How to Deal with Hotel Repairs During Tourist Season
As national and international travel gradually opens back up after a year of severe restrictions, this summer is bound to be a busy one for the hospitality industry. If you own or manage a hotel, the prospect of such a business boost is exciting, but increased occupancy comes with its drawbacks, too. The more guests your hotel has, the less leeway you have to get certain repairs and renovations done. After all, you don’t want your contractors to interfere with your valued customers or vice versa. Here are some ways to deal with hotel repairs during tourist season so everything gets done properly without tarnishing your reputation or bottom line.
How to Handle Hotel Repairs During Tourist Season
Don’t Wait Until Tourist Season to Renovate Your Hotel
The best way to deal with hotel repairs during tourist season is to not deal with them at all. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t invest in these important improvements at all, but rather that summertime is the least optimal time to do so. Ideally, you will have tackled any and all major repairs well before tourist season fully kicks off (i.e., early spring). Of course, things don’t always work out this way. For one thing, it’s not always possible to schedule maintenance and repair services precisely when it’s the perfect time for your hotel. Additionally, these repairs and renovations cost money, and your hotel (like most other businesses this past year) may be short on funds until it receives the boost provided by the summer rush. As such, it might not be feasible to tackle, say, commercial exterior painting until the middle of tourist season or after. However, if you have the time and budget to perform certain repairs before business picks up, you’ll thank yourself later.
Break the Project into Separate Chunks
If your string of repairs happen to take place during tourist season, there are still plenty of ways to streamline your operations despite these projects. At the outset, try offsetting your repair projects in time and space to spread things out. For instance, you might have your commercial interior painting contractors tackle one “zone” or wing at a time instead of getting everything done at once, so the majority of your hotel’s rooms and areas remain open at a given time. Breaking up your repairs and renovations this way will prolong the duration of these projects overall but will keep most of the smells and sounds away from your guests as they enjoy your premises. The contractor(s) you hire to perform these tasks may be able to help you craft an optimized game plan to maximize occupancy in the midst of these key repairs.
Block Off Repair Zones for Safety and Efficiency
While the outcomes of quality repairs are beautiful, things can look quite messy during the process itself. Eyesores aside, renovations can also be hazardous, especially if people aren’t fully aware of what’s going on -- falling debris, chemicals, dusty air, etc., all pose threats to unprotected and unaware individuals. As a business owner or manager, the safety of your customers and staff must be your top priority, and if hotel repairs occur during your busiest season, you’ve got a lot of people to think about. You can greatly improve health and safety by completely closing off any areas currently undergoing repairs to everyone except those essential for the project’s completion. This goes for interior and exterior areas alike. If you’re performing exterior power washing, for instance, you might install a temporary gate or caution tape that keeps people away from the water blast. These blockades shouldn’t be so severe that they prevent employees and guests from easily navigating the hotel, of course. You’ll want to strike a balance wherein repair zones are clearly cordoned off without obstructing the majority of walkways, stairs, hallways, etc.
Try to Keep Elevators Active
Elevator maintenance and repairs are vital to keeping your hotel safe and efficient. That said, if most or all of these transport devices are out of order during tourist season, you can expect plenty of complaints to come your way. While elevators are a convenient ride for some, they’re essential for those with mobility issues and those residing in a room on a high floor; you can’t expect everyone to take the stairs. Keeping up with preventative elevator maintenance will help you avoid shutting down your elevators for repairs. As mentioned earlier, try to take care of this maintenance and any necessary repairs prior to the summer rush to minimize congestion and frustration.
Keep Track of Daily Activity
Tourist season is undoubtedly the busiest time for hotels, especially those in areas with plenty of sightseeing. While this boost in activity can create challenges for making hotel renovations, there is one major benefit to the tourist season in this regard: when the weather’s nice and there’s plenty to do around town, most tourists will be out and about during the day rather than cooped up in the hotel. In other words, even if your hotel’s rooms are maxed out, there are plenty of times during the day when few people will even be inside the building this time of year. If you keep track of the average comings and goings of your guests, you can use this knowledge to your advantage and schedule hotel repairs at those times when daily occupancy is at a minimum. Generally speaking, it makes the most sense to tackle projects like drywall repair, interior commercial painting, and floor resurfacing in the afternoon hours when most people are out exploring the region. It’s often best to avoid these activities in the morning and evening, as these are the times of day when occupancy is at its highest (think breakfast, dinner, and lounging).
Post Signage to Notify Guests and Staff About Certain Renovations
Lastly, communication is key when tackling hotel repairs during tourist season. While many renovations will be visible and obvious to guests and employees alike, you can’t expect everyone to know, for instance, that the walls of a given hallway contain wet paint. Thus, you and/or your commercial interior painting services should post clear signage that lets everyone know the situation at hand -- this also goes for projects other than painting, of course. You might also have your concierges tell each guest that repairs are taking place, so they’re aware of what’s going on well in advance. The more information you provide to your people, the smoother things will go. Everyone appreciates transparency, even if they see the repairs as a nuisance.
Handling Hotel Enhancements This Summer and Beyond
Every hotel requires periodic repairs and improvements if it’s to remain safe, sturdy, and successful. Unfortunately, these various projects can get in the way of your operations, especially when things get busy. Through strategic scheduling, proper safety precautions, and clear communication, you can efficiently deal with hotel repairs regardless of the circumstances. At Nash Painting, we’re well aware of the challenges hotels face when certain renovations are in order, which is why we work closely with each of our clients to develop and execute a well-optimized plan. Numerous hotels across Nashville, Brentwood, or Franklin, TN can attest to our quality of work and customer service. To learn more about us, our hassle free painting services, and our values, call us at 615-829-6858 today!