Introducing the Professional Cleaning Guide for Accommodation Facilities in Okinawa

Easing Cleaning Burdens for Hotels: New Guide in Okinawa

Kao Professional Services (KPS), a subsidiary of Kao Group specializing in B2B hygiene solutions, has unveiled the "Professional Cleaning Guide for Accommodation Facilities in Okinawa". This initiative was developed in collaboration with the Okinawa Hotel and Ryokan Hygiene Association and the Okinawa Hotel Association, as well as partnerships with local organizations such as the Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Okinawa Prefectural Government. This guide aims to address specific cleaning challenges faced by accommodation facilities in Okinawa.

Addressing Local Needs

In the hospitality sector, there is a persistent shortage of workforce coupled with an aging labor population, making it critical to streamline operations. KPS initially created a cleaning guide in 2025 in Oita Prefecture. The release of this guide for Okinawa is the second phase of KPS's effort to tackle cleaning inefficiencies in high-demand tourist areas. A survey conducted among hotels in Okinawa identified the most labor-intensive cleaning tasks as those involving unit baths, guest rooms, and air conditioning systems, with mold care being a significant concern. Given Okinawa's subtropical climate, the risk of mold growth presents unique challenges that necessitate targeted strategies and solutions.

Unique Features of the Okinawa Cleaning Guide

The guide incorporates practical information that directly addresses the challenges faced by local facilities, focusing on standardizing cleaning operations while visualizing labor burdens.

1. Mold Prevention and Control: The guide emphasizes the three conditions necessary for mold growth (temperature, moisture, and nutrients). It offers clear explanations on the sources of recurring mold issues and fundamental prevention techniques. This includes systematic approaches to addressing mold-prone areas within guest rooms, such as air conditioning units and textiles.

2. Efficiency in Cleaning Water-Intensive Areas: The guide simplifies the cleaning processes for unit baths and toilets, which were highlighted as major pain points in the survey. It outlines methods to reduce scrubbing efforts, safety precautions, and appropriate detergent usage in an easy-to-understand visual format.

3. Visualizing Labor Burden: To promote a more manageable workload, the guide quantifies the physical demands involved in cleaning tasks in terms of energy consumption (based on METs indicators from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) to help operators better understand their efforts and discover new time-saving opportunities.

Potential users, including corporate entities, can easily download the guide for free from KPS's dedicated website (https://pro-info.kao.com/kps_okinawa_tourism_guidebook.html). The guide will also be available through partner organizations' websites, such as the Okinawa Hotel and Ryokan Hygiene Association (https://oah-net.or.jp/) and the Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau (https://okinawa-hagunchu.jp/).

Future Developments

Looking ahead, KPS plans to conduct utilization workshops and spread awareness of the new guide across accommodations in Okinawa. Building upon the insights gained from the experience in Oita, KPS is committing to continue addressing societal challenges faced by the hospitality sector nationwide.

About Kao Professional Services

Kao Professional Services was established on October 1, 2004, with a focus on providing products tailored for the food service, medical healthcare, and recreation service sectors. They offer consulting services related to hygiene management and deliver comprehensive solution-based services.

Contact Information

For further inquiries regarding this release, please contact:
Kao Professional Services, Phone: 03-5630-7141, Website: https://pro.kao.com/jp/contact/