With 2019 in the rear view mirror, hoteliers faced many big challenges this year. Those challenges included increasing costs in construction, raw materials, tariffs, hotel security and a labor shortage just to name a few.
Yet despite all these major hurdles, the hotel industry managed to continue growing, seemingly unscathed, in the U.S. and internationally. Why? Because the industry change-makers forged ahead with new construction, seeking out resources to meet the industry needs and made the critical improvements necessary to keep everything moving forward.
Photo Credit: Hotel Business Magazine and Lodging Econometrics Reports
Many hotel brands focused on adding more sustainable measures into their operations including HILTON’s launch of it’s first “Vegan” hotel suite in London at the beginning of the year. Even Interstate’s Hotels and Resorts in the U.S. launched carrying the 100% plant-based Beyond Burger which contains no GMOs, soy or gluten across lunch, dinner and its catering menus, with their own take on recipes using the plant-based meat.
In March, Hyatt launched the “Ideation Wellbeing Lab” series to help promote wellness in their hotels for guests. Wyndham Destinations also continued to focus on reducing water consumption by 25% by 2025. ACCOR launched “Greet” their international eco-conscious brand in September. Marriott, Hyatt, Wyndham, and HILTON made year-long tremendous strides by eliminating plastic straws, plastic room keys, mini shampoo bottles, and water bottles from their guestrooms. By adding pasta straws, larger refillable shampoo dispensers, and glass decanters for water for their guests, they focused on eliminating items that were producing a massive negative impact on the planet. Review our Go Green Guide for adding more sustainability into your hotel operations!
The greatest cost is environmental and is when organic waste sits in a landfill and decomposes, emitting methane, which is bad for the climate, landfills are the 3rd largest source of methane emissions in the country. Burning plastic may create some energy, but it also produces carbon emissions. While many incineration facilities bill themselves as “waste to energy” plants, studies have found that they release more harmful chemicals like mercury & lead, into the air per unit of energy than do coal plants.
Another important focus for hoteliers this year was on updating their properties with much needed renovations. In a hotel renovation, there are many pieces of the puzzle to managing the project including architecture, design, engineering, and procurement. But the key to an effective renovation is to start PLANNING NOW. As Mario Insenga, Principal and Owner of The Refinishing Touch® states, “start planning now and plan often.” Make sure you have all your team communicating often and that the project goal and timelines are aligned for everyone. That’s the advantage of working with an experienced supplier and asset management team at The Refinishing Touch®.
Photo Credit: The Refinishing Touch®
As Michael Doyle, Managing Director and EVP at CHMWarnick, also stated “you have to build in the necessary time to allow that type of planning to occur. If you don’t plan appropriately you may miss a window, and that’s costlier than trying to rush things than going through an appropriate process.”
For owners and developers, providing cost-effective alternative solutions in the planning process is critical. That is exactly what The Refinishing Touch® provides. Our community of services provide many options and FF&E solutions that are cost-effective and sustainable.
Photo Credit: The Refinishing Touch®
We always encourage procurement and design to contact our team early in the specification process and in pre-construction meetings. Why? The key for us in planning is to help you avoid stumbling blocks in the renovation process and create more building blocks for long-term savings. With 42 years of experience and over 7,000 completed renovation projects from all major brands, The Refinishing Touch® knowledge base for renovations is extensive! The savings can be substantial. See how much our clients have saved at least 50% and over 80% by choosing to refinish their FF&E instead of replacing it.
Maintaining your existing guestroom furniture is a critical component to your hotel’s long-term profitability because it affects so many other areas in the hotel… the guest experience that leads to reviews, brand standard specification leading to passing PIP reviews. FF&E is one of the largest components of hotel assets and 9% of a hotel construction budget (architectural, design & project management are 12%). Managing costs is vital. When it comes to sourcing, refinishing eliminates that long lead-time and costs incurred for shipping, taxes, labor for moving, storage and disposal all while improving your hotel’s CO2 footprint as an added value.
Photo Credit: The Refinishing Touch®
Photo Credit: The Refinishing Touch®, Hyatt Project
In a previous blog, we talked about the increase in demand for and important role of the Asset Manager. We provide an existing asset management maintenance program for hoteliers that help save as much as up to 80% on their FF&E budget. We always provide solutions that exceed brand standard specifications.
Photo Credit: The Refinishing Touch®
Photo Credit: The Refinishing Touch®
Never throw away the specification quality with a price-driven decision. Expectations without specifications never provide a successful outcome.
Photo Credit: The Refinishing Touch®
The Refinishing Touch® is the trusted and Preferred Supplier for Hilton, Host Hotels and Resorts and many more. See our project list!
Photo Credit: The Refinishing Touch®
If your guestroom furniture is “Ringing” in the New Year, and your hotel is experiencing a PIP, CAPEX or rebranding renovation, call us today at 1.800.523.9448! Email our Sales Manager, Erek Schwartz, at [email protected] to request an online quote for your project. We can provide many cost-saving options that you may have not considered before in your specification process. Our goal is to be your trusted FF&E Sustainable Solution provider and go-to resource. We’ve been doing just that for hoteliers for over 42 years.
Wishing Everyone a Very Happy Holiday from The Refinishing Touch Team!
