How Hotels Can Save on Operating Supplies and Equipment (OS&E)

Hotel Operating Supplies and Equipment (OS&E) refers to the day-to-day products that both staff and hotel guests use. It represents a large range of items that hotels require to operate, much of which is consumable, and therefore requires monthly or bimonthly reordering.

Products that Fall Into the OS&E Category

All hotels require the following OS&E:

• Disposables: gloves, trash liners, tissue, and toilet paper.
• Cleaning Supplies: brooms, mops, dustpans, wiping cloths, dusters, and chemicals.
• Maintenance & Repair Operations: light bulbs, batteries, paint, and equipment repair parts.
• Guestroom Amenities: soaps, shampoos, sheets, towels, hairdryers, irons, and hangers.
• Staff Supplies: Uniforms.

Full-Service Hotels—those with restaurants and bars—require additional OS&E such as pots, pans, spatulas, squeeze bottles, food containers, cutting boards, dinnerware, flatware, glassware, and shakers.

Needless to say, the extensive amount of various operating supplies and equipment required for the many different departments in a hotel can, if not controlled, play havoc with one’s budget.

OS&E Procurement

The first step in hotel OS&E procurement entails an assessment and selection of products as well as their specifications and suggested par levels. Once established, pricing and delivery are considered, and a controlled budget is created.

Cost Control for OS&E

Hotels often purchase these items through a distributor or directly from the vendor. Vendors of OS&E are competing with an ever-increasing number of suppliers, making the field extremely competitive. The fine line is finding reduced pricing that also aligns with timely delivery and products that meet your specifications. Freight and shipping also need to be considered when conducting price comparisons.

Although startups may offer reduced pricing in an attempt to get your business, stability plays a key role in a secure supply chain. Established suppliers have a long-term track record and have survived past economic downturns. It’s important to remember that inventory shortages, in any number of departments, can significantly affect and have an impact on the quality of customer care.

In our current environment, with COVID-19 still creating supply chain issues, it’s best to have two weeks’ worth of operational supplies and equipment on-hand. Of course, this leads us to yet another almost universal inventory and supply issue—the space to house the OS&E and the ability to organize it in such a way that makes it easily accessible for both restocking and inventory analysis.