The Refinishing Touch Blog

As we ring in the New Year, we, at The Refinishing Touch are reflecting on the past year while contemplating New Year's resolutions for 2009. What will be the most popular resolution of the year? While many will make traditional resolutions such as exercise more and lose weight, get out of debt and/or spend more time with friends and family, we encourage you to think about a resolution that will count towards something on a larger scale- A resolution that will not only benefit and impact you, but also the entire planet and its future. We encourage you to resolve to going green in the New Year for a new greener you - for both you and your business.

In an article entitled, "Initiatives- New Year's Resolutions- Addressing the good, the bad, the ugly and the hopeful..." it highlighted 2008 and the trend to go green. Going green has become such a common buzz word over the past few years and within the past years, however, more can be done to help the initiative. During 2008, LEED-certified buildings were popping up left and right, while a significant number of professionals have become LEED accredited. Many companies have joined the U.S.Green Building Council, while many individuals are living, shopping and working daily in green buildings. Small changes can be made to help impact the big the picture of saving the environment we live in. Think about 3 ways you can do your part to go green this year: recycle, become more energy efficient and reuse existing materials.

So why not join the green effort and do your part in 2009? This is a resolution that will help improve your life and all those around you, including the future of the world. We, at The Refinishing Touch, believe in the green movement and it's our resolution to continue to help the environment and our business partners go green through refinishing existing assets. We encourage those who have not adopted the green movement yet to do so in 2009. Make strides to go green in 2009 and let's see where 2009 will LEED us.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and green New Year from all of us at The Refinishing Touch.

It is safe to say that in every industry, executives are planning and strategizing how to maintain success and survive during this this economic downturn. Contrary to what many may believe, in this tough economic climate, there are hotels in the industry that are actually thriving and profiting as they were during this same time last year. How are they able to do this?

In a recent article in Hotel News Resource focused on how sales departments can thrive during this economic climate, we thought the insight was beneficial on how to do things differently. During a time when most companies are preparing to scale back on sales and marketing departments this is not the time to do it, the best thing for companies to do is actually the opposite. Strategies should be developed to reflect current economic realities in the market.

What are some strategies that these successful hotels are implementing during these times?

First, increase sales efforts, in the past sales may have not been as necessary due to business and leisure travellers aggressively pursuing the property, however now sales is essential to reach out to potential customers.

Think of ways to 'sell into the recession.' Properties can do this by actively targeting new prospects that seem to be prospering in this environment. Hotels can also go through their existing database to choose current/past accounts that are sustaining during this tough time.

Finally, the internet. Attack the internet as a means to reach out to current and future business prospects. Pay per click advertising is one of the best ways to position your hotel at the top of a search. However, monitor the online efforts to determine where the benefits are coming from.

We, at The Refinishing Touch, believe during this economic climate businesses must truly ramp up efforts and do things non-traditionally to succeed in 2009. Executing targeted campaigns to generate awareness while also looking at areas to save is critical.