June 14th, 2013 by TRT Blog

At The Refinishing Touch, we hold sustainability and environmentalism at the highest standard each and every time we set to work on a new venture. Whether within the hospitality, government, or higher education sector, each project is carefully completed with our eco-friendly, non-toxic, low VOC lacquers and sustainable fabrics from our Touch Textiles, such as the recently added Embrace recycled leather material. 

Customers who choose The Refinishing Touch’s furniture asset management services are conscious of their carbon footprint and dedicated to making a positive impact in the environment and improving overall project efficiency. For their environmental leadership, which we encourage others to follow, we have rewarded their efforts with our quarterly Sustainability Awards.

This quarter, we recognized some of our recent and most environmentally-conscious clients including: Doubletree Aurora, Co, Hampton Inn Fairfax City, Hampton Inn Garden City, Navy Lodge North Island, Old Town Inn, The Westin Grand Central, World Mark Dolphins Cove, and World Mark Gleneden Beach.

Hoteliers, governmental regulators and university campus facilitators alike are facing increasing pressures to cut costs and enforce green practices. With over 35 years of experience, we understand the need for cost- and time-efficiency during renovations, along with sustainability.

Typically, a large-scale renovation is completed by the purchase of new furniture. Alternatively, The Refinishing Touch works on-site to re-upholster, refinish, and repurpose any and all existing furniture assets to cut costs, eradicate harmful landfill waste, and minimize carbon emissions resulting in increased environmental ratings, and often LEED certifications, for each of our clients.

To learn more about The Refinishing Touch, and how your establishment can receive one of our Sustainability Awards, visit our website to request a free quote today. 

awards, environmentalism, furniture asset management, Government, higher education, hospitality, LEED certification, Sustainability, The Refinishing Touch, Touch Textiles

June 11th, 2013 by TRT Blog

Our award-winning furniture asset management services can be applied in a variety of industries to achieve sustainable, cost-effective and high-quality renovations. The Refinishing Touch holds extensive experience within the governmental sector, with projects completed in various government-regulated housing institutions, the White House, courthouses and more.

With over 35 years’ worth of experience, it is important to us as a company to share our knowledge in the industry, in a greater effort to spread awareness around cost-efficient, yet sustainable renovation alternatives. In the latest edition of Defense Communities, a publication geared towards military housing and lodging professionals, Mario Insenga, president and founder of The Refinishing Touch, shares his tip on creating a greener, budget-friendly military establishment – re-upholstery.

In an article entitled, ‘The Sustainable Option – Reupholstery: The fabric of a greener military establishment’, Insenga elaborates on the many benefits of furniture re-upholstery, including:

• Cost-efficiency: Military establishment managers save on budget by avoiding movers’ fees, installation costs, and most importantly, avoiding having to buy brand new assets.
• Environmental awareness: Through re-upholstery, scrap fabric waste and wooden assets avoid making their way into the nation’s landfills. Re-upholstery also minimizes the rate of deforestation and carbon emissions.
• Minimal downtime: Our expert crews arrive on-site, and complete room renovations within a day’s time
• Meeting legislation requirements: GSA regulations (Executive Order 13242 and USC Title 40) require government agencies and establishments to implement sustainable environmental practices across renewable energy initiatives, waste management programs, construction projects and more. By investing in re-upholstery services, property managers meet such legislation.

With a wide selection of fabric in our Touch Textiles line, The Refinishing Touch prides itself in its professional furniture re-upholstery services, which can save up to 80 percent of a business’s budget. Our expert cutting and sewing processes allow for minimal scrap fabric waste, in a time-efficient manner.

Insenga summarizes the piece by stating, “The military is finding broad benefits, both green and fiscal, in re-upholstery…ultimately improving the look and function of furniture, both short- and long-term ROI, the planet, and the bottom line.”

To read the entire article, grab your copy of Defense Communities and flip to page 26 today. For more information pertaining to furniture asset management and what The Refinishing Touch can do for your establishment, please visit our website or email us at info@therefinishingtouch.com. 

cost-effective renovations, Defense Communities, Executive Order 13242, fabric, furniture asset management, government housing, GSA, regulations, renovations, reupholstery, Sustainability, textiles, The Refinishing Touch, USC Title 40, White House

May 28th, 2013 by TRT Blog

Guest author: Dorene Burlew
Dorene is general manager of the Candlewood Suites in Killeen, Texas 

As a seasoned hotelier, I began working with the Candlewood Suites in Killeen, Texas some nine months ago, intrigued by the chance to manage an establishment with a commitment to continuously improving guest satisfaction.

This Candlewood Suite hotel has successfully positioned itself as the premier extended-stay location for business travelers, Fort Hood military personnel and vacationers looking to experience the very best of Texas. As an organization, we take great pride in the strong relationships forged with our recurring guests, as we regularly reach out to our lodgers for feedback and insight on how to best serve them.

As a staff, we were well aware of our deteriorating desk chairs and lounge seating, as the upholstery was beginning to fade and pull apart. Many of the chairs had ink stains on them that we just couldn’t get off. In fact, the furniture was in such dire need of renovating that it was the primary reason we were receiving negative reviews. In order to continue catering to our guests, we knew something had to be done. But with an entirely revamped hotel scheme in the works for the next few years, and with an internal goal of becoming a more sustainable facility, we knew buying brand new assets was out of the question.

After some initial research, we found the carbon emissions released by purchasing new seats and chairs would have totaled approximately 21.30 tons, while implementing re-upholstering allowed us to reduce that to just .21 tons. In addition to environmental savings, we also searched for a cost-effective alternative to purchasing new seating, and both of those goals were fulfilled by the solution offered by The Refinishing Touch, who provided us with a total cost savings of 64.3%, when compared to buying new assets.

In February 2013, an experienced, friendly and hard-working production crew came to our hotel to complete the renovations – offering unrivaled on-site furniture re-upholstery services. In a short time, each of the 138 desk chairs and lounge seats within the Killeen establishment was recovered, looking like-new once again. Through The Refinishing Touch’s re-upholstery, seat cushions now had air-breathing holes worked into the fabric, and the soft padding offered a renewed sense of comfort and aesthetics.

The Refinishing Touch used Embrace™ recycled leather to cover the soft seating, offering the same look and feel as traditional leather but at a fraction of the cost. The line is a part of its Touch Textiles fabric division, which offers a variety of other seating upholstery choices in addition to Embrace.

Thanks to the re-upholstery work, the lounge and guestrooms felt luxurious and sophisticated, which quickly led to raving customer reviews from our extended-stay travelers. Furthermore, the money re-upholstering allowed us to save was used to better the hotel in other ways, creating a completely updated guest experience all throughout the establishment.

I’ve been recommending The Refinishing Touch’s services and textile line to a number of hotels within the San Antonio area, and I will continue to do so throughout my career. The normally daunting task of renovating was carried out in a time-efficient, seamless manner, with minimal disturbance to lodgers.

If you ever find yourself in Killeen, please be sure to stop in and see The Refinishing Touch’s work first-hand. You can find us right off of the Central Texas Expressway, conveniently located near Fort Hood. Please visit our website and book your stay today.

If you’re interested in furniture asset management at your own establishment, which includes furniture refinishing, re-upholstery and armoire modification, request a free quote from The Refinishing Touch’s experienced team.

Candlewood Suites, Candlewood Suites Killeen, Fort Hood, furniture asset management, Killeen, Killeen Texas, re-upholstery, refinishing, renovations, Texas, The Refinishing Touch

May 14th, 2013 by TRT Blog

Since our inception in 1977, The Refinishing Touch has worked closely with hoteliers to ensure time-efficient, sustainable, on-site furniture renovations that save on budget while simultaneously helping to increase profit margins. We’ve witnessed numerous peaks and valleys during our time in the hotel industry, including working through the ‘golden years’ of 2007-2008, followed by the economic recession shortly after.

With our close ties to the lodging industry, we are pleased to share the latest market forecast from STR, the parent company of HotelNewsNow.com. According to STR’s early indications, US hoteliers will experience a busy and profitable summer season ahead, with both the average occupancy and daily rate rising compared to last year.

Revenue per available room is also forecasted to improve, with the average per night ringing in at $78.50, a substantial increase of 5.4 percent from 2012. And with advance booking rates filling up quickly, the predictions are already holding true for several hotel owners throughout the US. Florida’s Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach Resort has begun to reach peak occupancy numbers that resemble the pre-recession hotel industry, some five years ago.

The predicted bounce-back can be attributed to many factors. One of which is the noticeable increase in both consumer and business confidence, as many hotels have undergone renovations to improve appearance and customer satisfaction, while increasing room rates – similar to our recent customer, The Inn at King of Prussia BEST WESTERN PLUS, who updated their armoires to fit new, plasma televisions and improve customer satisfaction. And such room renovations don’t always require breaking the bank – with cost-efficient alternatives like furniture refinishing, re-upholstery and remanufacturing, hoteliers can save up to 80 percent on budget costs while drastically improving on appearance by implementing furniture asset management solutions.

For more information on what is bound to be a successful summer for hoteliers, please read the full list of predictions courtesy of HotelNewsNow.com.

To see The Refinishing Touch’s before-and-after renovation work in action, please watch a quick video of a recent furniture refinishing project completed at The Inn at King of Prussia BEST WESTERN PLUS. Like what you see? Then please email us for a free quote at your establishment today.

Furniture before (left) and after (right) The Refinishing Touch’s furniture asset management services at The Inn at King of Prussia BEST WESTERN PLUS

furniture asset management, furniture refinishing, hospitality, HotelNewsNow.com, Hotels, STR, The Inn at King of Prussia BEST WESTERN PLUS, The Refinishing Touch

April 23rd, 2013 by TRT Blog

Guest author: Tien-Yueh Bosma Kubach

Tien-Yueh is the owner of BEST WESTERN PLUS The Inn at King of Prussia, and Governor of District 7 – Region 7 Best Western International.

Guest room before renovations

As the third generation in a family of hotel and restaurant owners, I’ve learned the keys to successful property management – and it all starts with guest satisfaction.

Over the past six years, BEST WESTERN PLUS The Inn at King of Prussia has transformed into a modern, inviting establishment that comfortably accommodates both business professionals and leisure travelers. We pride ourselves in promptly responding to and meeting guest requests – ranging from a large fitness center, free printing in the business center to the addition of ergonomic desk chairs in all of the guestrooms.

Recently, our business lodgers took to surveys, phone calls and in-person conversations to express the growing need for bigger, updated LCD televisions. With this in mind, we immediately looked into the latest technology, but we still had one major problem – what to do with the custom-made, well-built television armoires in each guestroom?

The solution was The Refinishing Touch’s fast, on-site furniture refinishing, re-upholstery and armoire conversion services. In just 30 days, the company’s experienced production crew restored headboards, nightstands, side chairs, benches, desks, micro fridge cabinets and armoires in 100 rooms throughout our establishment. The company was able to preserve our original, high-quality cherry armoires by trimming, resurfacing and re-staining each piece to make a sleeker, more modern television unit.

One of my favorite aspects of the company’s work is its ability to renovate on-site, reducing potential damage of maneuvering furniture through tight corners and corridors, and saving money on expensive moving and storage costs. The production team was very cooperative throughout the process, continually taking our feedback into account, and avoiding any late night or early morning operations. Both guests and employees were left undisturbed, and we were able to remain open for business during renovations – significantly improving short- and long-term ROI.

Armoire after renovations

Guest room after renovations

By investing in furniture asset management solutions instead of purchasing new, our property was able to save nearly 76 percent in total expenditure, and further our commitment to environmental responsibility by cutting projected greenhouse gas emissions (in tons) from 125.32 to a mere 1.24. Thanks to The Refinishing Touch, we were able to cater to our guests and maintain complete customer satisfaction, while remaining conscious of our budget and the environment.

I would recommend The Refinishing Touch’s services to my colleagues, and to other property managers who want to stay ahead of the competition and create a more modern ambience without breaking the bank. For a quick before and after video on the work completed at the King of Prussia property, click here.

And if you’re ever in the Philadelphia area, be sure to visit BEST WESTERN PLUS The Inn at King of Prussia to see the renovation work firsthand – we’re only 20 miles west of the bustling city and located directly across from the King of Prussia Mall, the second largest mall in the US. Please visit our website to book your stay today. We look forward to serving you!

armoire conversion, Best Western International, BEST WESTERN PLUS The Inn at King of Prussia, guest blog, hospitality, hotel, hotel renovations, Pennsylvania, refinishing, The Refinishing Touch, Tien-Yueh Bosma Kubach

April 16th, 2013 by TRT Blog

One of our favorite things to do as part of The Refinishing Touch team – next to providing our clients with award-winning furniture asset management, of course – is keeping our customers, partners, and supporters informed of news and views.  This includes on-site updates from our customers, opinions from the team here at The Refinishing Touch alongside highlights of hospitality, government and education news relating to  sustainability, cost management and refinishing trends.

As well as attending a range of industry events, frequently updating our blog, and meeting customers in person we get to do this via our quarterly InTouch Newsletter.

For those of you who are already subscribed, expect to see the latest edition of InTouch, highlighting Q1 2013, in your inboxes today! We’ve started 2013 with a bang and are so excited to share our news with you.

Here’s just some of what you can expect from today’s issue:

- Government: In a recent article for Defense Communities our founder and president, Mario Insenga, takes a deeper look at how the government is implementing furniture re-upholstery to optimize budgets and meet federal regulations

- Higher education: In a recent poll on our blog, we asked readers to answer the question: ‘What cost-saving higher-education initiative do you find most effective?’ The answer is waiting for you in ‘On The Record: TRT asks its readers’

- Hospitality: We take you on a tour of our recently completed project at the Best Western Fort Walton Beach Hotel which resulted in zero landfill waste

- Company updates: We recently received ISO 9001:2008 certification. This means a great deal to us –  and to our customers and partners.  We tell you why, and also update you on which trade shows you’ll  find us at this season

To sign up for your quarterly copy of InTouch, please subscribe here.   

You can always read past issues of our newsletter in our website archive , and remember you can always learn more about The Refinishing Touch and our services at  our website or please get in touch via info@therefinishingtouch.com.    

We look forward to staying InTouch!

company updates, Defense Communities, Government, higher education, hospitality, InTouch newsletter, The Refinishing Touch

April 12th, 2013 by TRT Blog

Here at The Refinishing Touch, we work diligently on every one of our projects, ensuring our award-winning furniture asset management solutions are implemented to the fullest extent – from beginning to end. One of the key industries we work with to implement our services is higher education, where we operate in dormitories and various campus-wide edifices to remodel existing furniture assets, saving on budget costs and eradicating harmful landfill waste, when compared to buying new.

Similarly, a recent interview with The Refinishing Touch’s founder and president, Mario Insenga, was highlighted in the March and April edition of The Association of College and University Housing Officers, International (ACUHO-I) magazine, Talking Stick – The Authoritative Source for Campus Housing. The article entitled ‘Weighing in on Waste’, investigates the topic of effective waste management within the college community.

Presented with the opportunity to spread our knowledge, Mario was able to stress the importance of sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices, as well as showcase the monetary benefits higher education institutions have experienced by implementing our furniture asset management services.

To close his interview, Mario raises an important point to readers – one that is heard quite frequently around The Refinishing Touch offices, and one that is at the core of our day-to-day operations: Extend the life of your furniture assets by utilizing the material that’s found inside of a building already.

To read the entire article, head on over to page 21 of the most recent Talking Stick, and for more information on The Refinishing Touch’s services, visit our website or email us at info@therefinishingtouch.com.

ACUHO-I, budget, furniture, furniture asset management, higher education, refinishing, remanufacturing, reupholstery, Sustainability, The Association of College and University Housing Officers, The Refinishing Touch, The Talking Stick, waste management

April 9th, 2013 by TRT Blog

Here at The Refinishing Touch, we have worked diligently over the past 35 years to showcase our commitment to reducing harmful landfill waste. Because of this, we are always pleased to see initiatives by others come to fruition and make an impact.

Recently, the Pathway to Zero Waste project captured our attention, with aspirations to reduce the amount of trash in local Massachusetts landfills by nearly a third by the end of the decade, and a full 80 percent by 2050. Pathway to Zero Waste is an initiative led by Massachusetts state environmental leaders that is projected to kick off later this spring – although anticipation has already hit nationwide.

The project’s overall goal is to cut greenhouse gas emissions from trash disposal, and ease the amount of waste making its way into Massachusetts landfills. As part of the plan, businesses and residents are required to improve recycling habits, to ensure fewer toxic materials and other banned substances end up in the state’s waste stream. Commercial food waste from restaurants, hotels and other businesses in hospitality would also be forced to adapt to new waste methods and mandates.

While some claim the plan is controversial, we couldn’t help but support a project that strives towards the same cause as our company – environmental preservation. By refinishing, re-upholstering and remanufacturing existing furniture assets, The Refinishing Touch has prevented approximately 2,250,000 pounds of wood from making its way into the nation’s landfill, since our inception in 1977. Recently, we completed an armoire conversion renovation at the Best Western Fort Walton Beach Hotel, in Florida, that produced zero landfill waste – an aspiration more hotels should strive towards.

Not only does our restoration work in the hospitality, government and higher education housing industries reduce a business’s carbon footprint, it also helps property managers save on budget costs. By avoiding the pricy need to buy brand new furniture, our furniture asset management services lower renovation budgets by nearly 90 percent.

To learn more about Massachusetts’ Pathway to Zero Waste, read the full article here. For more information on The Refinishing Touch’s cost-efficient, sustainable furniture asset management services, please visit our website or request a free quote today.

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April 2nd, 2013 by TRT Blog

As an international furniture asset management company with offices in the US and Canada, The Refinishing Touch is always looking for industry leaders who demonstrate environmental preservation and fiscally-responsible behavior.

Our most recent research takes us to the Fairfield Inn & Suites Montreal Airport by Marriott, where the property has shown significant improvement to sustainable efforts, receiving a 4-Key rating from The Green Key Program.  The Green Key Program recognizes green hotels, motels and resorts that are committed to improving their environmental and fiscal performance. As of right now, an impressive 2,967 hotels are ranked, meaning that the establishments have proven their commitment to upholding sustainable practices.

Through reduced utility consumption, employee training and supply chain management tactics, the Montreal Airport hotel was able to achieve its high 4-star rating – just one star shy of top marks. The ratings are given based upon energy conservation, water conservation, indoor air quality, community outreach, building infrastructure, land use and environmental management.

The Fairfield Inn & Suites Montreal Airport shared some of its projects, rules and regulations that helped drive the Marriott-owned property to environmental leadership in an article found on Waste Management World:

- Extensive recycling: The hotel implemented recycling in all of its guestrooms, its banquet hall, and other public spaces, ensuring recycling bins were easily accessible from any area

- Paper waste management: The property removed newspaper delivery services, and replaced it with an over-the-counter free newspaper option. The Montreal hotel also began using 100% recycled paper towel products.

- Use of biodegradable materials: Easy to decompose, biodegradable glass, plates, bowls and utensils      were purchased for use in the breakfast area, in an effort to reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint.

Here at The Refinishing Touch, we’ve worked with several divisions of the Marriott brand, including Marriott Hotels and Resorts, Renaissance Hotels and Resorts, and Residence Inn, to deliver yet another eco-friendly, cost-effective solution – furniture asset management.

During renovations, hoteliers are often posed with the daunting task of maintaining brand standards and aesthetics, while balancing tightened budgets. The solution can be found in repurposing furniture assets – which can range from refinishing, re-upholstery, resurfacing and armoire modification. By using The Refinishing Touch’s services, hotels save an estimated 80 percent in budget costs, and 90 percent in projected carbon emissions – dramatically lowering a property’s overall carbon footprint.

In a sector with such a large capacity for change, it is imperative that hotels, motels, and resorts worldwide realize the impact they have on the environment and the ability they possess to further sustainable development.

To learn more about The Refinishing Touch and its services, please visit our website. For an in-depth look at the sustainable efforts implemented by the Fairfield Inn & Suites Montreal Airport, please read the full news article here.

Canada, Fairfield Inn & Suites Montreal Airport, furniture asset management, furniture refinishing, green, hospitality, Marriott, Montreal, Recycling, refinishing, remanufacturing, reupholstery, Sustainability, The Green Key Program, The Refinishing Touch, US, Waste Management World

March 22nd, 2013 by TRT Blog

Spring is here, and with the warmer weather comes the 8^th edition of our quarterly newsletter, InTouch. The next version of The Refinishing Touch’s newsletter will cover an eventful first quarter in 2013, filled with industry news, project overviews and internal milestones.

While the suspense mounts throughout the next few weeks, we’ll leave you with a few hints as to what to expect when the new InTouch hits email inboxes on Tuesday, April 16^th:

- Learn how The Refinishing Touch executed a furniture restoration project that resulted in zero landfill waste

- Get a closer look into the Canadian hospitality market, including trends, challenges and expert analysis

- Read more about our newly acquired ISO certification, and what the recognition truly means to the team

For these topics, and much more, you’ll want to join the InTouch mailing list. To do so, please visit our news page on our site, and submit your contact information in the upper right-hand subscription box.

While on the page, why not visit our newsletter archives, where you can read up on past editions of The Refinishing Touch’s newsletter and learn more about our award-winning, on-site furniture asset management services in the hospitality, government and higher education housing industries.

And, as always, we look forward to staying InTouch with you! Please feel free to send all comments, questions and future content suggestions to marketing@therefinishingtouch.com or tweet us @RefinishTouch.

cost efficiency, furniture asset management, Government, higher education, hospitality, InTouch newsletter, refinishing, remanufacturing, renovations, reupholstery, Sustainability, The Refinishing Touch