We’ll make it child’s play!

OK, maybe that is stretching things a bit! But incorporating these ideas into your time-line could really reap some benefits for you and your guests!

Whether this is your first renovation or you are a seasoned pro, understanding that not only the items to be addressed are important but the order of completion of those items can have a direct and dramatic impact on:

  • ROI/NOI
  • Guest Reviews
  • Your sanity!

Follow these guidelines to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible and watch those revenues climb faster!

We know you are excited for a fresh start! Dreams of guests flooding your reservation system and arriving to a clean and newly renovated property really ignites tons of positive vibes! You just can’t wait to show off your vision to the world! But before you start swinging that hammer, take a moment to consider the following. 

Remember, it’s an inside job!

Never do the outside renovations first!

(There is one caveat to the above, if the property will be closed during renovations then by all means do the outside first! The following does not apply. But if you are like most of us, you’d really like to start reaping the financial rewards of your remodel as soon as possible, so read on!)

Whether this is a newly purchased property or you have just decided to spruce up your current hotel, the excitement of doing so can sometimes get in the way of clearer thinking.  We know you can’t wait to share your vision with the world! But starting with the outside first can really damage your project and reputation. When that happens you prolong the time until you can start seeing any monetary benefit from all your hard work!

The only problem is that their enthusiasm will be short lived and will only last till they walk through your door. Now, anything dated or dirty will throw their initial impression of you under the bus.

Why? When guests pull up to your well manicured, freshly painted exterior with bright new signs, their expectations are set – in fact they are elevated. The only problem is that their enthusiasm will be short lived and will only last till they walk through your door. Now, anything dated or dirty will throw their initial impression of you under the bus.

It only gets worse if folks find sagging beds, dated FF&E and a dark room. The critical awareness of the guest has just been elevated to the extreme. You can count on a few more negatives at this point:

  • The guest will be on the lookout for anything and everything else that may be wrong
  • No review left online (guest apathy)
  • Bad review left online

There is an old adage, “always under promise and over deliver”. Why? Because, when folks get more than they initially thought they would they are pleasantly surprised. But turn it around and see how quickly your guests will become exceedingly agitated.

So now that you know the logic involved, check out our next post which will give you a detailed outline of where to begin. There is more to consider than just starting on the inside and we will walk you through the process….easy, peasy!

Lucinda Hazen has owned and operated hotel properties throughout Colorado, as well as managed hotels for others including bank owned/distressed properties. She has held positions in marketing and sales for several Fortune 500 companies giving her the unique business and operational skill-set that has enabled her to turn failing hotels into thriving hotels. She earned the Master Certificate in Hotel Management with an emphasis on Revenue Management from Cornell University. Lucinda is a member of the American Marketing Association.