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

January 29th, 2013 by TRT Blog

The Refinishing Touch’s award-winning re-upholstery services not only provide a quick, cost-efficient and environmentally-safe method of repurposing existing furniture, but our top-of-the-line fabrics, sourced through our Touch Textiles division, also provide a sense of style and durability.

The Touch Textiles entity provides elegant and practical upholstery solutions for the hospitality, government and higher education industries. By selecting from our Touch Textiles fabric line and implementing our on-site re-upholstery services, clients can significantly reduce down time while avoiding expensive shipping costs, attic stock and excess fabric orders – allowing project managers to recover more of their original furniture investment.

Today, we are proud to introduce a new addition to the Touch Textiles division – the state-of-the-art, eco-friendly recycled leather material, Embrace™. Embrace recycled leather gives our clients the same benefits and aesthetics of traditional leather, at a fraction of the cost. The material is available in high-quality colors and hand-rubbed layered tones. Not only does Embrace meet ISO and ASTM standards, it is also stain- and scratch-resistance making cleaning simple and time-efficient – a highly sought-after feature among the sectors we work with.

Candlewood Suites in Killeen, Texas, is the site of our first re-upholstery project utilizing the recycled leather material. With the renovations currently underway, The Refinishing Touch production crew is re-upholstering various lounge, dining and desk chairs with sustainable and cost-efficient Embrace leather.

For more information on Embrace recycled leather, please browse the company’s whitepaper or read our press release here. To inquire on how to implement Touch Textiles and The Refinishing Touch’s re-upholstery services at your own establishment, please email sales@therefinishingtouch.com for a free quote. The entire selection of coverings offered by The Refinishing Touch can be found in our nationwide company fabric division, Touch Textiles.

Embrace is a registered trademark of Culp, Inc.

ASTM, Candlewood Suites, cost efficiency, Embrace recycled leather, fabrics, furniture asset management, ISO, Killeen, re-upholstery, Sustainability, Texas, The Refinishing Touch, Touch Textiles

November 20th, 2012 by TRT Blog

Guest author: Mary Ann Hart, General Manager of Hampton Inn Batesville

Throughout my 24 years of working in hospitality, I’ve seen the industry persevere through many obstacles by changing its key practices and overall approach, and most recently, ultimately overcoming the aftermath of the 2008 recession.

Even today, as general manager of Hampton Inn Batesville, a position I’ve held for nearly 16 years, I am still witnessing the gradual upturn in business. During the last half of 2012, I’ve seen more leisure traffic than in many years’ past, with more people wanting to venture farther away from home as the economy slowly recovers.

This increase in business has also fueled a fundamental shift in business practices – moving more towards finding ways to satisfy the consumer’s needs, while remaining conscious of bottom line. One business practice in particular that we’ve begun implementing is sustainability – a venture that comes with many benefits, including appealing to green lodgers, preserving the environment and saving on costs.

An example of these benefits came into play when The Refinishing Touch completed a large-scale refinishing project at our Batesville location. At the time, we were looking for a solution to preserve our locally purchased case goods. We didn’t want to replace them, since they’re well liked amongst our guests and staff, and are very high-quality assets. After hearing positive feedback from a Hampton Inn corporate representative (whom The Refinishing Touch has worked with before), I was convinced – furniture asset management was the right solution for our hotel.

The Refinishing Touch team restored numerous wardrobes, desks, nightstands and luggage benches in 80 of our guest bedrooms, back to their original, like-new condition. Scratches and common wear were erased, all in a quick and seamless process. One of the best aspects of working with The Refinishing Touch was the fast on-site refinishing process, which helped us avoid completely shutting down the establishment. The production team was very conscious of our business operations, and when a block of rooms were occupied, they would only renovate them as they became vacant.

By investing in The Refinishing Touch’s furniture asset management services, we saved thousands of dollars, or about 80 percent in budget costs. Our case goods look new again, and we continue to receive positive feedback from guests and staff members alike. Not only did we save money, but we also saved an estimated 90 percent in carbon emissions, when compared to buying new furniture – helping reduce negative impact on the environment.

And Hampton Inn Batesville’s green initiatives do not stop there. We offer a towel and linen reuse program and have installed water aerators on our faucets, reducing water consumption. The free daily breakfast bar is equipped with ‘Enviroware’ plastic ware, a product that is easily compostable. We have also changed our light bulbs to become more energy efficient and provide recycling bins throughout the hotel.

If you are ever in Southeastern Indiana, why not book a stay at Hampton Inn Batesville and discover a balance of luxury, comfort and sustainability. We are conveniently located between Cincinnati and Indianapolis, right near golf courses, parks and water ways. To reserve your room today, visit our website.

For more information on The Refinishing Touch’s large-scale refinishing project at Hampton Inn Batesville, read the entire press release here.

budget, Business, carbon emissions, case goods, Cincinnati, energy efficiency, Enviroware, furniture asset management, general manager, Hampton Inn Batesville, hospitality, Hotels, Indiana, Indianapolis, Mary Ann Hart, refinishing, Sustainability, The Refinishing Touch, towel and linen reuse program, water aerators

October 30th, 2012 by TRT Blog

It’s that time again! As October comes to a close, The Refinishing Touch team is hard at work putting its final touches on the latest edition of our free quarterly newsletter, InTouch. We’ll take a moment to look back on a thrilling and eventful third quarter – filled with tradeshows, Sustainability Award winners, various on-site projects and more!

In the sixth issue of InTouch, you’ll get to see behind-the-scenes pictures from our two-phase re-upholstery project at the Marriott Charlotte City Center, in preparation for the Democratic National Convention.  We’ll then visit the hospitality sector with a recap of our coverage in Lodging Magazine, and unveil our blog readers’ thoughts on PIPs from one of our recent polls.

All of this and much more, when InTouch arrives on Thursday, November 1^st!  Become a subscriber before then: visit our page here, and submit your contact details in the proper form on the right-hand panel.

If you just can’t wait until Thursday, then be sure to visit our newsletter archive. Read past editions of InTouch and gain insight into our on-site, environmentally-safe and sustainable furniture asset management services in the hospitality, higher education and government industries.

Until then, please stay InTouch! Send us an e-mail with what you want to see in future editions of our newsletter: marketing@therefinishingtouch.com.

Democratic National Convention, furniture asset management, Government, higher education, hospitality, intouch, Lodging Magazine, Marriott Charlotte City Center, newsletter, November, PIPs, re-upholstery, refinishing, remanufacturing, The Refinishing Touch

October 23rd, 2012 by TRT Blog

Here at The Refinishing Touch, every project we complete is important, but not all are of the same breadth and scope. While some projects take months to complete and encompass entire hotels, others focus on revitalizing everyday furniture pieces that, without refinishing and remanufacturing, would otherwise end up in landfills.

One such project was at the Sofitel Philadelphia – a four-star hotel in the middle of the historic city. The Refinishing Touch teams were brought in to refinish and re-upholster 42 of the hotel’s restaurant chairs and 34 of the restaurant tables, some of the most used furniture assets in the entire establishment. By refinishing and reupholstering existing furniture instead of buying new, the Sofitel Philadelphia saved approximately 80 percent on their originally projected budget and around 90 percent in carbon emissions.

The Sofitel Philadelphia is a luxury hotel in the downtown, French Quarter of Philadelphia, and is managed by the French hotel group, Accor. Accor has influence in over 90 countries and owns or operates over 4,400 hotels around the world. Sofitel is Accor’s top luxury brand and its Philadelphia site is described as a mix of French and American style, and regarded for its upscale accommodations, dining and overall environment. The Sofitel Philadelphia’s location is convenient for travelers, whether visiting for business or leisure, for its close proximity to the city’s primary convention center and most visited historical sites. To learn more about the Sofitel Philadelphia or to book a trip, visit their website here.

To learn more about The Refinishing Touch’s furniture asset management services, including refinishing, re-upholstery, remanufacturing, and armoire modification, visit our homepage or sign up for our insightful quarterly newsletter, InTouch. For a free quote or to inquire about starting a project at your organization, send us an email: sales@therefinishingtouch.com.

Accor Hotels, budget, carbon emissions, chairs, dining, environment, free quote, furniture asset management, hospitality, InTouch newsletter, lodging, Operational Update, refinishing, remanufacturing, restaurant, reupholstery, Sofitel Philadelphia, Sustainability, The Refinishing Touch, traveling

July 27th, 2012 by TRT Blog

Property improvement plans – three words that make most hoteliers shriek.

But even with the burden traditionally associated with PIPs, renovations are returning to the forefront of the hospitality industry’s agenda as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to a top-down hotel makeover.  The increasing number of travelers this year has not only helped hotel owners rebound, but has also caused a rise in property investments – one PIP at a time.

This year, construction companies are keeping busy with two to three PIP projects per month – a stark contrast from the two or three per year in 2011, according to HotelNewsNow.com.

The increase in completed PIPs can also be attributed to the many strategic decisions and tactics (as well as stronger brand / hotel owner relationships) that have surfaced to ensure a smoother, more efficient renovation project.  We thought we’d share some of the most important:

- Invest in furniture asset management services instead of buying new.  Not only does it save on budget, but it also reduces a PIP’s estimated carbon footprint while still meeting brand standards.

- Decide ahead of time whether to keep the hotel open, closed, or partial occupancy during PIPs.  Remember: most guests are turned off by the sight of renovations, so deciding to deploy multiple renovation stages may be key.

- If keeping a hotel open during PIPs, notify guests of any inaccessible areas beforehand.  For example: if the hotel’s pool is closed for construction, inform guests of the nearest public pool right as they check in.

- Price PIPs quickly. It’s not unusual for a project to take between three to four months to complete.

- Communication is critical. Remain in constant contact with project teams and hotel management to ensure a seamless process.

For more information on PIPs and the hospitality industry, watch the Hotel Interactive webcast ‘Pressure Free PIPs’, sponsored by The Refinishing Touch, here.

armoire modification, furniture asset management, hospitality industry, Hotel Interactive, HotelNewsNow.com, Pressure free PIPs, property improvement plans, refinishing, renovations, reupholstery, Sustainability, The Refinishing Touch, webcast

July 6th, 2012 by TRT Blog

Guest Author: Robyn A. Rocco, Community Association Manager of The Dover House Resort

The hospitality industry is constantly changing. As a five-year licensed manager for the Landex Resorts International Inc., a company specializing in the time share, condominium, homeowner association, and the real estate industry for 50 years, I have witnessed the evolution firsthand.

The good news is that the industry is changing for the better, with more hotel chains and time shares investing in environmentally-friendly technology and sustainability. Those two sectors, through dedicated work and collaboration, have begun to pave the way towards a more environmentally conscious future and an outcome that benefits everyone.

Here at The Dover House Resort, a timeshare condominium resort based out of Delray Beach, FL, we have also taken part in the sustainable revolution. This Landex Resorts International, Inc., property took one of the easiest and most energy-efficient changes by directly by partnering with The Refinishing Touch and investing in their furniture asset management services.

As leaders in sustainable furniture re-upholstering, refinishing, and furniture asset management, The Refinishing Touch helped us renovate furniture in every area of our timeshare condominiums. Everything from headboards, dining tables, nightstands, armoire conversions, dressers, built in’s, and furniture hardware, The Refinishing Touch worked with us to transform our condos to an updated tropical oasis, making it more modern, sleek, and most importantly, sustainable.

The overall experience and outcome was exceptional, and something The Dover House Resort would like to do again when our rooms are up for remodeling, which occurs every five to seven years. The amount we saved on our bottom line and the way The Refinishing Touch were able to refinish and reuse existing furniture, greatly exceeded our expectations.

But our steps towards a more sustainable resort do not end with The Refinishing Touch. The Dover House Resort has also upgraded lighting to energy-efficient metal halide and compact florescent bulbs, installed all new water sense plumbing fixtures, and use a majority of green-certified cleaning products. Because we are a week to week timeshare condominium we also only initially provide samples of toiletries and kitchen supplies, enough a guest may need for a day or two, and towels are only exchanged once a week. For visitors wanting bi-weekly or daily room cleaning, changing sheets, and additional towel exchanges, an extra fee applies. Not only do we cut operating costs and waste, but we reduce energy consumption which positively impacts the environment.

We are also planning our own long-term future here at The Dover House Resort, which will combine technology and sustainability. Soon, we hope to invest in solar heating for our pool, and for the individual water heaters and HVAC handlers. Along with the solar power, we also want to adopt controllable temperature and ambiance lighting gauges to improve energy-efficiency. And to top it all off, we will soon be going paperless by using a combined wireless computer software program for our accounting, reservation system, and client database / property management needs.

These sustainable actions, fueled by The Refinishing Touch and their furniture asset management services, have helped The Dover House Resort transform into a more Eco-friendly lodging place. We hope our efforts will earn us a LEED (Leadership in Enrgy Efficiency and Design) accreditation and set an example for other hotels and resorts to follow.

customer communications program, education, furniture asset management, Government, hospitality, Hotels, Landex Resorts, Robyn A. Rocco, Sustainability, The Dover House Resort, The Refinishing Touch, timeshare condominiums

April 25th, 2012 by TRT Blog

In last month’s Operational Update blog, we shared one of our recently completed projects, which took place at the DoubleTree Hilton in Anaheim, California.

During our time at the DoubleTree we refinished the hotel’s desks, dressers, nightstands and headboards, updating the furniture pieces with fresh color, hardware and upholstery.

As the DoubleTree Anaheim is a ‘full-hotel’ projects with us refinishing each of the DoubleTree’s 95 rooms, we thought we would bring you a few ‘before and after’ pictures so you can get a true sense for how refinishing and reupholstery can transform old furniture into modern, stylish, full functional pieces. By refinishing furniture instead of implementing the tradition ‘rip-and-replace’ processes, the DoubleTree Anaheim prevented countless pieces of furniture from unnecessarily entering into landfills and saved over 90 percent in carbon emissions as compared to buying new.

Are you curious as to how refinishing can help save the environment and improve your organization’s bottom line, as it did at the DoubleTree Anaheim? Visit our homepage at therefinishingtouch.comto learn more or to request a free quote.

Before & after visuals:

Before                                        After

Before                                                  After

Before                                                  After

Before                                                  After

Anaheim, California, DoubleTree Hilton, Orange County, refinish, rip and replace, Sustainability

March 30th, 2012 by TRT Blog

Here at The Refinishing Touch we consider ourselves as pioneers within the growing sustainability movement, particular amongst our target industries—government, higher education and hospitality. Having been in the business for 35 years, we continue to work to ensure that refinishing, refurbishing and reupholstery helps our customers save money and the environment, versus buying new furniture.

In this month’s visual blog post, we wanted to highlight the work that we’ve done at a number of universities across the country, and show the benefits that an entire industry has seen from furniture refinishing and furniture asset management. Universities are one of the top industries in the world whose furniture assets experience constant and consistent wear and abuse. As you can see from some of the photos below, most of this furniture may have looked as if it was time to be thrown away, but all it needed was a bit of tender love and care!

The fact that these institutions are willing to embrace the notion of refurbishing and refinishing their existing pieces is not only cost effective but also very smart. See for yourself how something as simple as reupholstering and refurbishing can take a furniture piece from outdated to updated, all while reducing carbon footprints one customer at a time.

Before & After

asset management, environment, furniture asset management, refinishing, refurbishing, reupholstry, Sustainability, visual blog post