May 21st, 2013 by TRT Blog

It’s one of the most common myths within the lodging industry – in order for hotels to go green, they must spend a lot of green. In simplest terms, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Today, there are many cost saving alternatives within the sector, especially when it comes to property renovations. For example, by investing in furniture refinishing, re-upholstery and remanufacturing, hoteliers can save up to 80 percent on total expenditure when compared to buying brand new assets.

To gain further insight into other cost-effective tactics, and the benefits of sustainability, this month’s sustainable spotlight shines on Kristen Mckenzie of Hotels Combined. Hotels Combined is a popular travel booking site that recognizes the rising consumer demand for green lodging, and subsequently, created its educational online resource, Green Hotels & Responsible Tourism to “make travel fun, rewarding and responsible.”

Read on for our full interview with Kristen:

The Refinishing Touch (TRT): How have you seen the industry’s commitment to green initiatives change over your company’s history?

Kristen Mckenzie (KM): Green initiatives are becoming more common place than ever before. In large part, this is due to consumer demand. Not only are travelers looking for an ideal location and low price, but they are also looking at recycling, towel linen reuse options and more. Today’s consumer is looking for guilt-free options, even while traveling.

TRT: Which challenges do hotels face when adopting green practices, and how is the industry addressing these?

KM: There’s a misconception amongst some hoteliers that green practices are difficult and costly. With continued education and advocacy, we can change this way of thinking. For instance, offering email receipts at checkout not only saves on the cost of buying paper, but it also helps slow the rate of deforestation. Small actions that are both sustainable and cost-effective build up, and can really improve a hotel both internally and externally.

TRT: What gives you hope when it comes to the adoption of green and environmentally-friendly practices?

KM:  Today, consumers expect their hotel to be environmentally-friendly. It’s become a necessary property feature along with clean beds and good customer service. Not only is going green good for the earth, but it’s also good for business. It’s only a matter of time before more hoteliers realize this and begin to act accordingly.

For more information on Hotels Combined and Green Hotels & Responsible Tourism, please visit the corresponding websites here, and here.

If you are interested in seeing what The Refinishing Touch and our eco-friendly, cost saving furniture renovation services can do for you and your company, please visit our website and request a free quote today.  

furniture asset management, Green Hotels & Sustainable Tourism, Green Hotels and Sustainable Tourism, hospitality, Hotels, Hotels Combined, Kristen Mckenzie, refinishing, repurpousing, Sustainability, The Refinishing Touch

May 17th, 2013 by TRT Blog

Throughout the 35 years that The Refinishing Touch has been working within hospitality industry, we have become quite familiar with the struggles and fiscal-commitments that come with implementing mandated Property Improvement Plans (PIPs). While a large number of corporate brand owners suspended PIPs during the economic downturn, the recent upswing in the industry (as we highlight in our most recent blog post) has PIPs being re-implemented and franchise owners everywhere scrambling to comply.

But not all brand owners force franchisers to come up with the money for PIPs by themselves. Choice Hotels International, one of the world’s largest lodging franchisers, is giving its Comfort Suites and Comfort Inn hotels the opportunity to snag a piece of its offered $40 million in PIP incentives. The proposed plan provides eligible hotels with the chance to use a portion of the money for establishment renovations, as outlined in their PIPs, to move the brand forward at a faster pace.

And that fast-paced movement is more and more common. As development in the hotel industry has taken a sharp turn for the better, those who are able to take advantage at the right time will gain, and maintain, significant competitive edge. However, it’s crucial for franchises looking to complete PIPs without breaking the bank to consider more superior alternatives to purchasing new furniture. Most PIPs require hotels to meet new design requirements – a particular color nightstand, upholstered headboards, or dressers suitable for plasma televisions – and solutions such as furniture asset management can ensure requirements are met, while reducing costs by an average 80 percent.

By making the choice to refinish, re-upholster or repurpose existing furniture assets instead of purchasing new, hoteliers can re-allocate budget to meet necessary PIPs in the scope of a single project, as opposed to multiple phases or over an expanded time frame. Additionally, by reducing the need to purchase new furniture assets, PIPs can leave your hotel with a green stamp of approval, something that is sure to increase customer retention and ROI.

To learn more about The Refinishing Touch, our projects, and what we can do for you, please visit our website today! For more information surrounding Choice Hotels International’s initiatives, access the full article here.

Choice Hotels International, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, furniture asset management, hospitality, PIPs, Property Improvement Plan, re-uphostery, refinishing, refurbishing, Sustainability, 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 30th, 2013 by TRT Blog

Clients across the hospitality, government and higher education housing industries call on The Refinishing Touch’s furniture asset management services not only for its time-efficiency and cost savings, but in an effort to make a greater push towards sustainability. Because of this, we are always interested to hear from other industry leaders, in order to gain valuable insight into other environmental efforts spanning the globe.

Recently, we caught up with Eberhardt Rues, CEO and founder of EcoFriendly Hotels WorldWide, a voluntary referral hotel group, and Sustainable Hotel Development, an interim hotel consulting service, both located in Florida. Rues’ dedication to global sustainable tourism has remained at the forefront of his career and, in this special Q & A session, we sit down with him to hear more on environmental progress, challenges and trends throughout the industry.

The Refinishing Touch (TRT): Can you tell us more about EcoFriendly Hotels WorldWide and Sustainable Hotel Development?

Eberhardt Rues (ER): My environmental experience began with the development of the first RUES EcoLodge Village, in the Amazons of Ecuador, during 1976 until 1980. Unfortunately, a severe inundation in 1980 flooded the whole Village, but I made a promise to continue supporting sustainable hotel and tourism development around the globe for years to come after the incident. EcoFriendly Hotels Worldwide became the first voluntary referral hotel group in 1994. As a company, we aim to develop Bolivia as a prime eco-tourism destination in Latin America. This visionary goal was actively supported by the European Commission and by the Bolivian Tourism Secretary. After some success, we then launched our first website in 2003, and by this time, we had well over 100 member and partner hotels, spanning across five continents, all dedicated to sustainable tourism and working with us to solidify their initiatives.

TRT: How have you seen a commitment to greener initiatives evolve over time within the lodging industry?

ER: Greener initiatives began to take hold in the US with the introduction of the LEED program and the EcoTourism Society and Conservation International, among many others. These programs started to plant their roots at the turn of the millennium, and helped propel the industry to consider more sustainable alternatives. The driving forces behind these fundamental eco-changes, in my experience, have been the emergence of more environmentally-conscious guests and consumers, as well as the increasingly popular Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs.

TRT: What is your greatest sustainable achievement?
ER: In 1993, I wrote the first “Eco-Hotel Management” guidebook in the Americas. The book was published in 1995, by Grupo Editorial Iberoamerica, Mexico, D.F. and was distributed throughout 22 Latin American countries – helping hotel management teams become greener and look into alternative solutions.

TRT: Which challenges remain in place for hotels keen to adopt green practices?

ER: In my opinion, one of the greatest barriers that stand in the way of hoteliers going green is the lack of environmental curriculum both for hotel management staff and within universities. Another challenge, although this condition is improving, is that many states are still operating without strict environmental regulations and enforcement.

TRT: Despite these challenges, what gives you hope when it comes to the adoption of green and environmentally-friendly practices?

ER: Environmentally – sound practices are progressing and have been progressing since the mid-1990s, not only in the US, but globally. Those working in the travel industry understand that sustainable products and services – ranging from cleaning solutions, certification of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or furniture repurposing – are also safe, cost-effective and profitable. Greener alternatives provide a healthier environment for our children and generations to come. It pleases me to see that ‘eco-friendly’ is no longer being thrown around as a fashionable marketing term, but has slowly evolved into an achievable goal throughout the industry.

For more information on EcoFriendly Hotels WorldWide and Sustainable Hotel Development, please contact Eberhardt Rues. To learn more about The Refinishing Touch’s cost-effective, sustainable furniture asset management services, like refinishing, re-upholstery and armoire modification, visit our website.

Eberhardt Rues, EcoFriendly Hotels WorldWide, furniture asset management, guest blog, hospitality, lodging, Sustainable Hotel Development, The Refinishing Touch, tourism

April 26th, 2013 by TRT Blog

The Refinishing Touch begins each project with the avid determination to provide cost-effective, sustainable and environmentally-friendly furniture asset management solutions to all of our customers and the establishments in which we operate. Through the implementation of our refinishing, re-upholstery, and remanufacturing solutions, hotels are able to reduce budgets and eradication unnecessary landfill waste, while minimizing the impact projects have on guests and day-to-day workflow.

Recently, our team completed a project at The Westin Grand Central Hotel in New York, NY. Previously known as The New York Helmsley Hotel, the property became part of the Westin family of hotels in October of 2012 and subsequently underwent an expansive renovation project, focused on combining beauty and sustainability. Nestled in the heart of downtown Manhattan, the hotel is a popular stay for travelers, tourists, and locals alike.

When the hotel was faced with furniture in need of an update, Westin Grand Central turned to The Refinishing Touch. Our crew quickly moved in to assess the existing furniture assets, formulate an effective plan, and reinforce 445 sofas and 754 lounge chairs. The end-result was over 1,000 re-upholstered like-new assets.

And the Westin Grand Central didn’t stop there. The hotel has also recently commissioned The Refinishing Touch to re-upholster 65 additional furniture assets. And in addition to saving approximately 80 percent in refinishing and re-upholstery costs when compared to purchasing new furniture, the hotel has also remained worry-free about the environmental-health of its establishment throughout the entire project. The Refinishing Touch implements eco-friendly materials and low VOC lacquers across all of our furniture asset management projects, bringing a new level of sustainability to each of our customers.

For more information on The Refinishing Touch and its services, please visit our website or email us today for a free quote. To book a stay at the luxurious Westin Grand Central Hotel, make a reservation here.

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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!

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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 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.

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March 29th, 2013 by TRT Blog

During every renovation project, The Refinishing Touch comes prepared to deliver its award-winning refinishing, re-upholstery and armoire conversion services to meet property managers’ requests, without disturbing employees or guests. Whether you value efficiency, sustainability, cost savings or all of the above, our experienced production team aims to provide our customers with top-tier results and service.

Last month, an armoire conversion project led us to a Best Western branch located in the Jacksonville Airport, right in the heart of Florida’s travel district. The property’s location is ideal for visitors looking to attend annual nearby events, including The Players Championship Golf Tournament, Daytona 500 and the University of Florida vs. University of Georgia football game. Offering luxurious amenities to travelers from all over the world, the hotel boasts rave reviews from customers citing the property’s overt friendliness and delivery of traveler satisfaction.

In order to continue meeting the needs of its lodgers, Best Western Jacksonville Airport called on The Refinishing Touch to modify existing television armoires into dressers, an effort that avoids the need to buy brand new assets and reduces the amount of waste sent to our nation’s landfills.

The 21 original television armoires were converted into three-drawer dressers, ideal for showcasing flat screen televisions. By using The Refinishing Touch’s furniture asset management services, Best Western Jacksonville Airport was able to significantly save on renovation costs and demonstrate environmental responsibility by reducing its carbon footprint.

For more information regarding the benefits of our environmentally-friendly, cost-effective furniture refinishing, re-upholstery and armoire modification services, please visit our website. To learn more about what The Refinishing Touch can do at your own establishment, please request a free quote today.

If you’re interested in seeing our work first-hand while enjoying the Floridian sun, book a stay at Best Western Jacksonville Airport here.

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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.

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