Monthly Archives

February 2013

Checking In: Must Haves for Excellent Hospitality Service

February 28, 2013

As we mentioned before, the breakfast bar is one of the most popular and appealing attractions for those in the hospitality industry. Having the perfect breakfast bar can put you measures beyond your competition, but now you are probably wondering, what else can we do?

Keep in mind that nearly half of all travelers report that they will not book a hotel room without first reading online reviews. Monitor online reviews for input on ways to improve your hotel. Chief complaints cited in online reviews are housekeeping, service quality and general maintenance.

So, let’s imagine you have the friendliest and most reliable staff you could find and general maintenance has ensured that everything is in perfect working condition. Ready for the next step?

Here is a Top Ten list of services in the hospitality industry that will make guests and visitors become often-seen friends. You might want to pay close attention to it because it could change how you do hospitality.

  1. Free Wi-Fi
  2. Free Wi-Fi
  3. Plent of power outlets in each room
  4. Happy hours, wine tasting, or other activities involving food and drinks
  5. Complimentary bottled water in every room
  6. Designer toiletries
  7. Fitness center and spa
  8. Modern in-room amenities like iPads
  9. Fresh flowers throughout
  10. Entertainment amenities like an arcade or movie screening room

While we could have easily drafted a Top One Hundred list, these top ten items should be considered as some of the best to offer. So what are you waiting for? Turn guests into friends today.

Not sure where to start? Contact us today!

Build The Best Breakfast Bar

February 18, 2013

build the best breakfast bar

Are your guests getting the best start to their day? If not, you can and should help them.

The breakfast bar is one of the most popular and appealing attractions for those in the hospitality industry. It’s where visitors begin their day and get their start. Giving visitors a healthy cornucopia of breakfast options is one of the best ways to ensure return guests.

But what else can and should you do aside from a diverse breakfast plan that appeals to people of different tastes and dietary preferences? Let’s explore that now.

Incorporate the following tips into your breakfast bar layout and practice:

  • Toss out those stale donuts and replace them with fresh fruits and homemade itemsRenovate countertops with grade one surfaces such as granite, stone, or marble
  • Add accent elements like columns or arches
  • Give the breakfast bar a unique flavor by incorporating local arts and crafts
  • Install one or more large flat-screen TVs so guests can watch the morning news
  • Modernize furniture and equipment for quality, comfort, and aesthetics
  • Ensure the entire area has sufficient Wi-Fi access (free Wi-Fi is one of the most important and demanded features by hotel guests)
  • Regularly clean the breakfast bar, pick up trash, and confirm that all surfaces and tables are clean and ready for guests

Our website features seven different breakfast bar themes that provide an auspicious starting point for planning your perfect breakfast bar. These themes include: our private-label Registry®Bar, Eco Bar, Contemporary Breakfast Bar, Traditional Breakfast Bar, Country Breakfast Bar, Hot Breakfast Bar, and Cold Breakfast Bar. We provide all the tools and tips you need to build your mouthwatering cornucopia.

Remember: a perfect day starts with a perfect breakfast. Provide that for your guests and they may stay another night.

Not sure where to start? Contact us today!

Prepare Your Hotel For Spring Now

February 12, 2013

prepare your hotel for spring

It’s only February, but spring will be upon us soon. Now is the time to begin thinking about your spring action plan. It’s imperative to strategize on updating various hospitality products and designs to appear as fresh as the oncoming season.

Where should you begin so you are not left in the dust of competition? Focus on the following three areas to help ensure 2013 is a successful year:

1)Upgrade Outdoor Furniture and Recreational Equipment

Many visitors will be elated that the winter cold has vanished and they can begin spending more time outdoors. Upgrading outdoor furniture and recreational equipment guarantees that your outdoor areas are looking not only competitive, but also pristine and inviting – and made for relaxing in the fresh spring atmosphere.

Updated chaises, tables, chairs, and other outdoor items can make the entire property appear new and refreshed. When was the last time your style was modernized?

Looking for outdoor furniture? Click Here to browse all of our options!

2)Prepare a Beautiful, Bountiful Spring Landscape and Garden

Late winter is the ideal time to prepare landscaping and gardening for spring. Important tips to keep in mind are: clear drainage ditches, repair any bowed sides to raised beds, fix trellises and fencing, weed young spring weeds, and mulch bare spots in beds.

Also consider some of these attractive and popular spring flowers: tulips, lilies, daffodils, and hyacinth. Outdoor possibilities are endless with the addition or changing of flowers, bushes, hedges, shrubbery, and other plant life.

3)New Seasons Mean New Colors and Designs

As you are already probably aware, a new season brings with it a new feeling. Updating colors and designs to match the new season will keep you in sync. Popular colors for this spring include emerald, poppy red, linen, African violet, Monaco blue, grayed jade, and tangerine.

Remember to use your colors wisely. Where can you apply these colors? They work perfectly anywhere from table linens and accessories, bedding, sheets, towels, and blankets to indoor and outdoor painting.

Not sure where to start? Contact us today!

Green Lighting For The Hospitality Industry

February 1, 2013

green lighting for hospitality hotels

Lighting is a powerful design tool that can craft a space and affect emotions. Hospitality is one of the original commercial areas that always understood the importance of proper lighting design. To this end, hospitality projects can be some of the most creative and inspiring to take part in, but there is more to consider than design and creativity.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, lighting represents 40% of the average commercial building’s electric bill. Furthermore, according to the EPA Energy Star Program, U.S. hotels spend close to $4 billion on energy costs each year and are the fourth most intensive users of energy in the commercial sector. Lighting accounts for nearly 25% of electricity consumed by hotels and for more than 40% in guest rooms alone.

Wouldn’t it be a bright idea to reduce energy costs?

Green lighting and energy-efficient products are not exclusive to 2013. Most if not all of us are quite familiar with them, but let’s take a look at some of our options.

Incandescent & Halogen

While the legislation debates continue feverishly, the fact remains that we will lose some of the more inefficient filament lamp types soon. Where incandescent or halogen lamps may still be preferred due to aggressive dimming or color requirements, make sure to use the highest efficiency version available. Halogen lamps are more efficient and last longer than incandescent lamps. Infrared-conserving halogen lamps are even more efficient.

Fluorescent Systems

Linear fluorescent systems are the workhorse of back-of-house spaces, as well as many common areas and bathrooms. With very high efficiency and lamp life ratings now achieving 60,000 hours, these systems are outstanding, cost-effective solutions for any area.

Induction Fluorescent Systems

A newer technology, some early induction lighting installations have outperformed their 100,000-hour predicted life rating. Available in a wide range of colors and power packages, the high-color rendering induction lighting systems are ideal for extended-use applications, such as in lobbies, atriums, parking lots, and signs, particularly where luminaries are mounted at great heights.