Operations
Preventive maintenance
Also written: planned maintenance
What Preventive maintenance means
Preventive maintenance is the scheduled, proactive inspection, servicing, and repair of hotel assets, mechanical systems, and guest rooms to prevent equipment failure and premature wear. Unlike reactive repairs, this operational routine extends asset lifespans, reduces emergency downtime, and maintains quality standards across the property.
How it is used
Chief engineers schedule preventive maintenance quarterly or biannually, utilizing computerised maintenance management systems (CMMS) to track tasks like HVAC filter replacements, boiler descaling, and room audits. Asset managers monitor completion rates alongside capital expenditure planning. Consistent execution reduces expensive out-of-order room inventory, lowers utility bills, and prevents guest compensation payouts caused by system breakdowns during peak occupancy.
Worked example
A 200-room hotel executes a quarterly HVAC servicing program costing $5,000 annually. By identifying a failing compressor during routine maintenance, the engineering team replaces a $300 part, avoiding an emergency $4,000 compressor replacement and three days of out-of-order room revenue losses totaling $1,800 during a sold-out weekend.
Common mistake
Deferring preventive maintenance to cut short-term operational expenses invariably inflates long-term capital expenditure and increases emergency repair costs.