July 29th, 2011 by TRT Blog

For travellers on a budget, the new “Groupon Getaways with Expedia” is great news. Through the Groupon/Expedia partnership, announced July 12^th, subscribers can book luxury hotels rooms at up to a 50 percent discount, and airfare and travel packages will soon be available as well.

Getaways is just the newest site to join the ranks of LivingSocial, SniqueAway and others. Groupon and Expedia have called the partnership a “win-win” for both consumers and the travel industry. But we wonder what the popularity of these sites will truly mean for hotels.

Madigan Pratt at Hospitality Trends says that, for travellers, the partnership is “the best thing to happen since the inflatable neck pillow. It may also be a good deal for Expedia/Groupon. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where it would ever be a good idea for your hotel.” He warns that Getaways will turn hotel rooms into commodities, and that hotels will risk their brand reputations and long-term value in favor of a short-term up-tick in sales. We find it hard to disagree.

With a combined 50 million Groupon and Expedia subscribers, Getaways certainly provides ample opportunity to drive more visitors to hotels. But simply selling rooms to new guests at a 75 percent discount might not be the best policy—and it certainly isn’t the best way to build customer loyalty. How will loyal guests feel when Getaways subscribers snag rooms at cheaper rates?

Many industry blogs are up in arms over Getaways’ marketing efforts, and call into question the benefits to hotel s that Groupon/Expedia claims. Pratt suggests that hotel owners ask themselves a few questions before buying into Getaways, including: “How does participation in Expedia/Groupon affect your brand image? … Will it erode my brand?”

Offering Getaways deals may well be a viable short-term solution to bring in new guests. But, for hotels looking to build their brand, retain customer loyalty and thrive in the long run, we’d suggest they think twice.

Getaways, Groupon, Hotels, savings, Travel

July 26th, 2011 by TRT Blog

The summer of travel continues for The Refinishing Touch. Last week we touched down in Orlando, FL, for this year’s Buyer’s Interactive Trade Alliance & Conference (BITAC). The details of each event are always carefully planned and this year was no different. From the beginning to the end, both our presence and the overall show was organized and executed perfectly. And it’s a good thing– with so much going on, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and miss out on the excitement.

Kicking off BITAC was the welcome dinner that The Refinishing Touch sponsored. Throughout the evening, our video presentation could be found on displays around the area and both Founder and President Mario Insenga and Lindsay Smith were introduced to the entire crowd. That night we broke the ice with those who attended with a few rounds of BINGO where everyone who won raised $25 for the Salvation Army. Yelling out “Bingo!” has never been so rewarding.

The next day is when everyone got to business. Introductions of hotel executives, vendors and suppliers took place and many were involved in interactive panels which offered insight into how executives have handled situations on their properties. After panel, attendees offered their ideas on how to handle these issues and the panel members each described their course of action. The panels were a great way to learn the needs and decision-making processes of those in charge of hotel properties.

Another great moment for us was when Mario was given an opportunity to showcase his knowledge of the hospitality industry during his own presentation and offering some hints to The Refinishing Touch’s ‘secret sauce’ recipe. It’s one thing to be able to meet with people in intimate one on one sessions at a booth, but having the opportunity to speak to a large group is a chance we never pass up. We hope everyone enjoyed the presentation as much as we enjoyed giving it.

We’d be remiss to not mention one of the more messy but worthwhile charity services events we’ve been a part of. Continuing the work with The Salvation Army, almost everyone who attended teamed up in groups to see which team could create the most peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in 20 minutes. All the sandwiches would later be paired with granola bars and drinks to be distributed to the homeless and less fortunate families in and around Orlando. Lindsay’s team was able to create an impressive 85 sandwiches in 20 minutes and BITAC ended up donating more than 1,600 sandwiches overall.

It wouldn’t be a trip to Orlando without a stop at Universal Studios. Dinner on our last night was held at the Universal Studios in Soundstage 33 followed by fireworks and exclusive use of two of the most popular rides there, Men in Black: Alien Attack and The Simpsons Ride. A playful end to a successful show.

BITAC was certainly a busy event. We were able to find time for more than 20 meetings with industry friends, old contacts and potential new ones, while also giving presentations, sponsoring other events and helping the less fortunate. This is one of the biggest shows in the hospitality industry and it goes without saying that we’re already looking forward to next year’s event.

BITAC, Events, hospitality, Orlando, Salvation Army

July 22nd, 2011 by TRT Blog

We’ve written before about General Services (GSA) Administrator Martha Johnson and how she’s taken on the task of making the government a Zero Environmental Footprint entity.

It was easy to imagine people being skeptical. It’s a major endeavor to be sure, and when it comes to the government things often end up being more bark than bite. But not, it appears, in this case – a year after the plan was announced, there’s been substantial, measurable success.

Martha Johnson has been a major supporter of sustainability on President Obama’s staff. For the last year she has gone across the country urging people to be smarter with their purchasing and to make the most of their existing assets – a motto the Refinishing Touch firmly believes in.

The GSA has shown its commitment to the initiative by the help it’s bringing in. Chief among the new hires is Eleni Reed, the Federal government’s first Chief Greening Officer. Ms. Reed has played a pivotal role in greening initiatives with major real estate development firms and metropolitan areas. She’s shown the aptitude to bring about a substantial change to our government’s environmental footprint.

Outside of the hiring, the GSA has been taking steps to make others aware of what’s needed to protect our environment. To advance the ZEF movement the GSA has:

• Embraced virtual work, which avoids having to heat or cool entire floors of workspace
• Helped small businesses tackle the challenge of tracking and accounting greenhouse gas emissions
• Launched a Smart Buildings program

While we see these steps already happening in businesses across the country, having the clout of the Federal government behind these initiatives gives them even greater importance.

The government’s ZEF initiative is ambitious, yet it appears to be making solid progress. Thanks to strong leadership and the commitment of our commander in chief, we’re no longer merely hopeful that we’ll see widespread change in environmental practices in the US. Now, we’re expecting it.

Government, GSA, Sustainability, ZEF, zero environmental footprint

July 19th, 2011 by TRT Blog

The Refinishing Touch has made its name and secured its market-leading position by doing more than refinishing furniture and upgrading the working, living and resting conditions of travelers, government workers and students. We firmly believe in going a step further by providing outstanding and innovative products and services and forging a deep commitment to the communities and industries we work with. Whether it is volunteering in programs run by our friends in the university field or contributing ideas designed to improve the surroundings of those who serve, we know what it takes to truly get involved on a deeper levels with our clients.

We’re continuing this through an exciting program with Hotel Interactive where we’ve been sponsoring a series of informative podcasts. These weekly programs, delivered by one of the leading names in hospitality news, are designed to bring informative discussions to listeners across the industry.

We’re proud to have been the sponsor for some of Hotel Interactive most engaging and entertaining episodes yet. In mid-June host Glenn Haussman and co-host Mark Viola hosted from atop New York’s DREAM Hotel rooftop for its Summer Spectacular Episode, which was followed by the latest developments in Las Vegas. In its most recent episode, Glenn and Mark were back in NYC on Park Avenue for the Urban Resort report.  The two have racked up listeners, new followers – and, we would think a number of travel points!

Opportunities such as this are always fun when we know that our name is associated with a show whose listeners are getting great information from a trustworthy and reliable source.

Our involvement doesn’t stop there. As you read this, we’ll be in attendance at another Hotel Interactive event, the Buyer Interactive Trade Alliance & Conference (BITAC). This has been rated as the number one show in hospitality and we’re excited to be sponsoring and attending. Be sure to expect a full report on BITAC next week!

BITAC, Hotel Interactive, podcasts, sponsorship

July 15th, 2011 by TRT Blog

It’s very rewarding to be able to give back to the earth during our projects. The use of environmentally friendly wood stains and fabrics for re-upholstering furniture are only two ways we use our knowledge and experience to help our university, government and hospitality clients achieve a like new look to their properties and assets. Despite the joy it gives us to complete these projects, it pales in comparison to the overwhelming sense of accomplishment and pride we get when one of our own gives back to a community in need.

Last weekend, our own Lindsay Smith volunteered at the St. Bernard Project in New Orleans. Groups of 10-15 worked on houses across the St. Bernard Parish in the lower ninth ward re-building houses that were lost to floods when the levies broke in the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. While there, Lindsay and her team were responsible for caulking and painting of windows around the home as well as the installation of laminate hardwood floors around the house. Lindsay herself worked in the master suite laying down flooring.

The homeowner, Tresea, had been through very trying times, living in a houseboat and FEMA trailer since Katrina. Thanks to Lindsay and the many others who participated, Tresea will soon have a new place to call home and enjoy with her family. Tresea was a gracious host in her soon-to-be-completed home helping at times and keeping everyone laughing throughout the day.

Lindsay’s volunteering didn’t stop there. Once work on one project was completed, Lindsay and many other volunteers turned up at another freshly completed home to welcome the homeowner back. The grateful recipient of the newly re-built house celebrated with cake and wonderful conversations with all their guests.

It was a delightful weekend filled with hard but incredibly rewarding work. After hearing about the experience and fulfillment Lindsay received from participating in the St. Bernard’s Project, we’re excited to continue working with them on a more consistent basis to be able to give back to others the way we’ve given back to the environment.

Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, St. Bernard’s Parish, volunteer work

July 12th, 2011 by TRT Blog

The Refinishing Touch team recently attended the Western Association of College and University Housing Officers (WACUHO) show in beautiful San Diego. The show, held at the University of San Diego campus, was an intimate event, but that didn’t lessen the amount of information we gained there.

Throughout the show there were various interest sessions. These informative discussions brought vendors and university officials together to share their thoughts on the steps needed to improve university housing. Given our close relationship with universities across the country, it was no surprise that our founder Mario Insenga was a participant in one of the interest sessions.

Along with two other exhibitors and ten university officials that were in attendance, Mario helped lead a discussion on university budget cuts, and getting best value for work that needs to be done within campus dorms. For an hour, Mario and other participants shared knowledge and learned from one another about the steps needed to move university housing forward.

With over 50 exhibitors and an ideal location, WACUHO is quickly becoming a must attend event. It’s expanding the discussion of dorms and other university housing – not only on the west coast, but for college campuses across the country. We were honored to share our insights and gain some additional knowledge from those in attendance. Now we’re looking forward to next year’s show, which is sure to have an even bigger impact.

Events, universities and refinishing, university housing, WACUHO, Western Association of College and University Housing Officers

July 8th, 2011 by TRT Blog

During a recent trip to a Cree Inc’s LED factory in North Carolina, President Obama took the time to talk about the importance of clean energy, greener practices and the positive effect that environmentally-friendly innovations have on our economy.

Cree is a good example. It’s a company that makes energy-efficient lighting and is a rare example of a business that’s flourished during the recession. No doubt it has been bolstered by $39 million in tax credits for manufacturing cleantech, the company’s created 750 jobs. And jobs are exactly what our troubled economy needs.

While at Cree, Obama also introduced the Jobs and Competitiveness Committee and discussed some of the plans it has come up with to accelerate job growth in the United States. These include training workers for open jobs, simplifying permitting to kick start construction projects, putting construction workers back on the job, helping small businesses get loans and making it easier for people to visit the US, thus boosting the travel and tourism industry.

The plans are likely to be bolstered by the government’s current push for better environmental practices. For example, the Better Buildings Initiative, announced back in February, aims to make commercial buildings 20 percent more energy efficient over the next decade. There are a lot of buildings that could be greener, which means there should be plenty of upgrade projects available to construction companies.

This shows there are strong incentives for companies to go green. As a green company ourselves, it’s hugely gratifying for us at The Refinishing Touch to see strong, encouragement for environmental practices. After all, for years we’ve played a role in helping a business or building become more environmentally friendly by providing a greener alternative to traditional furniture manufacturing.

Hopefully these new plans will succeed. New jobs and a greener America sounds like a win-win situation to us.

cleantech, Government, green energy, Obama

July 3rd, 2011 by TRT Blog

Tradition is important. It’s important to us in our personal lives – whether it’s the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, or Memorial Day, we tend adopt a similar routine each year. It’s a great feeling – a shared experience and chance to reflect that brings us closer together. But tradition is equally important to the hospitality industry. It helps hotels keep business plans updated – to plan guest numbers, stock levels, staff requirements,  handle furniture assets, and to schedule renovations.

So when something happens that breaks tradition, it has the potential to catch hotels by surprise. A new survey out this week has revealed that this year’s Fourth of July celebrations might be one of those times.

The study was conducted by TNS Global, and commissioned by SpringHill Suites by Marriott. It discovered that the July summer holiday could be many families’ main vacation this year – it’s surprising because traditionally Thanksgiving is considered the ‘big one’ for families.

Of course, it’s unlikely many hotels will be unable to cope with the extra volume. Thanksgiving holds a special place in our hearts, but the Fourth of July isn’t exactly an unimportant date on the calendar. Even so, if this does mark the start of a trend it could have an impact on the way hotels manage things like product improvement plans (PIPs) and furniture renovations.

Here at The Refinishing Touch, we spend a lot of our time working with hotels to maintain, refurbish or remake their furniture. We’ve learned that hotels need to be prepared for those times when the market reacts differently than expected. Maintaining furniture throughout the whole year is a sensible idea, and working with a refinisher is a quick and affordable way to do that. It means that even when surprised, the hotel is ready to react to the event, meet demand, and give their customers the high quality experience they demand.

So ultimately, tradition is great. But let’s not be afraid to start new ones.

And from all of us at The Refinishing Touch, have a great holiday!

July 1st, 2011 by TRT Blog

In today’s operational update, we’re really excited to share news of the newly-renovated Hotel FIVE in downtown Seattle, which was re-opened with an honorary ‘Pineapple Cutting’: a unique take on ribbon-cutting by Pineapple Hospitality the hotel’s owners.

Desk before

Formerly the downtown Ramada, Hotel FIVE brings a new meaning to ‘urban oasis’.  With industrial-themed inspirations that include artwork depicting blueprints and various industrial mechanics this boutique hotel is centrally-located at 5th and Blanchard – but don’t be fooled: it may be centrally-located and have subtle industrial themes but thanks to work completed by The Refinishing Touch it’s a shining example of refinishing and hospitality at its best.

As one of four hospitality properties owned and operated by Pineapple Hospitality in Seattle, Hotel FIVE has undergone extensive renovations in order to reveal 60 newly decorated hotel rooms into the Seattle market.  To date, the hotel has undergone extensive renovations with a new lobby area and the 60 completely-renovated and refinished guest rooms with new hardwood floors, urban industrial art, and modern furnishings.  And this is just the first of two renovation phases – the next will be a further set of refinishing and renovations throughout the hotel – we’ll be sure to keep you updated!

This is where The Refinishing Touch received an opportunity to shine. As you all know we are a national leader in refinishing, upholstery, armoire conversions and fabric sales, but it’s not every day we are awarded the opportunity to do what we have done here at Hotel FIVE: the  hotel management wanted to preserve existing furniture and so asked us to remanufacture the desks and credenzas into a single piece of furniture.  Of course we accepted the challenge: our dedicated crew of furniture experts worked tirelessly to complete the production of these beautifully crafted pieces. Designed to fit the urban theme of the new hotel, each credenza boasts a black base with a ravishing red top to perfectly match the rest of the hotel’s décor.

Desk after

While you are also visiting the Seattle area, Hotel FIVE is centrally located near the city’s most famous attractions. Known as ‘The Emerald City’ and home to one of the most recognized landmarks in the United States, the Space Needle, this metropolis is surely one you won’t want to miss out on. Built in 1962 for the World’s Fair, the Space Needle stands at 605 feet to provide breathtaking views of Seattle, Puget Sound and Mount Rainier. After relishing in the panoramic views, be sure to spend some time at Pike Place Market. The market offers fresh produce, food specialties and souvenirs year round, but perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the market is the flying fish spectacle. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before! The famous Pike Place fishmongers work daily tossing, spinning and catching the fresh fish that come in off the boats throughout the day. If you’re lucky, you may be able to suit up and get in on the action yourself. Don’t worry there is plenty to do if you are traveling with children as well. The Seattle Children’s Theatre, The Children’s Museum and Seattle Center Outdoor Area are all within walking distance from Hotel FIVE.

Contrary to popular belief, it does not rain all the time in Seattle. In reality, we receive more annual precipitation here in Atlanta, Georgia, than Seattle. Although winter is the wettest season, Seattle’s summers are warm, dry and sunny with cool nights.  Of all the places our crews have traveled, Seattle certainly is in our top FIVE.

furniture refinishing, hotel, Operational Update, restoration