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

June 7th, 2013 by TRT Blog

Universities worldwide offer student housing and while the size, layout and number of tenants varies greatly from institution to institution, there is one thing that remains the same – each and every project aims to be cost-effective, time-efficient and, now more than ever, sustainable.

To complement this demand for greener practices, each year, The Princeton Review compiles a list of the most sustainable colleges within the US and Canada, entitled ‘The Green Honor Roll’. With growing teams and offices in both North American countries, we are always eager to see who has made the list, and who has not.

This year, Wittenberg University, located in Springfield, Ohio, had a bold sustainable plan that caught the attention of many environmentalists, along with The Princeton Review. The university created a goal to cut electricity consumption by 20 percent, subsequently generating an estimated annual savings of $400,000.

The university’s management team is currently in the process of renovating a popular on-campus dormitory, as part of the school’s continued journey towards LEED certification. Currently, Wittenberg’s renovation plans include environmentally-friendly building design, construction and operational efforts.

The Refinishing Touch has spent the past 35 years working diligently to bring LEED certifications and decrease carbon emissions during renovations in the higher education sector. We’ve witnessed firsthand the rising demand for greener practices, and have been meeting such requests with our award-winning furniture asset management services – leaving the option of buying brand new pieces to be a thing of the past.

Buying new furniture, and tossing away existing well-built assets, is inefficient in many ways. For one, universities looking to lower budget costs for large-scale renovation projects will save up to 80 percent of total expenditure by repurposing furniture. Along with cost-efficiency, an institution saves time by investing in furniture asset management. Our expert production teams work in a fast, seamless manner and work on-site, with little disruption to those nearby.

Perhaps most important to colleges like Wittenberg is the sustainability factor – through refinishing, re-upholstery and remanufacturing, furniture avoids making its way into the nation’s landfills, thus preventing deforestation and lessening carbon emissions by up to 90 percent. For these benefits and more, nearly every higher education facility should consider greener, more cost-effective alternatives, starting with furniture asset management.

For the full list of universities on the Green Honor Roll, please find the document here. If you are interested in learning more about The Refinishing Touch and our services, please visit our website and request a free quote today.

education, furniture asset management, LEED certification, re-upholstery, refinishing, Springfield Ohio, Sustainability, The Green Honor Roll, The Princeton Review, The Refinishing Touch, Wittenberg University

June 4th, 2013 by TRT Blog

Sustainability is universally imperative, not only for the future of our planet, but for business success and growth. At The Refinishing Touch, our expert production team works with hoteliers, government entities and universities to further their green initiatives through furniture asset management. Throughout our 35 years in the business, we understand that as consumers become more environmentally-conscious, property managers must also consider customer retention, ROI, and brand compliance when it comes to implementing new sustainable practices.

Each week, in an effort to hear the voice of our readers, The Refinishing Touch takes to our blog to ask some of the most pressing industry-wide questions in sustainability, renovations and cost-efficiency. Due to the latest increase in sustainable-minded individuals and businesses, we asked ‘Which North American country is perceived to be the leader in consumer recycling?’ Thanks to poll participation, we found the following:

• 71% of respondents believe Canada is the leader in regards to its worldwide recycling initiatives
• The remaining 29% of readers perceived the US to be at the top of consumer recycling
• All surveyors felt both countries were not equally green

With extensive experience working in the US and Canada, The Refinishing Touch is proud to have contributed to the decreasing rates of waste worldwide. By delivering furniture asset management solutions, including furniture refinishing, re-upholstering and remanufacturing during renovations since our inception in 1977, we’ve saved an estimated 2,250,000 pounds of wood from piling up in landfills across both countries. In an effort to boost recycling habits, organizations worldwide should consider furniture asset management, in partnership with other green tactics, to truly become a sustainable facility.

If you’re interested in The Refinishing Touch’s eco-friendly and cost-effective furniture renovation services at your own facility, visit our website today. We look forward to hearing from you.

Canada, consumer recycling, cost-effective, furniture asset management, green, re-upholstery, recyling, refinishing, renovations, Sustainability, The Refinishing Touch, United States

May 31st, 2013 by TRT Blog

When it comes to renovations and the hospitality industry, The Refinishing Touch has seen it all, including renovations of hundreds of rooms of furniture. With over 35 years of experience, we know how to improve project efficiency and minimize costs, two aspects of construction that aren’t often considered mutually inclusive.

This notion has always been an industry misconception, and a mindset that The Refinishing Touch has been working tirelessly to change through our award-winning furniture asset management solutions since our inception in 1977. To us any renovation project can, and should, be carried out effectively across all phases, including: project efficiency, cost efficiency, and sustainability.

So when we heard about the upcoming renovations and brand switch at the Trenton Marriott in New Jersey, which is being converted from a Marriott to a Wyndham hotel, marked with a $2.4 million price tag, we knew the hotel owners could have saved a large amount of money. While some of the improvements include unavoidable changes, such as sign replacements, a large amount of the budget expenditures are allocated to meet required, brand product improvement plans, or PIPs, and could be reduced greatly had the hotel chosen to explore furniture asset management solutions. The process of repurposing, refinishing or re-upholstering existing furniture assets can cut costs by up to 80% — a substantial savings that will make room in the budget for other, more important improvements.

Surprisingly though, this is a challenge many hotels, universities and government bodies face on a daily basis – how can existing furniture assets be upgraded and modernized without requiring a multi-million dollar budget? In response to this, The Refinishing Touch has continued to improve our furniture asset management solutions year after year, consistently providing our customers with the most cost-effective, environmentally-friendly solutions on the market.  By implementing our furniture asset management services hoteliers and facility managers alike are able to decrease budgets and carbon footprints.

To learn more about the Trenton Marriott project, please find a detailed article here. If you are interested in learning more about The Refinishing Touch and what our services can do for your establishment, please request a free quote today.

furniture asset management, hotel renovations, Marriott, New Jersey, PIP, property improvement plans, re-upholstery, refinishing, renovations, The Refinishing Touch, Trenton Marriott, Wyndham

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 24th, 2013 by TRT Blog

Resorts, hotels and motels worldwide are beginning to look deeper into the many realms of sustainability, dipping their toes into new initiatives that save money, help the environment, and secure a new range of guests who are looking to stay at green properties.

Similarly, whenever The Refinishing Touch sends our experienced and dedicated crew to a new project location, we are always thrilled to see hoteliers taking the necessary steps towards improved sustainability. By implementing our furniture asset management services, including refinishing, re-upholstery, and renovation services, customers are able to save time, money, and resources, in addition to reducing the amount of unnecessary waste that is sent to our country’s landfills.

Environmental solutions come in all shapes and sizes however, and the hospitality and travel industries are two that possess many opportunities for implementation. Once such hotel that has taken advantage of these opportunities is the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, Nevada, which recently reported savings of $2 million per year by choosing to capitalize on natural energy.

Innovative technology allows water from a geothermal aquifer 4,400 feet underground to power the Peppermill’s massive heating and hot water systems, eliminating the need for harmful, and increasingly expensive, natural gas.

With the idea of geothermal energy still in the early stages in most regions, the project was certainly risky. Drilling was conducted for more than a month before an adequate aquifer was located. However, Dean Parker, the executive director of Facilities, knew the cost-efficiency and green benefits of the project would be worth it in the long run.

The Peppermill Resort proves that environmental preservation is possible, and companies, like us, can provide the hospitality sector with the tools it needs to create a greener future for their guests, communities, and country.

To learn more about the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino’s project, book your stay or read the full article here. To learn how sustainable furniture asset management can benefit your establishment, visit The Refinishing Touch’s website today.

Dean Parker, energy, furniture asset management, geothermal energy, green hotels, hospitality, Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, Sustainability, sustainable travel, The Refinishing Touch

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