The Refinishing Touch Blog

At The Refinishing Touch we are in the enviable position of being close enough to hear the detailed needs of our clients in the hospitality industry, and being able to respond with the right solution. Our expertise has allowed us to bring sustainability and cost-saving to some of the world’s best-known brands, innovators, and historical buildings - and to do the same for government bodies and colleges.

It's impossible to ignore the current climate and its impact on the hospitality industry. The industry is reeling to meet the demands of an ever changing marketplace – hoteliers need to have realistic rates while trying to attract travelers, causing a seemingly irreconcilable conflict.

In recent weeks, many of our partners, and prospects have been saying the same thing: in the face of dwindling budgets, modernization projects seem impossible. Some have reached a point where funds have been frozen by the Board or shareholders, stopping all upgrade projects in their tracks or before they've even started.

How then are customers satisfied and budget constraints met? What exactly is the solution in a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't climate? An article in a recent issue of Hotel Interactive caught our attention. In the article, Steve Belmonte offers up a two answer response to this very issue.

On one hand, Belmonte advises that sometimes there is a need for owners and managers to take a close look at their current situation. If they have found themselves deferring necessary upgrades due to a lack of available funding, and using the downturn as an 'excuse,' then maybe they should consider repositioning themselves in the market. On the other hand, Belmonte takes the opportunity to encourage solid fiscal responsibility, with practices like competitive bidding through each level of service, until a recovery plan is in place and the business is back on track for success.

Sound advice, and we couldn't agree more. With the economic climate as it is today, every penny counts. We've been in the business of cost-effectively improving the value of in-house assets since the day we were founded in 1971.

Belmonte concludes that whatever happens, hotels need to provide a good service to customers. Travelers have expectations for the quality of services and furnishings that they will receive when they book a room.

As our clients will tell you, refinishing furniture is an affordable way for hotels to ensure customers receive the quality they expect, even in a difficult period for the industry. Happy customers share their experiences and come back. With some alternate approaches and innovation the dilemma can be resolved.

Labels: Asset Management, budget constraint, cost-effective, Hospitality

Last week we announced our findings of the major influences over travelers' hotel bookings. As our business and client base covers the entire continental United States (and beyond), we wanted to get a feel for how the current economic climate is influencing buying habits across more than one state, and so polled hotel visitors on both sides of the country, namely LA and NYC.

What did we find? Well, on each coast cost was the single largest influence. Respondents in NYC and in LA agreed that room rate was the largest single factor that they took into consideration - for both vacation visitors and those on business. It's no surprise to hear that hotels need to lower costs to attract visitors, and easy to sympathize with the challenge of lowering prices in a downturn.

Here at The Refinishing Touch we know cost is a driving factor, because we see it from the other side. The breadth of hospitality businesses we deal with from boutique hotels, global chains and casinos, to luxury resorts, each face the challenge of cost-conscious consumers, and seek solutions to protect their bottom line.

In our research, cost was followed by location- something that can't be changed by any owner or General Manager. But other factors, such as amenities and initiatives in place, just like cost, are barriers that need to be overcome. The bottom line is that consumers need to be given a good price to stay in accommodation that gives them a great experience.

This is a subject that has crept up in conversation several times this week alone from owners and managers we know in the industry: How do you compete to provide the best guest rooms, reception areas, customer service and overall customer experience in a downturn?

The need to succeed in order to survive, and to compete on price to succeed.

The two seem diametrically opposed. But they're not. In the next week, we're going to be blogging, talking to the press, and explaining our thoughts on this key subject: there are trends to be bucked, and we have a wealth of ideas and experience to share.

Labels: Hospitality, hotel, survey

On Friday the Obama administration took a historic stance on emissions, with the first formal recognitions of the potential threats of climate change as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed that carbon dioxide and five other gases threaten public welfare.

Findings highlighted that concentrations of these gases are at unprecedented levels as a result of human emissions, and these high levels are most probably the cause of the rise in average temperatures and other changes in our climate. Lisa Jackson, Administrator for the EPA said: 'Greenhouse gas pollution is a serious problem now and for future generations.'

Government statistics reveal the US produces 6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide a year and in naming this and other greenhouse gases as threats, the EPA has committed itself to act. These are far-reaching changes, and nothing will happen overnight. But as the process moves to public hearings and review before any regulations can be formalized, it's a move to address global warming on a federal level. This a fundamental shift in our country's attitude and policy.

There are concerns, however of the financial impact of regulations on American businesses: for many American industries in energy production; car manufacturing; the travel business - the impact of strong regulations could be shattering. While we applaud a move to protect the environment, as an American corporation and supporters of fellow American business, we are also wary of the impact on the economy.

Time will tell, but we'll be watching both sides of the argument closely.

Labels: Carbon dioxide, EPA, government

Some people have voiced concern over the levels and rates at which we're seeing money being spent. A rally in Grand Junction, Colorado brought more than 2,700 people from across Western Colorado and Eastern Utah together to make their statement against government spending.

Arguing the need for a different kind of 'change' than that of which we have seen so far from this administration, rally participants acknowledged that change is necessary. Citing both the Democratic and Republican parties' need for reassessment, those in attendance hoped to drive grassroots support to speak against volatile government spending.

Throughout tax week, similar rallies have occurred across the country and have been designed to mirror the Boston Tea Party, when revolutionaries protested heavy taxation. More and more, we are hearing about the actions of those speaking against the recent bank bailouts, the $787 billion federal stimulus package and other government spending of tax dollars. When Congress reconvenes next week, we'll be anxious to hear what progress has (or hasn't) been made with the budget.

Bottom lines are no longer just a concern for the people. It is time for our government to take action and to set an example. Earlier this week, we announced the release and availability of our recently completed white paper that addresses the concern of government spending as a means to showcase one way that the government can save money while maintaining entirely sustainable, green practices through the refurbishment of government assets.

The whitepaper is available for download with registration here.

Labels: government, spending, white paper

As we blogged last week, we are releasing a new white paper titled "Government Employees with a Sustainable Future." The paper examines how public bodies can save money through better management of furniture assets.

Right now, the US Federal Government owns arguably one of the largest furniture assets in the world. The white paper questions the management systems in place for this vast furniture resource – in our opinion, there is little evidence of support for reuse and repair of many assets, and there is ample room for improvement. The paper gives specific examples to demonstrate the savings for both military and non-military government bodies, with all costs examined in detail.

The paper highlights a number of specific areas:

*How government bodies can reduce some costs by up to 80%
*Wasted costs
*Myths about furniture refinishing
*The process and the benefits of furniture refinishing

It's possible to improve the quality of furniture assets in most organizations while significantly reducing both the environmental impact and cost. And saving money is crucial for all organizations - both private and public - in this tough economic climate.

To request the white paper simply fill in your details here

Labels: Asset Management, government, white paper

The US Federal Government has one of the largest inventories of furniture assets in the world. At The Refinishing Touch we literally have hands-on perspective of many of these assets as we’ve completed federal Government projects from courthouses, US Navy bases and US Army barracks, to projects at The White House.

With all of this in mind we are publishing a new whitepaper next week that analyzes government spend on assets. Titled “Government Employees with a Sustainable Future” the TRT-authored paper is undergoing its final polish and will be available on Tuesday, April 14^th.

In it, we review how federal bodies manage furniture assets, and the costs involved - with some thoughts about how the principles of reduce, reuse and recycle could be applied as well as the financial and environmental benefits. We also come to some startling conclusions in terms of savings: recycling and reuse can slash some government expenditure by up to 84%.

At a time when the economy is in recession, it’s vital that governments innovate to ensure the use of the funds and resources at their disposal, and demonstrate a solid commitment to environmental sustainability initiatives.

If you have an interest in this please visit our website on Tuesday where you can request a free copy or send an email to sales@therefinishingtouch.com.

Labels: Asset Management, government, Sustainability

We are pleased to see 2009 bringing the first Annual Global Renewable Energy Networking Summit. Taking place April 15 through 17, it will bring together visionaries and leaders in green hospitality at the Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Conference Center in Macungie, PA.

The president of EcoGreenHotel, Scott Parisi and the president of National Energy Services Company, John Grillo will co-deliver the keynote address at the summit. Parisi and Grillo will be joined by Kevin Mahoney of Innovative Hotel Management, Chris Lewis of OTO Development and Lorrie Miller of the Hampton Inn in Easton, PA for a discussion panel entitled ‘Green Hotels: The Future’.

Executive chairperson Clare Misquitta said: "[This] presentation will offer a rare opportunity for hospitality professionals to learn about their trend-setting strategies for implementing meaningful green initiatives in lodging facilities across the spectrum - from mom-and-pop motels to major luxury chains.”

This summit upholds all the principles by which we run our own business – and any event which proactively promotes a greener hospitality industry gets our vote! We plan to track the main news and themes that result from the summit and will share our thoughts here on the TRT blog.

Labels: 'Go Green', Global Renewable Energy Networking Summit, Hospitality

We couldn't blog this week without mentioning the G20 Summit that is happening across the Atlantic. It takes place in London where there has been plenty of unrest, and we're glad to observe it from a distance.

The G20 summit has a primary objective as a forum to cover the economic crisis but with so many global figureheads in one place at one time, there are calls that they shouldn't miss an opportunity to discuss climate change. These calls were quelled earlier in the week when G20 advisers reminded environmentalists that the climate change event of the year is in December, when the UN will hope to reach a global deal to replace the Kyoto agreement.

Granted, the G20 is not the place to discuss green rules for developed countries, but despite the scale of the economic crisis leaders should at least acknowledge a link between the economy, the environment, and how announcements such as Obama's stimulus plan and the myriad of various green initiatives within it all connect.

Meanwhile some environmentalists are challenging the logic of having a global summit once every few years - and the resulting lack of speed in agreeing, let alone implementing any agreements, needs to be dramatically changed. Even at a faster pace we would struggle in the race to keep up with the speed of fossil fuels being burnt, ice cap melting and deforestation. And December is a long way away....

Labels: Climate Change, G20 Summit, green efforts