‘America’s best HOUSEKEEPERS’ win Las Vegas competition after beating rivals at making beds, vacuuming mats and mopping floors
A neat victory!
Hundreds of hospitality workers hoping to clean up during the Housekeeping Olympics mopped, vacuumed and swept their way this year.
The highly anticipated competition returned with a bang for the 33rd year on Monday after a four-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the Las Vegas event, cleaning professionals competed in a series of domestic competitions in teams of three or more.
Competitors descended on the Michelob Ultra Arena in Mandalay Bay to take part in six events, including bed making, speed vacuuming and a mopping race.
The Bellagio Hotel and Casino team cleared the stage as they took home the top prize from the overall winners, as well as first place in the bed making category.
Hundreds of hospitality workers came to Las Vegas to participate in the annual IEHA Housekeeping Olympics
Events during the competition include mopping race, speed vacuuming, bed making, buffer cushion throwing and others
The 33rd Home Olympic Games took place this year for the first time since 2019 after a break due to COVID
“For me it’s very special,” team member and gold medalist Feve Rodriguez told FOX5 Las Vegas. ‘We don’t spend much time together, just to enjoy ourselves.’
Other big winners included the ARIA team who claimed gold in the vacuum race and Canadian Healthcare Solutions EH! Team that won first place in the mop race and the buffer pad throw.
Mandalay Bay placed first in the executive race, while Park MGM claimed the Spirit Award.
MGM Resorts, which operates the Bellagio, said in a statement: “These Housekeeping and EVS team members are the heart and soul of the hospitality industry. Congratulations to Team Bellagio for winning the championships.”
The IEHA Housekeeping Olympics take place every year and invite spectators to witness ‘the excitement, passion and competitiveness’ of cleaning professionals for free.
Hundreds of catering workers enter the fray, with the athletes being welcomed with an opening parade, just like at the real Olympic Games.
The mop race requires participants to slalom around boards on wet floors as part of a relay team in a test of speed and agility.
The bed making round assesses the participants’ speed and accuracy, while the speed vacuum challenge requires participants to scoop bits of confetti out of the carpet as quickly as possible.
Team Bellagio, including captain Feve Rodriguez (pictured), took first place as the overall winner
Hundreds of spectators come to watch the matches at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas
The games even include an opening parade by the athletes, just like the real Olympics
Other highlights include the buffer pad toss, where teams attempt to catch the cleaning product on plungers.
The executive race is typically a relay-style event, with teams in previous years asked to throw toilet brushes into bins as part of the race.
Meanwhile, the Spirit Award is presented to the team that delivers the best choreographed dance routine.
The last time the games were held was in 2019, when the team from The Venetian Resort Las Vegas defeated challengers from 14 other hotels to claim gold.
This year’s competitions were the first to welcome international teams, with hundreds of competitors from Canada among them.
The competition also took place in conjunction with the global cleaning trade union’s ISSA Show, which runs until November 16.
Teams often dress to impress, with coordinated costumes regularly seen in the conference center, such as during the 2019 Home Olympics, as seen below.
The Mandalay Bay team took home the top prize in the highly anticipated Executive Race that is part of the program every year
The highly anticipated annual event takes place in Las Vegas and this year welcomed international teams for the first time
In addition to the ‘glory’, the winners can also take home a trophy and other ‘fantastic prizes’.
“The Housekeeping Olympics are an incredible opportunity for cleaning professionals to come together and demonstrate their expertise in a spirited and engaging competition,” said Michael Patterson, IEHA Executive Director.
“This event highlights the importance of excellence in the cleaning industry and recognizes the hard work and dedication of participants.”