Browsing Tag

american hotel register

Booming Boutiques

December 19, 2012

A hospitality segment that some have called “recession proof” – sounds too good to be true, right? Well, not exactly…

HVS estimated that the boutique segment would double in size from 2011 to 2013 – and it appears they were spot on. Boutique hotels have been booming over the past decade, particularly in London and other popular European cities. This trend has carried over into the United States as well. Hospitality expert Bjorn Hanson estimated boutique hotels account for 3 percent of all hotels in the United States, but could grow to as much as 10 percent in the largest urban markets in the next 10 to 15 years.

What exactly does “boutique” mean? According to a recent New York Times article, the terms “not cookie cutter,” “chic,” and “100 rooms or less,” have all been used to describe this booming market.  The article goes on to name several big name hotel brands that are “thinking smaller” to build their business.

The main reason boutiques are faring well is because guests are looking for more than just a room number – they want comfort, individualized rooms, personalized service, and specialty treatment. A boutique hotel offers a unique vacation experience, and often times come with superior customer service.

But whether you are a small hotel or a large chain, the characteristics listed above should always pertain to you. Details such as artwork, unique furniture, and plush towels and linens can help give a more “homey” and boutique feeling. Browse our catalog and see how you can get started setting yourself apart from competition.

Top of Bed Options

September 20, 2012

top of bed options

The bed is one of the first things guests look at when entering a room. It has the potential to set the tone for their entire stay and tie the whole room together. And if your bed is stylish, comfortable and clean, it is sure to bring repeat business.

When was the last time your hotel updated its bedding? Do you use accents and pillows for a polished look? If you have to think about it too long, then it’s time to take a look at our Registry ® Triple Sheeting options.

Forget the bedspread and bed scarf. Triple sheeting is a simple technique many hotels use to save time and money. Traditional bedspreads can cost between $100-$250 per piece, and duvet covers cause housekeeping staff to spend up to three times longer making each bed. With triple sheeting, the bed scarf is printed directly onto the top sheet, creating a great looking, easy to care for bed.

By replacing a bedspread or duvet cover with one additional sheet, the triple sheeting technique can reduce overall operational costs. And triple-sheeting components can be laundered after each guest to ensure a sanitary environment. It’s the perfect technique to ensure cleanliness, style and efficiency.

American Hotel also offers multiple options for pillow shams, top sheets and accent pillows for that final polished, top-of-bed look and comfort. Available in multiple colors for every season and décor style, our bedding products guarantee plush, luxurious comfort and top quality.

Glancing at photos of the Best Hotel Beds, many of them are simple, elegant and use accents to bring the entire room together. Please browse our selection or consult one of our staff to achieve the exact look you’re hoping for.

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!