UNIT 3: HOTEL RENOVATION

 GLOSSARY TERMS

Renovation: the act or process of returning something to its original condition by repairing it, cleaning it, etc.

Redecoration: It is the process to freshen or change in appearance of the room, by applying paint or wall paper or change of upholstery.

Refurnishing: a process to update the area, by replacing old furniture and putting new furniture.

Remodeling: To change the appearance, by changing placement/ replacing different elements of decoration.

Restoration: the process that is used to repair, renew or re-establish a tangible or intangible asset of the area.

INTRODUCTION

Renovation freshens up the look and feel of the interior spaces; provides a means to update and modernize the systems that provide a safe, comfortable and convenient interior environment; and allows managers to change the types of services and facilities offered to the public.

RENOVATION

The process of renewing and updating a hospitality property to offset the ravages of use and to modify spaces to meet the needs of changing markets constitutes renovation. Nowadays, renovation has become much more than just replacing worn-out walls, roofs, tiles, furniture and mattresses but the definition of today’s hotels due to increasing intense competition and continuously updating technology. It has become necessary to keep up with changing standards and technology to satisfy guests. Renovation not only changes the looks of a hotel but also provides a chance to update technology and modernize the infrastructure. It allows a hotel to change or replace the layout and services for better comfort and convenience.

Reasons To Renovate

1.      The furnishings and finishes within the facility are worn out.

2.      The interior design is out of date and this is directly linked to declining revenues.

3.      The market for the mix of facilities offered by the hotel has changed and new opportunities can be made available only by renovating under-utilized facilities.

4.      The current or previous owner has not spent the funds necessary to keep the hotel in a fully updated condition, and the physical property has deteriorated.

5.      Acquiring and renovating an existing hotel presents an opportunity that is superior to constructing a new hotel in terms of location, time, and costs.

6.      To prepare the building for sale.

Renovation Categorization

1.      Minor Renovation (5-to-7-year cycle) – To replace or renew the non-durable furnishings and finishes within the space, without changing the space’s use or physical layout. For instance, a minor renovation of a guestroom might include replacing carpets and wall coverings, drapery, bedspreads, minor paintwork, and touching up of the furniture finishes.

2.      Major Renovation (12-to-15-year cycle) – To replace or renew all furnishings and finishes within a space and may include extensive modifications to the physical layout and utilization of the space itself. A major renovation of a guestroom might include everything described as a minor renovation, plus the replacement of furniture, bedding, lighting, and accessories.

3.      Restoration (25-to-50-year cycle) – Allows for a complete gutting of space and replacing of all systems that are technically and functionally obsolete, while restoring furnishings and systems that can still be used given the current needs of the facility. It may, for instance, include wholesale replacement of kitchen and laundry facilities, interior demolition of entire guestroom floors to reconfigure the mix of rooms and/or the placement of bathrooms, the replacement of all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, and so on.

Identifying The Need For Renovation

Hotels comprise a large number of depreciable elements that wear out or fade with regular use and become outdated and old-fashioned which require maintenance or updates to match current market trends and to maintain the help brands reputation. The following points help in identifying the need for renovation:

1.      Cracks, holes, of  or chips in tiles, walls, or floors, will become more severe if not attended to in time.

2.      Dirty, faded, stained, or worn-out carpet look shabby.

3.      The creakiness and showing rust on doors and windows. The sound while operating doors and windows also gives an idea, if they require maintenance or not.

4.      Lighting system is not working properly and it feels dark in the room.

5.      Scratched, broken, or damaged furniture and fixtures.

6.      Water is not running constantly through taps or there are other plumbing problems.

7.      Creaky, rusty and loose flooring.

8.      Mould signs in the washrooms, toilets or in other such areas.

9.      Worn out, dirty or stained furnishing.

10.  High level of humidity and moisture in the rooms.

 

Subsidiary Processes In Renovation

The renovation project typically comprises four sub-processes:

·       Refurbishing is just the freshening up of a property. This includes cosmetic changes such as changing the draperies, upholstery, and so on.

·       Redecoration involves the renewal of paintwork, touching up of furniture and finishes, renewal of soft furnishings, and spring cleaning. This is also done annually in order to maintain the standard of rooms.

·       Restoration is the restoring of a property to its exact original design with authentic materials.

·       Remodeling is altering the physical structure of the property.

 

REFURBISHING

·       Evaluation (Physical Inspection)

·       Allocation of time

·       Budgeting

·       Thematic choice

·       Design feasibility studies

·       Décor preliminaries

·       Staffing budget

·       Equipment inventory

·       Raw materials inventory and warehousing

·       Adjusting for the inconvenience to guests, staff, the  and suppliers

Points To Remember

•       Inform FO & engineering department

•       Remove upholstery and linen and send for further cleaning process

•       Remove guest supplies from the area

•       Get telephones disconnected.

•       Disconnect and store television sets separately.

•       Roll up and remove all carpets and send for shampooing (if possible) or cover it with dust sheet

•       Seal bathtubs, washbasins and other ceramic fixtures (if required)

•       Cover remaining furniture and fixtures with dust sheets

Procedural Guidelines

All the company and statutory procedures to be adhered to must be enumerated and the project evaluated in the light of these:

·       Planning permissions

·       Fire regulations

·       Health and safety aspects

·       Licensing laws

·       Company policies

 

Controls needed to focus during the process

All aspects where control must be executed:

·       Financial control

·       Purchasing control

·       Contracts

·       Insurance

·       Inspection

·       Records

 

Procedures Undertaken Prior To Renovation

·       Inform the front office and the engineering and maintenance departments of the program.

·       Remove curtains, lampshades, bed covers, linen, and guest supplies from the area and store them in the floor pantry.

·       Get telephones disconnected.

·       Disconnect and store television sets separately.

·       Upholstered furniture should be sent to the upholstery yard for shampooing or repair.

·       Roll up and remove all carpets and send for shampooing.

·       Seal bathtubs, washbasins and other ceramic fixtures.

·       Cover remaining items of furniture and fixtures with dust sheets.

 

RESTORATION

The term ‘restoration’ is the act of returning the building structure to its former condition. This is usually applied to heritage hotels and some old infrastructure. It also includes repairing walls, replacing old furniture and fixtures, removing the old wood floor, and refinishing hard floors.

Restoration or Total renovation - In a restoration or total renovation, major elements such as entire corridors, lobby, elevators, stairs, lavatories, complete floor, electrical systems as well as emergency exits revamping, and even locations or rooms are added, reconfigured, or relocated for efficient operations and other marketability reasons or to meet the new structural designs.

REMODELLING

It is the conversions of existing spaces and structures and the replacement of a defective area or item in the hotel and the addition of space and extensions. In this, a hotel focus on improving a structure that is defective, outdated broken, or damaged.

Remodeling is the process of changing the functionality and the design of an area. It may involve tearing out a wall to expand a bathroom and reconfiguring a kitchen layout so the cabinets, fridge, sink, and range are in different locations. Constructing an addition to hotel would also be considered a remodel.

 

RENOVATION: CURRENT MARKETING VOGUE IN HOTELS

As the internet has become an inseparable part of their lives, hotel guests are now expecting everything digital, which is a part of the recent hotel industry trends. Self-check-in service through kiosks and mobile guest self-service portals are gaining popularity among the top hospitality industry trends. Now a day if Hotel want to sustain then hotel has to get the renovation done from time to time due to:

1.      To fix a safety issue

2.      To upgrade the functionality of the property

3.      To increase the comfort or and leisure of the hotel

4.      To improve the value of the establishment

5.      To increase the efficiency of the establishment

6.      To update the style of the establishment

POST-RENOVATION ACTIVITIES

After spending millions on improving, updating or upgrading hotel rooms, kitchens, banquets, amenities or even maybe the complete lobby infrastructure is changed. the A hotel renovation not only changes the looks but also can be a fruitful for marketing.

Post-Renovation Marketing Check-list:

•            Update the hotel’s website and third-party booking sites with latest photos

•            Send a press release to local media/newspapers

•            Create videos and Google 360 video tour could be very effective

•            Share renovation descriptions, photos, overall and videos over all social networking such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.

•            Update sales brochures

•            Place digital frame with the latest pictures at the reception

•            Email to past clients, notifying them about updating and up gradation

 

SNAG LIST

 

[A] How to Make a Large Room More Inviting 

 1. Visually divide the area into smaller, more manageable segments with a screen, plants, or an area rug.

2. Use more than one grouping to define specific areas within the room. Let one grouping dominate as the main conversation area; other areas can be defined for private conversation, reading, or relaxing.

3. Try warm, rich colors on walls to make the room feel smaller.

[B] How to Make a Small Room Appear Larger

1. Minimize contrast among furnishings, walls and floor coverings. Colors that blend will create the appearance of greater space.

2. Keep colors light and cool.

3. Minimize the number of prints in the room. For example, repeat the drapery print in your upholstery.

4. Add glass top tables and wall mirrors to create the illusion of more space.

 

[C] How to Display Accessories

 

1. For wall displays, follow these guidelines A.      Place the heaviest objects at the bottom of your display. B.      Your overall composition should have a rough shape or form. C.      Keep space between objects to a minimum so items are visually related. D.     Vary the sizes, shapes, textures and colors used in a group. E.      Keep the center of your grouping at eye level. Displays placed over sitting areas are generally placed lower so they are visible when people are seated.

 

2. For tabletop displays, Follow these guideline

1. Compose your display so that one item dominates.
2. Make sure items are appropriate in size and scale for the surface. Avoid items that are too big or heavy, or so small they get lost.
3. Odd numbers work better than even numbers 3/5 objects will work better than 2/4.
4. Unify a collection of small objects by placing them on a tray.
5. Place objects close enough together so that they are visually related. For example, Don't spread 3 objects out on a cocktail table, group them together.

[D] Beautiful Things

Beautiful Things embodies the classic, pretty floral. The look is pretty, fresh, and primarily floral with colors that are clean and bright. From a decorating perspective, this lifestyle is traditional with a definite feminine personality and inspirations from the English garden and French countryside.