January 12th, 2012 by TRT Blog

InTouch is back! The third installment of our quarterly newsletter was released today and we’re excited to continue to bring you company updates, ongoing projects, upcoming events, commentary on world news and thoughts on the economy, straight from The Refinishing Touch.

This quarter’s newsletter is filled with stories about our work at the Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans, news and comments on the 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference that convened at the end of last year, thoughts on how companies and organizations should examine key performance indicators (KPIs), resolutions for 2012, and more.

We hope you enjoy this edition of InTouch. To subscribe to our quarterly newsletter, fill out a subscription form at the bottom of our homepage.

As always, thanks for reading!

intouch, KPIs, Mario Insenga, newsletter, quarterly newsletter, resolutions, The Refinishing Touch, Windsor Court Hotel

October 6th, 2011 by TRT Blog

The second installment of our quarterly newsletter was released last week and we’re excited to continue to bring you updates straight from The Refinishing Touch about current projects, events, and industry news. The newsletter included stories on our work at Eastern Mennonite University, Mario’s thoughts on the financial crisis, our charity efforts at the Salvation Army, and more. To get all of these stories and more, sign up for our quarterly newsletter by filling out a subscription form at the bottom of our home page.

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September 16th, 2011 by TRT Blog

September 11, 2001 is a day that will forever weigh heavily on the hearts of all Americans and millions of others around the world. With the tenth anniversary observed and mourned only a few days ago, we are reminded of incredible strength needed to rebuild.

In an effort to honor those who lost their lives and accompany the beautiful 9/11 memorial, the greenest, most environmentally advanced skyscraper is slowly making its way into the New York City skyline.

1 World Trade Center, or 1 WTC as it’s frequently referred to, has already drawn an impressive list of tenants upon its 2014 opening—including Condé Nast that has signed a deal worth around $2 billion dollars over the next 25 years for over a million square feet of office space.

Tenants will be moving into a state-of-the-art building, including features such as daylighting, in which interior lights will dim automatically based on the amount of natural light coming in, hydrogen fuel cells that will provide 1.2 megawatts of power, and steam turbines, which will turn wasted steam into electricity.

The building will promote healthy living as well, with CO­₂ sensors that will increase fresh air in offices that need it. The lower Manhattan financial area will also see increased public transportation access and facilities for bicycle commuters in an effort to decrease car traffic and air pollution.

All of these features are designed to achieve gold level certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)—the second highest attainable status. The certification would be the first of its kind for a skyscraper of this size.

9/11 was will forever be an unfortunate chapter in our country’s history. But with a new skyscraper and breathtakingly stunning memorial, New York City’s and our country’s memories of those lost and the bravery of the first responders will be honored and never forgotten.

September 2nd, 2011 by TRT Blog

No organization, regardless of size, function or industry, is immune from the perception that it needs to do more for the environment. This stands true for businesses, universities, and branches of government, including the military.

Fortunately most organizations recognize this need, and from the work we’ve done across its various divisions, including the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force, this includes the United States Armed Forces.

And it’s important that they do: the US military is responsible for 80% of the Federal Government’s energy use and one percent of the nation’s total energy consumption.

Much of the progress being made is thanks to forward thinking on the part of military decision makers. Leaders in the Pentagon are looking to lesser known agencies that are big on energy savings for purchases. The Marines and the Army are replacing surveillance systems with more energy efficient versions, and the Army and Navy are taking a page out of the general consumers’ handbook and developing fuel efficient and hybrid technology vehicles, such as the Clandestine Extended Range Vehicle (CERV).

The CERV is an all-wheel drive vehicle with a diesel hybrid-electric powertrain that can produce over 5,000 foot-pounds of torque. This beast can travel 80 miles per hour and climb terrain with a 60% grade. Designed for use overseas, it’s just one example of what the military is doing to move forward in an efficient way.

As technology advances, it’s safe to say that we can expect to see more developments from the private sector infiltrate the military, and help make it a lean green fighting machine.

August 30th, 2011 by TRT Blog

One of the most beautiful and breathtaking regions of the country, Sonoma Wine Country is like no place you’ve ever experienced. The Refinishing Touch team got to find this out first-hand while working at the Doubletree Sonoma Wine Country Hotel.

There are over 49,000 acres of vineyards and about 200 wineries to explore in Sonoma. If wine isn’t your thing, perhaps a museum dedicated to Peanuts and Charlie Brown creator, Charles Schultz, is. To catch the region’s beauty on full display, you can take in the views from a hot air balloon ride or travel down the Pacific Coastline and relax on the beaches of Bodega Bay. There are even tours that allow you to harvest your own lavender.

If you just feel like hanging out around the resort, you’ll be able to do so while enjoying the over 300 items in the hotel (from lounge chairs to sofas) that our upholstery crew completed. They first completed the cutting and sewing portion of the project at our home facility located in Alpharetta, Georgia, and then headed out to California to complete the installation process on-site. Our work matched the elegant Tuscan-inspired décor the Sonoma hotel offers.

Outside of our work, at the resort you’ll also be able to find family style dining that honors local farmers, along with a beautiful heated courtyard pool and Jacuzzi for complete relaxation. The resort also boasts two 18-hole championship golf courses and you don’t want to miss out on the hotel’s complimentary local wine and cheese reception every Friday night.

Business is booming in Sonoma Wine Country (and how can it not, the wine industry in Sonoma County contributes over $8 million to the local economy each year) and the Doubletree Sonoma Wine Country hotel is determined to keep up with the ever popular moelleux vacation spot. We’re pleased that we could raise a glass and help contribute to the already natural beauty of the resort and area. Cheers!

August 26th, 2011 by TRT Blog

Here at The Refinishing Touch, we like to educate just as much as we like to work, so beginning today we’re introducing a new feature on our blog: Refinishing Resource. This month we’re focusing on how you can reduce a property’s carbon footprint through refinishing instead of buying new.

If there’s one thing everyone can agree on across all industries, it’s that wise investment in your property, be it university, hospitality or government, can mean the difference between a lean green property and one that unnecessarily harms the environment and costs its owners too much.

For each property we work at, we provide a cost benefit analysis which shows the savings achieved by refinishing instead of buying new. In almost every instance, owners and managers are shocked at how much we can save. And that’s before we bring up the environmental impact the work we do has. Or more specifically, the lack of one.

In comparison, consider everything that goes into the new furniture process. Time and energy into placing orders, new materials for construction of the order, packaging, emissions from the shipment, waste from the disposal of existing furniture – it ‘s very wasteful.

Admittedly, sometimes you need new furniture – it’s unavoidable. But more often than not, the strain on the environment can be reduced by refinishing instead. With each refinishing and reupholstering project on existing assets at a property (from couches, to desks to doors), the lives of dozens of trees can be saved, and emissions will drop.

So when it comes to investing in refurbishment, take our advice. Understand that every situation is different. Take the time to consider what needs to be replaced and what can be reused. By doing this, you’re not only reducing your costs, but also lowering the repercussions on the environment as well.

If you’d like to see how big your property’s carbon footprint reduction can be through refinishing, check out our website and enter your information on our Carbon Foot Print calculator to find out.

August 12th, 2011 by TRT Blog

We haven’t been shy about sharing our opinion of how hotels should be spending the funds that are beginning to come back into their coffers. We’ve been talking about the benefits of renovating and refurbishing as opposed to buying new, and after this year’s BITAC East event in Orlando, it sounds like many hotel owners and operators feel the same way we do (read about our time at BITAC East here).

In a poll conducted by our friends at Hotel Interactive, 81 percent of respondents said it was critical to renovate now.

In the article, a design firm representative said: “Properties are three years behind schedule already and unless you’re renovating at that moment you’re even further behind.”

While it’s clear that renovations are necessary, what is less certain is where hotels should be spending design time and dollars.

We see renovations of any type as an important and intelligent form of spending, but hotel owners must take their individual needs into heavy consideration when planning where to renovate. The poll revealed differing opinions on where renovations should focus. While 36 percent of hotel owners said the lobby was the most crucial area to invest in, 20 percent thought the primary focus of renovations should be the rooms themselves– After all, that is where guests spend the most time. Another 35 percent said that refurbishment of soft goods was their focus, perhaps because they thought their rooms were already up to par. The bathroom still remains one of the most prominent places to renovate, with one attendee saying that a wife will pay for the privilege of not hearing her husband use the facilities.

The general consensus was that renovations should be done on high traffic areas, instead of on the special amenities that fewer guests will actually use. The best example of this was giving rooms blackout shades for the late risers and adding better soundproofing so you don’t hear the TV one room over. Almost all of the hotel’s guest will be able to appreciate these upgrades, while only a few would notice upgrades to perks like hot tubs that only some guests take advantage of.

Regardless of what renovations hotels decide to make, we’re glad to see the conversation taking place. Just a few months ago, many hotels weren’t even sure if they’d have a hotel to renovate when all was said and done. Deciding where to renovate is a good problem to have, in our opinion.

June 28th, 2011 by TRT Blog

Hoteliers start your engines. The last few years have been tough for the hospitality industry, but hotels are finally setting off down the road to recovery. There’s good reason for owners to start feeling enthusiastic and optimistic about the opportunities ahead, but they still need to exercise caution. The road to recovery is not an easy one, nor is it straightforward. It’s winding, maddeningly unpredictable, and covered with obstacles and speed humps.

Take Product Improvement Plans (PIPs), for example. Hotels that are owned by a group or franchised are required to spend a significant portion of their budget on renovations, to bring the establishment in line with overall brand expectations. This could include replacing televisions in rooms with more up to date models, or updating worn or out-of-style hotel furniture.

During the darkest days of the recession, many hotels put elements of their PIPs on the backburner. And for the most part, hotel owners were okay with it –money was tight, and there was a general acceptance that certain improvements would have to wait. But suddenly PIPs are looking very important indeed. Brand owners are pushing their hotels hard to meet their plans and quickly get up to spec.

Which, for many establishments, is easier said than done. Things may be getting better, but the money still isn’t flowing like it used to.

Staining existing hotel furniture can really pay off

But here at The Refinishing Touch we know that hotels can go a long way towards fulfilling their PIPs by making intelligent use of what they’ve already got. In our experience, it’s usually faster, and cheaper to refinish and repurpose existing furniture than order an entirely new set. This is something that The Refinishing Touch specialises in, and it’s something that we find ourselves doing more and more. Similarly, many companies ask us to repurpose furniture that is no longer needed – armoires for example – into new pieces that can help with their PIP.

Hospitality professionals need to start thinking very hard about their PIPs right now, because they represent one of the biggest obstacles on the road to recovery. But by planning ahead, and making use of existing resources such as hotel furniture, hotel owners should be able to steer round it and drive on to success.

hotel furniture, Hotels, PIP, renovations

December 23rd, 2010 by TRT Blog

With the holiday season coming to a close, we are reminded of all that we have to be grateful for.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays from all of us here at The Refinishing Touch!

Happy Holidays

June 25th, 2010 by TRT Blog

As with many businesses, hotels can provide a variety of amenities on top of its primary function of offering a home away from home for weary travelers. These days most large hotels provide restaurants, swimming pools, fitness centers, and sometimes even casinos and shopping malls. One of the most popular of these amenities, at least for business travelers, is the conference room or meeting space, and all over the country these centers are getting the green treatment.

In a recent article Diana Driscoll, one of our past guest bloggers, outlines the growing popularity of “Green Meetings” and how hotels are working to win over event planners with an eye for sustainability. For example, hotels and convention centers have begun to provide new event provisions including reusable glassware, paperless communications, shuttle services or mass transit options for event guests, and energy and water conservation programs.

The effects of these sustainable efforts have the potential to make huge waves. According to the EPA, a whopping 93,000 federal employees travel daily to 8,000 different places throughout the US, taking up approximately 24 million room nights every year. Combine these with business travelers and, if all choose to convene at green meeting centers, the potential for environmental savings is enormous.

While still in its early stages, the green meeting trend is growing quickly, and many industry professionals have begun working with the EPA to set green meeting standards. Hopefully these standards will give hotels a new sustainable goal to strive for and event goers a way to feel secure in their green choices.