NEWH - August 2003 - (Page 55)

things to consider when building, renovating or expanding a hotel... The top 10 construction do’s & don’ts by: Mike Jones, Vice President Business Development The Wentz Group You’ve just hung up from talking to your parent company and have received good news: Your hotel property is scheduled for a renovation and expansion. Over the next several months, it’s possible that you’ll face a variety of construction issues, but here’s a list of the “10 construction do’s and don’ts to consider on new, expanding or renovation hotel projects.” With any luck and good planning, it’s possible to avoid all of them. Project Design Team. These folks are your key team members and include the general contractor, architect and interior designer. They are the experts and should be part of the planning process. Early-on collaboration among team members is likely to save thousands of dollars once the project is underway. Utilizing the expertise of your team will result in cost-effective solutions and applications. Interior Décor. Furnishings are a critical part of every renovation. They represent ambience and contribute significantly to the guest experience. You’ll want to ensure that the hotel operator, interior designer and hotel structural designer communicate and agree on details such as wall and carpet colors, furniture and accessories. Guest Rooms. If your renovation includes making a significant upgrade to guest rooms, consider building an onsite model in a separate construction trailer. Build-out the interior and decorate the model to the exact specifications of your plan. This will provide a clear understanding of the scale of a room or rooms. Moreover, allow your staff to use it and provide comments on its design, features and comfort. If the design or features aren’t exactly right, it’s far less costly to make changes to the model than to an actual room. In-Room Guest Amenities. Develop a materials matrix to determine the right amount of attached or builtin guest amenities for each room type. The matrix will allow for complete coordination between hotel operator and the general contractor for the installation of hairdryers, towel racks, toilet-paper holders, phones and TVs, etc. Nothing’s worse than having to retrofit a hundred bathrooms with electrical or cable, because secondary TVs weren’t included in the matrix. Guest Arrival / Hotel Entry. Consider the scale of public access or entry to your hotel. If your ballroom facilities are expanding, your property’s convention business may increase substantially. Moreover, your hotel could become the preferred venue for community events or fundraisers. Technology. If your renovation includes upgrading technology for either your ballroom or guest rooms, hire a consultant. Have an expert advise you on the right solutions for choosing and installing equipment. For example, if you plan to install a satellite dish for video conferencing, you’ll want to ensure that the roofing structure will support this addition. Moreover, what’s the proper bandwidth for your guest rooms? Should it be DSL or T1? Or, if you’re planning to upgrade your facility to wireless fidelity, what are the real cost ramifications? You should consider these aspects of traffic planning and management: How will your guests arrive? Will they come by limousine or tour buses? Is the porte cochere designed to accommodate buses? Are their ample traffic lanes to swiftly accommodate the simultaneous arrival of several hundred guests? And, is there sufficient space to accommodate the required turning radius of oversized vehicles? Spa Design. If the renovation plans include the addition of a spa, you’ll want to determine the spa experience your guests will receive early on. Here are some questions to ask: What will be the spa culture? Is your goal to create a Japanese, Grecian, Mexican or Tropical experience? Once you’ve anticipated/ selected your spa culture, stick with it or it’s likely that you’ll pay dearly for cost overruns to change it. The selected theme will have a profound impact on finishing the whole building. For example, spa culture will influence the layout, design and interior décor of the spa. 55

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NEWH - August 2003

NEWH - August 2003
Contents
Letter From the Editor
Hospitality News
On the Road Again
Calling All Entries
Tips on Specs
The Creation of the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort
Signature Golf Resorts
Designing a Golf Clubhouse
International Purchasing
Creating a Vision for Clubhouse Renovations
Signage for Today’s Golf Resort
The History of Nightclubs
To See and Be Seen
Appealing to the Senses
Marysol–Real and Magical in the Windy City
The Juggling Act—The “Ooh and Aah” vs. Value Engineering
Cork—Not Just for Wine Bottles Anymore
Lessons Not Learned: Life Safety Issues From the Cocoanut
Small Business Advice...
Things to Consider When Building, Renovating or Expanding
Industry Partner Education
Sources and Credits
Bios

NEWH - August 2003