When Jerry Harlan, Jr., currently VP Construction Management at The Procaccianti Group, has major renovation projects, he turns to The Refinishing Touch. For him, in many instances, reinventing furniture rather than replacing it shaves time from a major renovation while lowering overall costs. Plus, it keeps guests extremely satisfied.
Take a project he spearheaded several years ago on multiple Hilton owned assets, where Harlan first discovered The Refinishing Touch. The property needed to do something with those bulky armoires that were frequently used to hide those old tube televisions.
“The Refinishing Touch had great capability and were priced right. The company came into the properties, cut the tops off, refinished the wood, and put on a new stone top. They turned an outdated piece of furniture into a modern looking dresser,” said Harlan.
Harlan noted the job was done quickly and efficiently as The Refinishing Touch brought in teams to do the job in each guestroom, returning each room to the hotel’s inventory that very same day.
“The work was invisible to the hotel guest, and they didn’t take any rooms out of service over night. So, we didn’t lose any revenue.”
At another full-service hotel, the Doubletree San Jose Airport, Harlan said The Refinishing Touch was a successful partner in keeping the lounge’s renovation on time and on schedule. In that space, the hotel had some outdated heavy wood lounge bar chairs that were beaten up from plenty of wear and tear. “They were pretty abused, beaten, banged around. They refinished them and put them back in service looking like new. The Refinishing Touch is a great and efficient service,” said Harlan.
Harlan explained when he begins a hotel renovation project, they look at what must be refreshed in appearance, either because of style changes or wear and tear of the pieces. Take a bureau, for example. “If it is still solid and the drawers work, and just looks old fashioned; that piece can be saved,” he said, noting he works with The Refinishing Touch and his interior design team to put together some samples that modernize and update the piece’s appearance.
He’ll change the finish, and potentially make some modifications to detailing which might require a stone top, or taking off molding or trim, or even adding something distinctive to the piece. Many times, they change out case goods too to create something looking brand new.
“We can actually be reusing the vast majority of the material and structure. It’s also a green thing because we do not have to buy new, and throw away old furniture. Plus, new case goods are typically imported from overseas and that can take three to four months. The Refinishing Touch can remanufacture the case goods as quickly as we can line up the finishes and get the team to the property,” said Harlan.
“It makes a property refresh move very quickly. It’s a very competitive market out there and guests perceive the condition of the room as part of their experience that makes them prefer to stay with us rather than competitor. Plus, this is smart way to increase ADR and potentially occupancy too, which increases revenue and net proceeds,” he added.
Finally, Harlan says that working with The Refinishing Touch is good for conversions and rebranding hotels too. “They are very service oriented, wanting to please and easy to work with in the way they get the job done. And when inevitable problems arise on a job – they always do – they handle things very quickly. Working with [company founder] Mario Insenga and his people is wonderful.”