Hoteliers need to keep up with the latest developments in the hospitality industry if they want to stay in business. If you’re running a hotel that could do with some sprucing up, there are ways of adding some sparkle once more so guests can enjoy their stay. Modernising an old hotel rejuvenates its appearance so the guests will keep on coming.
Whether you’re focusing on cleaning up the building’s exterior or adding quality and style to the interior, hotel refurbishment should be done in partnership with experts. Accommodation specialists know what is best for ultimate comfort and elegance, ensuring your guests keep returning, time after time.
Keep reading for smart tips for your hotel overhaul plans.
5 Top Tips for Refurbishing and Modernising an Old Hotel
1. Electrical and Plumbing Systems: Do an Upgrade
Maintaining your reputation in the hospitality industry includes having a fully functional hotel. If the electrics are faulty or guest bathrooms keep flooding because of blocked toilets, you’re going to lose business fast.
Hoteliers aren’t only legally responsible for the safety of their guests but for their workers as well. So, upgrading an old hotel’s electrical and plumbing systems is a must in order to comply with health and safety regulations.
Also, it allows your hotel workers to perform their roles efficiently and professionally while always keeping your guests comfortable and safe. Make sure you use skilled electricians and plumbers who are certified to do repairs and maintenance of such systems.
2. The Lobby: Create an Impact
The old adage that first impressions last applies to hotel lobbies too! Refurbishing the hotel’s lobby is essential if you want to create an impact as soon as a guest enters your accommodation. There are many ways of doing this, including:
- Providing ample space: This gives both guests and staff room to move especially when carting luggage. Keeping the entrance hall uncluttered is vital.
- Segmenting the space: Allocating different areas to reception and social spots gives the lobby an organised but comfortable atmosphere
- Using modern furnishing: Updating the lobby furniture instantly gives the entrance a revamp while adding style and elegance that contributes to the ambience of the hotel.
When giving your lobby a facelift, make sure it aligns with the look of your hotel.
3. Hotel Furniture: Quality Counts
Refurbishing an old hotel is an expensive business but taking shortcuts often ends up being more costly in the long run. Selecting quality hotel furniture not only ensures durability and a longer lifespan but it gives your guests the comfort they expect whenever booking into an establishment.
Premium furnishing has the added benefit of adding aesthetics to your hotel while still being functional.
Furthermore, it becomes a whole lot easier to tastefully decorate guest bedrooms, dining rooms, lounges and lobbies when you only use top-quality furniture specifically designed for hotels. Take it one step further and opt for custom furniture designs to add uniqueness to your revamped hotel.
4. Guest Bedrooms: Add Some Flair
When revamping your hotel, consider adding some flair to the guest bedrooms. This can be done by having different themes, as long as it suits the overall style you picked. You can also install modern features such as remote-controlled blinds or use only the best in bed linen to make an impact. Playing around with different colours and styles while bringing in as much natural light as possible goes a long way to rejuvenating an outdated room.
Sticking to the overall theme of your renovated hotel will help you decide what to include in your guest rooms. Working with accommodation specialists, create an interior design that’s modern, functional and comfortable for guests when they retire to their bedrooms.
5. Sustainability: Go Eco-FriendlyThis
In many cases, old hotels weren’t designed to be environmentally friendly. Revamping an outdated building gives you the ideal opportunity to install eco-friendly features that allow your establishment to run in a sustainable manner. Here are some excellent ideas for running an eco-friendly hotel:
- Install water-saving shower heads to prevent wastage
- Go off-grid by switching over to solar power
- Integrate skylights throughout the building to bring in natural lighting
- Install energy-efficient HVAC systems to reduce heating and cooling costs
- Encourage recycling with guests and staff
Everybody is responsible for taking care of natural resources and you can do your bit by incorporating environmentally friendly practices into your hotel business. You’ll also need experts to help you implement systems like a solar powered infrastructure.
Don’t worry! In the long run your running costs will be less thanks to lower monthly energy bills! So today’s expense is a smart investment in your hotel’s future.
Final Thoughts
Overhauling an old hotel isn’t an easy job and it’s a costly exercise. Working with the right people who understand what is needed in the hospitality industry, makes a big difference to both your budget and the end result.
Using the top 5 tips in this article will assure the changes you make will keep you competitive in today’s accommodation industry. Your guests will keep coming back, your reputation as a hotelier will remain steadfast and your business will continue to grow with its renewed look!