When Conferences Require Privacy

July 25, 2012

Let’s say you’ve just booked a quarterly Town Hall Meeting for one of the largest corporations in town. They ask you what measures your hotel has in place to ensure the privacy of the event.  What do you say?

Hopefully your customer service representative is able to respond that you offer code or key card access to the meeting hall and possibly even options to hire security guards. Depending on the company, this could make or break a deal.  After all, you should realistically assess how easy it would be for someone to walk inside your hotel and enter the meeting room without passing any sort of security.

American Hotel Register offers a variety of lock pads to ensure you are able to book conferences that require privacy safeguards. From typical electronic key card access, to a code system that is given out to attendees prior to the meeting, American Hotel has you covered!

You’d be surprised how many organizations would be glad to find out that you have measures in place to keep their proprietary information secure. And these measures are not just for companies – what about conferences or events that require a purchased ticket for entry?  Putting a simple code on the invitation would ensure that guests could come and go as they please without hassle of a check-in table. It’s a simple and cost-effective solution to ensure your events go as smoothly as possible.

Meeting the new crib standards

June 20, 2012

Are you ready for December 28, 2012? No, we’re not talking about that apocalypse mumbo jumbo! We’re talking about the new U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission standards for crib safety.

With drop-side cribs causing numerous infant deaths throughout the past decade, the CPSC made a unanimous vote in 2012 to issue new guidelines. It’s an important issue, and now is the time to start planning for this change. As of December 28, all wood and steel cribs not compliant to CPSC standards must be replaced. After this date, it is illegal for any place of public accommodation to offer cribs (both fixed-side or drop-side) that are not compliant to the new guidelines.

If you currently offer cribs manufactured prior to December 2010, these are most likely non-compliant with the new standards and must be removed from use and replaced with certified cribs.

Check the CPSC website for a list of recalls and a “crib test” to see if you need to upgrade. If so, American Hotel is here to help. We have a wide selection of cribs and infant accessories to make every family feel safe and comfortable.

Check out our selection of cribs here

Introducing The Exclusive American Hotel iHome Bluetooth Keyboard

June 11, 2012
Iphome

Did you know that in 2011, Apple sold over 30 million iPads and 70 million iPhones? And that’s just ONE year! The smartphone business is booming – and chances are that the majority of your guests will have one of these devices.

It’s no secret that the iPhone/iPad/tablet keyboards aren’t ideal for typing emails. iHome has just introduced an American Hotel exclusive solution that will streamline your guests’ work while they are away from the office.

The American Hotel Exclusive Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard with Speakerphone is the ultimate solution for business travelers. The wireless keyboard allows guests to enjoy the convenience of their tablet without forfeiting the ergonomic ease of a full QWERTY keyboard. The keyboard can connect with any Bluetooth capable device (iPad, iPhone, tablet, Blackberry, Android, etc.).

The keyboard is just the tip of the iceberg. Powerful Reson8 speakers allow guests to wirelessly stream their music from across the room. An MP3 line-in is included to connect to non-Bluetooth capable devices. Two USB ports turn the keyboard into a charging haven. A built-in microphone and speakerphone make video conferences crystal clear. Instructions are printed on the unit itself. A security tether ensures that the keyboard will stay put, and a volume limiter will ensure other guests aren’t disturbed. It is rare to find all of these features in one unit, but American Hotel and iHome have put the total solution together to make your guests’ stay more productive.

It’s time to take advantage of technology and put your hotel above competitors, and this is just one small way to make a big difference. Impressing your guests with the high quality of amenities offered will keep them coming back and referring others.

If your hotel caters to guests who are on business trips, the American Hotel Exclusive Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard with Speakerphone is a must-have. Every day, more people are making the switch from laptops to the iPad.

American Hotel has an excellent selection of iHomes at competitive prices. Check it out!

Surging Summer Travel

May 25, 2012

Let the summer vacations begin! School is coming to a close, families will be planning visits and business travel will pick up. It seems that the hospitality industry is one that continues to gain strength – and 2012 is no exception.

Smith Travel Research (STR) is predicting a rise in hotel occupancy during June, July and August by nearly 2% and the revenue per available room to increase 5.7% to over $73!

Many industry leaders were concerned that the rise in gas prices could cause a decline in travel and hotel occupancy. But if gas prices don’t deter travelers, many will likely be looking for ways to offset the gas costs. This means they will be taking advantage of in-room cooking appliances and complimentary breakfasts. They may choose a relaxing day by the pool rather than spending the entire day out on the town.

It’s time to prepare for your summer influx – we’re here to help!

American Hotel Register and You – Working Together to Go Green!

April 10, 2012

At American Hotel Register Company, we recognize the importance of instituting environmentally friendly practices into all aspects of our business. Our Living Green program is designed to support the environmental responsibility of the hospitality industry by developing and sourcing environmentally preferred products and packaging, by educating customers about environmental issues, and by making our corporate headquarters and regional distribution centers as environmentally efficient as possible.

Going green conserves the environment and saves money! Today there are hundreds of products available to support your sustainability program and a variety of tips that can be implemented to increase your hotel’s environmental awareness while saving money.

Here are just a few:

  • When thinking about saving electricity with lighting, not only should you convert to more sustainable lightbulbs in lamps, but convert overhead commercial lighting as well. Compact fluorescent bulbs last 10 times as long as incandescent bulbs and use 75 percent less energy— meaning that one bulb can save you $25 over the lifetime of the bulb.
  • Use refillable soap and shampoo dispensers. Eliminate those little plastic bottles and wasted product!  Please consider donating opened toiletries to organizations in need rather than discarding.
  • Provide 100% RainforestAllianceCertified Coffee for your in-room coffee program. Guests will love the superior flavor – and each cup brewed ensures local coffee farmers fair wages and working conditions.
  • Why not offer beverage glasses in guest rooms rather than disposable plastic cups? Not only will you reduce your carbon footprint, you’ll save money on supplying hundreds of new cups every day.
  • Purchase pre-laundered towels and sheets and eliminate initial laundering expenses. You’ll enjoy reduced energy, water and labor costs, too!

We invite you to take a look at more of our great Living Green tips on our website. By implementing a few easy changes, together we can make a difference in conserving natural resources.

ENERGY STAR estimates for your hotel

March 21, 2012

ENERGY STAR estimates that the 47,000 hotels and motels in the United States spend an average of $2,196 per available room each year on energy, an amount that represents about 6 percent of all hotel operational costs.

Since hotels and motels operate 24 hours a day, and numerous electronic devices operate around the clock, there are ample opportunities for hotels to significantly cut energy spending.

Let’s use commercial dishwashers as an example. Dishwashers that have earned an ENERGY STAR rating are 25 percent more energy efficient and water efficient on average than standard models. An ENERGY STAR commercial dishwasher can save businesses an estimated $850 annually on energy bills and $200 annually on water bills – and that’s just for one!

This ENERGY STAR dishwasher from American Hotel Register is not only competitively priced, but offers a fast 160-second wash cycle time and the excellent Jet Tech reputation.

Although commercial dishwashers and many other large appliances have a fairly long life expectancy (ranging from 10-20 years depending on the appliance and quality), upgrading your equipment to an ENERGY STAR appliance could pay for itself in nearly two years! Using environmentally preferred products is another way your hotel supports the environmental responsibility of the hospitality industry.

Check out what other items are featured on the American Hotel Register Living Green product page – we’d love to help you increase sustainability in any way possible!

Conference and Banquet Room Best Practices

March 21, 2012

Now is the time to start preparing for the spring conference season – from trade shows to corporate events, and even private parties. As the warmer months approach, inquiries will begin to pour in. American Hotel Register is here to ensure you have all of the tools to make it a stress-free, organized and successful season.

 

Getting Leads

A key to building leads for hotel conferences is an updated website outlining the options that are available for the conference. For example, this Hyatt Hotel website lists all of their rooms and features, as well as a link to visualize the different floor plan setups. Offering a variety of options, such as classroom style, U-shape, and round tables, can ensure you will meet the needs of a variety of clientele. Photos on your website from past events can also showcase your expertise.

 

Maximizing Space

If you use meeting planning software when planning an event, it will often calculate the space needed by the number of chairs. However, if there is a large panel of speakers who will be standing, or if it’s a short event, you may have more liberty with the furniture and space. Also, try investing in chairs of a smaller width or tables to fit your room dimensions. For example, if your room is longer than wide, invest in long tables to maximize your width.

 

Upgrading Equipment

Depending on the type of event or conference, there are certain items that will be requested by prospective customers, such as presentation boards, stages, podiums and projection equipment. Table skirts always add a touch of style to trade show events as well. Top quality and easily accessible accessories and accommodations will also allow for a successful event.

 

Using these techniques and referring to the American Hotel Register website for ideas and cost-effective products can help impress your guests, meet their needs, and keep them coming back.

Don’t Throw Out Those Old Televisions!

January 17, 2012

television recyclingAs many hotels, extended stay properties, and other hospitality venues strive to meet the growing demands of travelers by furnishing rooms with flat-panel televisions, the disposal of old televisions is posing a great risk to the environment.

Many of the components inside a television are toxic, including mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and other harmful substances. In a landfill, these toxins seep into the ground and eventually into the water supply. While one or two televisions may not cause irreparable harm, discarding dozens or possibly even hundreds at a time could make a severe impact. Multiply that number by the total number of hotels that are making the switch and you can imagine the effects that may take place.

John Shegerian, CEO of Electronic Recyclers, Inc., estimates that there are currently 268 million televisions in the United States. 80 million of those will be thrown away in the next two years.

If you are ready to toss away those old televisions, what are your options? First, for non-functioning televisions, many communities have drop-off locations for electronic waste, also known as e-waste. Watch for announcements from local government offices. Another reliable source for finding drop-off sites is ElectronicRecyclers.com, which includes a search engine for drop-off locations and agencies that might take used televisions.

Even though the digital broadcast signal changed in February 2009, older functioning televisions can still be useful. To generate some additional cashflow for your property, try reselling them on websites like eBay, Craigslist, or LiquidationConnect.

Schools, after-school programs, shelters, and nonprofit organizations may be interested in your TVs. Other avenues for donating include Freecycle.org, a website that allows users to donate or locate unwanted equipment. The Computer Recycling Center in California is a third-party company that will take donations, make any needed repairs, and find new homes for televisions.

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Save Green By Going Green

December 26, 2011

save money by going greenYou’ve probably seen more than one article on how to save money while making your property greener. In today’s tough economic climate, these ideas are more relevant than ever. Here are a few:

  1. Convert lighting to compact fluorescent lighting (CFLs ). There are an average of five bulbs used in each guest room alone. Have you reviewed your lighting needs lately to ensure you are maximizing CFL usage and reducing energy costs? According to Energy Star, qualified bulbs like CFLs use about 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.
  2. Install ceiling fans to circulate the air. This allows you to raise the temperature on your air conditioning.
  3. Reset thermostats. You may be surprised to find out that you can increase or decrease the settings a few degrees without anyone noticing. Also, do you have the thermostat set the same 24 hours a day? Is there a reason for that?
  4. Adjust temperature limiters on PTACS to save energy and money.
  5. Install low-flow faucet aerators and showerheads to limit water flow. Most guests won’t notice this, but making the switch will reduce overall water usage.
  6. Keep your money from going down the drain! Make sure toilets are working properly. Install new flappers or fill valves. Some systems can save up to 3,000 gallons a year!
  7. Display linen re-usage signage. Placing reminders in guest rooms asking guests if they need their linens washed every day is a simple, but effective way to reduce laundering costs.
  8. Don’t just use Energy Star-qualified lightbulbs, switch to Energy Star appliances as well for significant energy savings over the life of the product.
  9. Use microfiber products for cleaning. They clean effectively with fewer chemicals and can remove up to 98% of surface bacteria.
  10. Switch to concentrated forms of sustainable cleaning products versus ready-to-use. This saves money since you aren’t paying higher shipping costs for the increased volume of product, and it reduces your carbon footprint too.

 

If you’re already putting some of these “green” money-saving ideas into practice, I applaud you! If not, please consider incorporating as many of them as you can into your daily, weekly, or monthly maintenance schedules. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to include them, and the savings can really add up.

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Join the HD Revolution

December 11, 2011

Advantages of High-Definitionjvc

  • Digital Signal Reception. As of June 2009, the FCC has shut down the analog signal for television broadcast. Outdated televisions that don’t receivelg digital broadcast signals need to be replaced. We suggest 26″ and 32″ LCD HD televisions to replace 27″ and 32″ CRTs.
  • Energy-Efficiency. Most HD displays consume less power than traditional CRT televisions.
  • Picture Quality. HD displays are known for superbphilips picture quality, vivid colors, and bold contrast.
  • Lightweight Versatility. Incredibly thin and light, LCD and plasma televisions can mount on the wall or be placed on furniture tops.sansui

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