economics of luxury behind the towel
The choice of towels at a five-star hotel is a delicate tradeoff - comfort, durability, hygiene standards and cost efficiency are all indispensable.
In the future, with the popularity of intelligent chip tracking and environmentally friendly materials, hotel towels will further become a strategic
carrier for customer experience and brand premium.
Extended reading:
Global High-end Hotel Linen Procurement White Paper
How to improve OTA rating through towel design?
Through scientific selection and innovative management, a towel can also become a "silent salesman" in the hotel industry.
