The Refinishing Touch Blog

As a specialist in the preservation and sustainability of furniture assets, we work with hospitality clients that range from large chains that are household names, to smaller boutique customers. This provides us an invaluable broad, first-hand view of the hospitality market.

We've noticed that across California, renovation projects are underway to drive new business to hotels. Two good examples are the Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs and the Wyndham Palm Springs in sunny Palm Springs, CA. The hotels are renovating their hotel exteriors and guest rooms – between them to the tune of$35 million - with plans to finish by mid-to-late fall. The Wyndham will also be changing its flag to that of a Renaissance.

These hotels' renovations follow in the footsteps of several other Palm Springs hotels, such as the Riviera Resort and Spa, Holiday Inn Palm Springs City Center and Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts, all of which have spent millions of dollars in upgrades since 2004.

The reasons behind the growing number of hotel renovations in the area are many, and the drive for greener hotels is certainly one of those, and yet there is one over-riding driver - competition.

As technology advances and new trends develop, hotels need to keep up with each other as well as the desires and needs of demanding consumers.

In Palm Springs projects have focused on technological improvements, such as enhanced internet access and new gadget charging stations, as well as the introduction of more ecologically sound materials. Keeping up-to-date is especially important to the Wyndham in Palm Springs, where the new convention center has brought in a wealth of new customers. These consumers want to stay in quality hotels that deliver a great guest experience, but they also want to support chains that meet their greener values.

Should hotels feel forced to evaluate their offerings and upgrade in these ways? We would argue that with continued fierce competition for hotel guests combined with an ever-increasing public awareness of greener hospitality, many hotels are discovering they simply cannot afford not to.

Labels: Hospitality, renovation, Sustainability