During what some are calling The Great Recession, the past 3 years have brought hard times to many industries, especially for many hotels and resorts according to Amy Wenk of the Atlanta Business Chronicle. With meager bookings and reduced room rates, many hotels have barely had the funds to keep the doors open, leaving them unable to move forward with much needed improvements. This has resulted in strong criticism from many hotels’ few remaining patrons.

Now, with hotel booking on the rise, many popular hotel chains are investing in renovations that will suit the needs of a highly demanding market. According to Wenk, many hotels, including the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead in Atlanta, GA, will spend more than $4 million on interior renovations this year alone. Hyatt recently completed renovations of one of its most popular hotels which included modifications of a 22-story atrium lobby, Regency Club, rooms and a 180,000 square foot meeting space at a cost of more than $65 million. InterContinental Hotel Group Plc, recently announced renovations for 77 hotels under its two extended-stay brands, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites, that will total more than $165 million.

As the hospitality industry begins to make a comeback, the well-executed hotel renovations of a hotel can both draw more bookings and entice positive guest reviews. Below are some key attributes to consider when conducting renovations:

1. Know what customers expect in each room. From the carpet to the bedding to wall décor, customers want what they pay for with every stay.
2. Know your most frequent patrons. Are you shooting for businessmen, honeymooners or families? Businessmen want class with connectivity and comfort, while honeymooners are seeking luxury and amenities. Families could be seeking a little of both but they also require proper sleeping space for both adults and children. One neglected area can be hotel cribs for small children. Folding cribs that can easily be maneuvered throughout the hotel and from room to room are an excellent solution for hotel guests with infants. Recently a federal mandate changed the safety requirements for all cribs provided by child care facilities, requiring the replacement of most cribs currently in service. This mandate includes all hotel cribs and must be met no later than December 28th, 2012. More details about crib safety and the upcoming deadlines, can be found in this article from Classroom Essentials.
3. Outside of the guest suites, hotels must consider amenities. Pools, spas, and outdoor space are important to many guests, especially if vacationing in an area where outdoor recreation is a top priority.
4. Lobbies should also be a top priority when considering a hotel renovation. Typically the lobby creates an image for an entire hotel or resort and barring the outside of the building, it is the first impressionable space for any patron. Lobbies should be clean, well laid out and meet or exceed guest expectations.
5. One area some hotels and resorts typically overlook is banquet halls. Many feel that as long as banquet spaces are adequate, they need very little attention as most patrons never see the room at all. However, with this mindset, a hotelier could potentially lose significant business from clients looking to hold special events. This could mean not only mean a loss in business for the banquet hall but also in guest bookings. With this in mind, banquet halls should include multiple sets of complementary tables and chairs to suit the needs of individuals and companies looking to book the space. Hotel chairs can vary in many shapes and sizes, some, like chiavari chairs, more suited for elegant events, and others more suited for banquets and business conventions, like premium banquet chairs.

These are just a few of the key areas of a hotel renovation. As can be seen on the hit TV show Hotel Impossible, hotel renovations can be a daunting task, however, when completed correctly renovations can produce huge returns. Whether tackling a renovation or building from scratch, Classroom Essentials Online is proud to offer many options to meet your hotel furniture needs including hotel chairs, banquet tables, and folding cribs. For more information, please visit our website or call one of our knowledgeable representatives at (866) 404-7671.