One main goal in hospitality is to ensure the highest guest satisfaction possible. To achieve this goal, hotels are constantly searching for ways to decrease friction and make serving hotel guests more efficient. A new way to achieve this goal (and many others) has emerged in the form of ChatGPT and AI. From 24/7 availability to improved efficiency & guest satisfaction, tools like ChatGPT can help improve the guest experience and streamline hotel operations. In this month's blog, we’re exploring the ways ChatGPT can help hotels provide a better experience for their guests and improve their overall operations. So, whether you're a hotel owner or manager looking for ways to make guest stays seamless and enjoyable, read on to learn how ChatGPT can make a difference. Here are 5 ways hotels can benefit from ChatGPT: 1. 24/7 Availability: AI chatbots can provide round-the-clock customer service. This can be particularly useful for guests from different time zones or those who need assistance outside of regular business hours. Hotels can become more efficient by integrating ChatGPT or other chatbots to allow guests to make requests and modify their reservations through the hotel's website, mobile app, or even by text at any time. How it would work: Once the guest requests to modify their reservation, the chatbot can guide them through the steps to fulfill their changes. This AI tech could also provide real-time information on availability and pricing and even encourage the guests to upgrade their stay. If the request requires additional approval or attention from a human, the chatbot could be forwarded to an agent who can provide further assistance. Once a human agent has processed and confirmed the request, the chatbot can send a confirmation message to the guest and update the reservation details accordingly. 2. Cost-Effective: AI chatbots are a cost-effective alternative to human customer service representatives, allowing hotels to save money on staffing costs. They can handle a large volume of inquiries and requests simultaneously, freeing up human staff to focus on other important tasks. How it would work: by implementing an AI chatbot like ChatGPT, the hotel can handle a large volume of inquiries and requests simultaneously without having to hire additional staff. ChatGPT can be available 24/7 to respond to customer inquiries, provide quick and accurate answers to frequently asked questions, and resolve simple issues. This can help reduce hotel staff workload, freeing them up to focus on other tasks that require more complex problem-solving or personalized attention. 3. Improved Efficiency/Guest Satisfaction: Chatbots can provide round-the-clock assistance and immediate responses to guest inquiries, which can lead to faster problem resolution and less stress on hotel staff. This improves the overall efficiency of the hotel and increases guest satisfaction by reducing wait times and guest friction. How it would work: Guests would take to the AI-integrated software provided by the hotel to ask for items and information that they’re in need of and the chatbot would then respond with answers, suggestions, wait time for items, and in some instances could even communicate with robot butlers in the hotel that would deliver amenities right to the guest room. Much like utilizing chatbots to modify reservations, a human agent might still be required to fill requests such as delivering extra towels, toiletries, etc. unless a hotel is equipped with robot butlers. Allowing guests to make requests for items such as these through a chatbot can save front desk agents and other hotel staff valuable time and stress. Instead of having to collect and respond to requests, the employee can focus on those waiting to make reservations and/or check-in. Once they have a moment or if they have someone on staff able to run items to a room they can review requests made by guests and fulfill them. In the meantime, the chatbot can provide guests who are requesting items with an estimated wait time and answer any questions about the hotel, it’s amenities or even give suggestions for things to do and places to eat nearby. 4. Personalized Service: AI chatbots can be programmed to recognize and remember guest preferences, allowing them to provide personalized service to guests. This can include everything from room preferences to dining recommendations and local attraction suggestions. How it would work: Let’s say a guest is staying at your hotel and has a few questions about the hotel's amenities and services. They would send a message to the hotel's chatbot integration, and it would respond with quick and accurate answers to his questions. However, chatbots like ChatGPT can also use things like advanced natural language processing and machine learning algorithms to review a guest's previous interactions, as well as their booking history, preferences, and interests. Based on the information collected, the chatbot could then offer personalized recommendations tailored to the guest's individual preferences. For example, if a guest typically requests extra towels, pillows, etc. the chatbot could include this fact in a reservation ensuring that those extras are in the room before the guest checks in. These personalization's could even extend into suggesting nearby restaurants that serve a guest's favorite meal or recommend activities that align with their interests. It might also offer personalized promotions or discounts based on the loyalty status or previous bookings of a guest. By providing personalized recommendations and suggestions, ChatGPT and other chatbots can enhance a guest's overall experience and make them feel more valued as a guest. This can lead to increased loyalty, positive reviews, and higher revenue for the hotel. 5. Language Support: AI chatbots can be programmed to support multiple languages, allowing hotels to serve guests from all over the world. This can be particularly helpful for hotels located in popular tourist destinations. How it would work: To overcome language barriers when checking in and catering to guests, hotels can implement a chatbot like ChatGPT with multilingual capabilities that can translate messages from one language to another, enabling guests and staff to communicate with each other more effectively. For example, if a hotel guest who speaks Spanish needs assistance, they could send a message to the chatbot in Spanish, and it could then translate the message into a language the hotel staff would understand. Similarly, if a staff member who speaks English needs to communicate with a guest who speaks French, chatbots with multilingual capabilities can translate messages between the two languages in real time. By providing language assistance, ChatGPT can help improve the overall guest experience, as well as enhance the hotel staff's ability to communicate effectively with guests who speak different languages. This can lead to increased guest satisfaction, positive reviews, and higher revenue for the hotel. In conclusion, the integration of ChatGPT and other AI chatbots in hotels can greatly benefit both the hotels and their guests. From providing instant assistance to personalized recommendations, and from fulfilling housekeeping requests to reservation management, AI chatbots can enhance the guest experience, improve efficiency, and save costs for hotels. As technology keeps advancing, we can look forward to exciting and innovative ways AI can revolutionize the hospitality industry. Whether we're hotel owners or guests, ChatGPT and AI can bring us a more seamless, convenient, and enjoyable experience.

Renovating a hotel can be a complex and time-consuming process. From developing a renovation plan to executing the project and managing costs, there are many factors to consider. When it comes to choosing the right method to complete a hotel renovation, design-build is often the preferred choice. Design-build is a construction method that offers a streamlined approach to hotel renovations & PIP fulfillment where one party (contractor) is responsible for both the design and construction of a project. To achieve the best hotel renovation results, hotel owners & operators should choose a renovation method that's more efficient, cost-effective, and collaborative. In this blog post, we'll explore 5 benefits of using the design-build method for hotel renovations/PIP fulfillment to hotel owners and operators. 1. Streamlined Communication and Collaboration Design-build allows for a more streamlined and efficient renovation process by eliminating the need for multiple parties to coordinate with each other. The team works together from the project's conception to its completion, resulting in more effective communication and collaboration between stakeholders. Design-build can help to prevent costly change orders and delays in the construction process One of the key advantages of the design-build method for hotel renovations is its ability to streamline communication and collaboration throughout the project. With the traditional design-bid-build approach, the hotel owner typically hires an architect to design the renovation, then selects a contractor to bid on the project based on the plans. This process can result in communication breakdowns between the various parties, which can lead to errors, delays, and increased costs. With design-build, the hotel owner works with a single team (like Amerail Systems) throughout the entire project. Because the design & construction teams continuously work together any friction that could take place when multiple parties have to coordinate with each other is eliminated. This allows better communication and collaboration between stakeholders, resulting in a more efficient renovation process. Contact us today for a design-build hotel renovation. Because the design-build team is always working together, they can identify potential design and construction issues early on, preventing costly change orders and delays in the construction process. Additionally, because the team is working together towards a common goal, they are more likely to be aligned in their vision and approach, resulting in fewer misunderstandings and a smoother renovation process. By working with a single hotel renovation company such as Amerail Systems, hotel owners can benefit from better communication and a more collaborative team approach that minimizes errors, reduce delays, and ensures a successful renovation or PIP fulfillment. 2. Cost Savings Design-build can help identify and address potential issues early on, which can help to avoid costly design changes or construction delays. The design-build team can use vale-engineering to find cost-effective solutions that meet the hotel owner's objectives and fulfill the PIP while staying within their budget. Another significant advantage of the design-build method for hotel renovations is the potential cost savings for the hotel owner/operator. By working together, the design and construction teams can identify and resolve issues before construction begins, which can help to minimize construction delays and prevent change orders and rework. With value engineering, a design-build team can recommend design alternatives that meet the hotel owner's objectives and specifications but at a lower cost. An experienced design-build contractor such as Amerail Systems can often leverage its experience in value engineering to find those cost-effective design solutions. For example, these measures can include using more affordable materials or simplifying design elements. This approach is especially beneficial when working on hotel renovation projects with limited budgets or tight deadlines. Here’s an example of how the Design-Build method used by Amerail Systems helped this hotel owner improve their quality while saving on costs: “From start to finish, Amerail was by our side, helping guide us with their experience. With their extensive experience, they were able to provide great cost-saving ideas without sacrificing quality, in fact, they enhanced our quality with the recommendations due to the fact they knew what would and wouldn't work.” William Irick Hampton Inn, Santee, SC By working together throughout the project, the design-build team can identify potential cost-saving opportunities, avoid costly design changes, and reduce construction delays, which can help to deliver a high-quality renovation within the specified budget. 3. Faster Project Delivery Design-build speeds up project delivery by overlapping the design and construction phases, allowing for the renovation to be completed in less time. Better communication and coordination among the project team members can help to avoid delays and keep the hotel renovation on schedule. Faster completion of a hotel renovation can increase revenue, and improve guest experiences. One of the most significant benefits of using the design-build method for hotel renovations is faster project completion. Here’s why: Ability to overlap the design and construction phases Improved communication and coordination Overlapping Design & Construction Phases: Unlike design-build, traditional design-bid-build approaches require a completed design before construction starts, leading to long project timelines due to lengthy bidding and contracting processes that can take several months. If you’re looking for faster project completion, the design-build method is the way to go. Because design and construction teams work together continuously in the design-build method, the design and construction phases can overlap. As a result, construction can begin before the design is fully complete, as long as the necessary components are in place. For example, instead of having to wait for a design to be finalized, demolition/removal of existing hotel features could begin. Once the design is complete the team can continue on with the renovation preventing delays. This can also be beneficial in a situation where before a design is finalized, the team comes across an issue with the building that needs to be addressed in the design. Because you chose the design-build method, your team can find and fix the problem without causing major delays. Improved communication and coordination: The design-build method also provides better communication and coordination between the project team members which can aid in quicker project completion. Because the team works closely together throughout the entire project, they can collaborate more effectively and address issues faster. This can help to avoid delays and keep the project on schedule. Overall, the design-build method's ability to overlap the design and construction phases and facilitate better communication and coordination among the project team members can lead to faster project delivery. This can enable a quicker hotel renovation which can lead to improved guest experiences and increased revenue. 4. Higher Quality/Quality Control The design-build method provides high-quality control and oversight throughout the project. Communication is clear and accountability is maintained since the same team is responsible for both design and construction. The team pays close attention to every aspect of the project and conducts regular site visits and quality checks. The team incorporates standards into the design from the outset, preventing delays and issues during the construction phase. Collaboration between the design and construction teams helps to ensure that the design is executed correctly, and any issues are identified and addressed early on. The design-build method promotes accountability and responsibility, resulting in higher-quality work. The design-build approach can improve the quality of a renovation by having a single team responsible for both the design and construction, resulting in more accountability and ownership over the entire project. This collaboration aids in the early identification and resolution of any issues that may arise and ensures that all work is completed to the highest standards. The design-build team pays close attention to every aspect of the project, conducting regular site visits and quality checks to ensure high-quality results. They also work closely with the hotel owner and management to incorporate their specific needs and preferences into the design from the beginning to prevent any delays or issues. Overall, the design-build method provides superior quality control and a higher quality of work than other construction methods because of its unified approach creating a sense of shared responsibility for the success of the project. 5. Experience with Brand Standards Meeting brand standards is crucial for hotel renovations Experienced design-build teams can ensure the property is brought up to required standards and meets the brand's expectations while staying within budget and on schedule Experienced teams are familiar with specific challenges and considerations of different brands and properties Knowledge of the latest trends and best practices in hotel design and construction can help create a property that sets itself apart from the competition Designing and renovating a hotel to meet brand standards is crucial, as hotel brands have specific requirements and design guidelines that must be followed to maintain their identity and reputation. Working with an experienced design-build team that has knowledge of various hotel brands and their PIP (property improvement plan) requirements can ensure the property is brought up to the required standards while staying within budget and on schedule. Experienced design-build teams will also be familiar with the specific challenges and considerations that come with different brands and properties. This can help to ensure that the renovation project is tailored to the specific needs and expectations of the brand and its target market to create a property that exceeds guest expectations. In addition, experienced design-build teams will be up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in hotel design and construction. This knowledge can be invaluable in helping to create a property that not only meets brand standards but also sets itself apart from the competition in terms of design, guest experience, and functionality. Overall, having a design-build team with experience working with different hotel brands and their specific PIP requirements can be a significant advantage in ensuring that the property meets the necessary standards and exceeds guest expectations. Conclusion Renovating a hotel can be a daunting task, and choosing the right method for renovation is critical. Design-build has emerged as the preferred choice due to its streamlined approach to hotel renovations, and the other many benefits of this method. Design-Build ultimately keeps a hotel renovation on schedule, minimizes change orders, and keeps the renovation within budget. Design-build helps to minimize errors, reduce delays, and ensure a successful renovation project. This method can help hotel owners save costs, provide a more efficient approach to the renovation process, and deliver a high-quality renovation within the specified budget. Ultimately, the design-build approach can make the renovation process smoother, more efficient, and lead to more satisfied hotel guests. “From design to permitting to final construction their attention to detail was phenomenal. Once on-site, there were some issues picked up on by their construction foreman...He also saw that an existing steel beam that was hidden from view in our parking lot could be seen from across the street. He called in and the adjustments were made to raise the EIFS by a few inches. Another success! That was above and beyond in my book. He thought about more than just what was on paper. It seemed that Amerail was always a step ahead of us as far as assuring that our guests were inconvenienced as little as possible. On-time and on budget. What more can you want?” Rick L. Alcorn Comfort Inn | Blacksburg, VA

Looking for ways to keep your hotel competitive in 2023? We’ve got you covered. In our latest guide, we’re sharing 5 ways for hotels to stay competitive and attract guests in 2023. These 5 tips include steps hotels can take to improve their guest's stay by increasing comfort levels & decreasing guest friction. While accomplishing every tip below in a short period of time may not be possible, working towards these goals over time will help your hotel in the long run. Some of the tips mentioned in this guide may even be included in your next PIP. 5 Ways to Attract Guests in 2023: Increased Technology Social Media Unique Spaces Pets Welcome Price Matches Quality/Value of Stay Let’s dive in… Increased Technology in Hotel Rooms & Common Areas When looking at the fastest-growing trends in the hospitality industry it’s clear that increasing technology is the front-runner. Most hotels have embraced many of the technology trends in hospitality. For example, many Hilton & Marriott properties offer smart door locks & contactless check-in/check-out through their apps. If hotels want to stay competitive in 2023 and in the future, investing in technology is a must. Here are a few ways hotels can invest in technology that will improve their guest's experience and help them stand out. Smart Rooms Allow guests to customize their experience in your hotel by giving them control over their room's lighting, heating and cooling, blinds, room service, and entertainment all through their phones. Contactless Check-In & Out As mentioned before, many Marriott and Hilton hotels allow their guests to check in and out through their apps. Including smart locks in this mix also ensures that guests can check-in, access their room, and check out all through their phones. This step in improving technology makes it simpler for guests to get to their rooms and relax. Furniture with USB Ports A simple step hotels could take to improve on their technology is using furniture with USB ports in their common areas to make it easy for guests to charge their devices. This step will also attract bleisure travelers who are looking for a spot to work while staying at your property. Robot Concierge While some hotels already include ways for guests to request amenities and room service through their phones, in the near future we may see a robot delivering our extra towels instead of a staff member. Could robot concierges be the future of guest service? By using them, your front desk team saves time that they can use to focus on other more pressing matters. They’re also a fun and unique way to stand out among the competition and could motivate your guests to create some user-generated content for your social media pages. VR Allow your guests to experience what a stay in your hotel is like before they book with the use of VR (Virtual Reality). VR experiences don’t have to end on the booking site, incorporating VR into your guest's stay could add a new layer of entertainment and allow them to experience attractions, games, or sites near your property. Hotel Apps One of the main goals of increasing and improving technology in hotels is to reduce guest friction. The easier it is for guests to navigate their stay, the more attractive your hotel will be to them. Allowing guests to personalize their experience by giving them the tools to customize their rooms, and have their preferences always available to hotel staff can make their stay as seamless and comfortable as possible. An app can also give guests the ability to easily communicate with hotel staff when they’re in need of something. Social Media for Hotels Social media marketing for hotels is a free and simple way to improve your property's visibility online, attract more guests to your hotel, and increase direct bookings. To stay competitive, hotels should invest in social media and share beautiful photos of their property, attractions, and scenery around them. Here are some of the best ways hotels can utilize their social media platforms: Find more at https://www.amerailsys.com/post/ultimate-hotel-social-media-guide Facebook: Promoting Events (Holiday Brunches, Dinners, etc.) Promoting Specials (Cocktail Hour) Receiving & Responding to Reviews Promoting Services (Amenities Special to your Hotel - Spa, Pool, Firepit, bar, Etc.) Promoting your Website/Booking Site Answering Guest Questions Paid Ads (Not necessary but ads have the ability for you to include a “book now” button) Instagram: Make the most of Reels, stories, and live videos Example: Do a walk-through tour of your property starting from when you enter under the Porte Cochere and into the lobby. Participate in trends that fit within your brands guidelines. Trends will help your chances of going viral and reaching a much larger audience. Inspire guests to stay with you and stand out by using high-quality and aesthetically pleasing images and videos. Use and promote a hashtag just for your hotel - promote this everywhere, even inside the hotel itself - when guests use your hashtag on a post about your hotel they are creating content for you - this is called "curated content". Use relative hashtags on each post for a higher chance of appearing on the discovery page or on your audience's following feed. Come up with a theme, guidelines & posting schedule to make posting to social media easier for you. The first thing someone notices on Instagram is an image and then the caption. Make sure your images will get your audience to stay long enough to see your caption & make sure your caption is captivating enough to get them to read further and/or take action. Share local events, destinations, restaurants, etc. on your page and promote your hotel's proximity to them. Destination content/inspiration Wedding and event content/inspiration Reels/TikTok: Videos promoting different hotel rooms Sharing high quality videos of your common areas, amenities, pool, gym, etc. Videos promoting different hotel rooms. Promote any deals/events happening at your hotel or nearby. Promote any attractions nearby while promoting your hotel. Pinterest: Share high-quality images of destinations around your hotel that are included on your website to gain traffic. Share images from events you’ve held such as weddings, birthday parties, etc. Include content-related keywords & buzzwords such as "wedding" "events" “inspo” “inspiration” and “aesthetic” to appear in searches made by your audience. Unique Designs in Hotel Lobbies & Common Areas Travelers are craving unique experiences and hotels have the opportunity to provide them with memorable stays by incorporating local culture and originality into their designs. Below are some ways you can provide your guests with a unique experience. Showcase local art and hand-crafted items in your lobby - this promotes artists while also supporting your local economy. Include a WOW factor in your design for guests to photograph and remember you by - this could be a unique light fixture or beautiful mural. Take local colors, patterns, materials, and textures into consideration when re-designing your hotel. Add furniture and decor to your lobby that’s inviting and stands out. Utilize your common areas and create separate spaces for bleisure travelers to work & relax comfortably. Pet Friendly Hotels According to skift.com, nearly 20% of Americans adopted a pet during the pandemic. Many millennials are now opting for pet ownership before and sometimes even in place of starting families. Much like traditional parents, pet parents want and many times need to bring their fur babies with them when they travel. This “pet boom” has prompted many hotel brands to begin rethinking their no pets policies. According to morningbrew.com, a survey conducted by Hilton showed that 55% of respondents who were pet owners take their pets on trips. Travelers are looking for places to stay that accommodate their four-legged family members and hotels that provide those accommodations will remain competitive in 2023. Hotels that already allow pets have also been stepping it up by providing treats, water, beds, and designated spaces for pets to use the restroom making their property even more appealing to travelers. While in the past, bringing fido along seemed like an almost impossible task, pet-friendly hotels seem to be increasing and may become a new normal in travel. Staying ahead of this trend could keep you ahead of the competition. Steps you Can Take to Make your Hotel Pet Friendly Make a plan on how you’ll introduce this accommodation. Will there be cleaning fees? Will you invest in pet beds/treats/etc? Can you prevent messes? Will you have all rooms be pet friendly or just some? Weigh the costs/benefits over time. Are there hotels in your comp set that allow pets? Will you be the first? Present the plan and check with your ownership, management, etc. to see if your hotel could begin offering this accommodation. Then invest in things like treats, water bowls, and beds to keep in your common areas and or guest rooms. If you’re a hotel brand that wants to introduce this new pet-friendly policy, consider reaching out to companies like Chewy to see if they’d be willing to partner with you. This could save you money when purchasing supplies for the rooms and also provide both of you with a marketing opportunity. Price Matches Quality of Hotel Service/Stay Travelers today are willing to spend their money on hotel stays but there’s a catch. While people want to get out and travel they also want to get the most value out of their stays and experiences. When choosing a hotel, travelers will often base their decisions on which property provides the most amenities, experiences, etc. for the best price. For instance, if a traveler needs a place to stay and they’re comparing two hotels that are priced the same or relatively close to the same amount, they will choose whichever property offers them the better experience. Things like vegan/vegetarian options at a complimentary breakfast or even spaces for them to work comfortably may be the difference between them choosing one hotel over the other even if the prices are only slightly different. It’s no secret that for hotels to stay competitive, they must look at what the competition around them is charging guests. But another thing to take into consideration is how your hotel can provide travelers with a valuable experience while also keeping your prices competitive. Guests will typically be willing to pay a little more if they believe to be receiving an extra benefit from their stay. Make sure to highlight your hotel's benefits on sites where people can book. Keywords to use (if applicable) are: Complimentary Breakfast Vegan/Vegetarian Breakfast Options Smart Room Technology - Customize your room's temp, lighting, TV streaming, & more from your phone. Keyless/Contactless Check-In/Out with App 24 Hour Market 24 Hour Complimentary Coffee, Tea, Water, & Hot Chocolate Bar Bleisure Work Spaces Semi-Private Work Spaces Plenty of Outlets in Common Areas USB Ports in Furniture (Charge your Devices Anywhere) Pet Friendly Treats for your Pets at Front Desk Designated Pet Spaces Water Bowls for your Pets in Common Areas Spa on Site 24 Hour Gym with (Add what’s applicable): Yoga/Pilates Section, Peloton, Weights, Bluetooth Speakers, Complimentary Headphones if Needed Indoor Pool & Hot Tub Sauna Local Art & Murals Infinity Pool

What hotel guests want in 2023: Increased/improved technology High prices should equal high value (either in design or service) Staff to be treated well and taken care of Sustainability Unique experiences Local culture Amenities that promote wellness Easy stays - contactless check-in and keyless entry Trendy and aesthetic design If we had to describe hotel design in 2023 in 3 words we’d say: Guest Knows Best This year hotel designers everywhere really listened to the wants and needs of travelers and made sure that their hotel designs reflected them. Extended Stay Hotel Design Extended stay hotels are becoming one of the fastest-growing trends in the hospitality industry. Most hotel brands include at least one in their portfolio and nearly 35% of new builds are extended stay hotels. In 2022 we saw hotel brands jumping on the opportunity to attract the bleisure traveler, the traveling nurse, and the extended vacationer by adding new extended stay hotels to their portfolios. For example, Choice Hotels International, Inc. released its newest mid-scale extended stay brand, Everhome Suites while Wyndham rolled out its plan for Echo Suites which we’ll see in 2023. Both hotels offer guests the opportunity to easily maintain their daily routines while being away from home. Why is extended stay growing? With so many travelers now having the flexibility of remote work, people can and want to stay in hotels longer. According to the American Express 2022 Global Travel Trends Report, 55% of American travelers were more willing to go on longer trips in 2022. This is mainly because people now have the ability to work from anywhere. Extended stay is one of the biggest trends we’ll see moving into 2023 and on from there because they hold enormous potential for the current and future environment. Guests are staying longer, traveling nurses want affordable and easy places to stay, and bleisure travelers aren’t going anywhere. Hotels should listen to what travelers want & take advantage of this demand by improving upon the past models of extended stay hotels. Hotel designs that reflect this trend: Blackout curtains In-room laundry machines Partitions separating sleeping areas from working/living areas In-room kitchens Improved technology Guest-controlled lighting/temperature/TV/sound Functional Hotel Design & Better Utilization of Space Another key trend we’ll see in hotel design for 2023 is the functionality and usability of space. Hotel design goals moving forward will be to make use of spaces and have an adaptable purpose for those spaces. With so many travelers working remotely, it’s important to take their needs into consideration. Including semi-private areas for sleeping and working by adding partitions is one way that hotel design is adapting to the new traveler. Hotel designs that reflect this trend: Lots of storage in rooms (especially in extended stay hotels) Shelving on the walls Moveable designs/layouts Partitions in rooms and lobbies to create a sense of space Increase in the number of outlets & their accessibility Furniture with USB ports Increased Technology in Hotel Design A key player in 2023 hotel design and one that will set your hotel apart from the competition is technology. Guests want their hotel stays to include the same or higher level of tech that they have at home as well as an easy check-in process. Contactless check-in is here to stay, as well as keyless entry. Travelers are also more concerned with what tech amenities they have in their rooms. Things like smart TVs in rooms so guests can access their subscriptions have been competitive advantages. But now smart rooms are entering the stage. Guests will be able to customize their room's lighting, temperature, and entertainment all from their phones. Hotel designs that reflect this trend: Customizable lighting/ambiance Smart TVs Contactless/Keyless Check-in/Entry Robot butlers Furniture with USB ports More outlets Conference rooms that can accommodate zoom/virtual meetings & conferences Designing for Wellness Travel & Sustainability Hotel design largely takes a traveler's wants and needs into consideration. Though they change over time, you can always depend on a hotel to reflect the wants and needs of many. Today's hotel and future hotel designs reflect what most of us have been craving in a post-pandemic world. Wellness and sustainability were a couple of the top concerns for travelers in 2021/2022 and will probably remain top concerns for the next few years. According to Booking.com’s Sustainable Travel Report in 2021, 61% of travelers responded by saying that the pandemic inspired them to travel more sustainably. Coming in at 59%, are travelers who would spend more if it meant improving the sustainability of their trip according to a survey conducted by Expedia. Most hotels now have sustainable practices and we will continue to see these practices grow. Designing a hotel with sustainability in mind can mean anything from using energy-efficient windows & solar energy where possible to providing bulk amenities and using materials native to the area. While travelers seek out sustainable accommodations they are also searching for places to stay that offer amenities that promote wellness and fitness. We’re seeing many brands pick up on this demand from guests including Hilton. If you’re staying at one of their many hotel brands you’re bound to find at least 1 peloton bike in your hotel gym as they’ve announced a partnership with the fitness brand to include the bikes across their portfolio. Hotel designs that reflect this trend: Larger outdoor spaces Outdoor workspaces In & out design - meshing indoor spaces with outdoor spaces using large windows and garage doors Using natural materials Outdoor dining areas Energy efficient windows Larger balconies Opportunities for hotels to take advantage of wellness travel: In-room fitness equipment Treadmill desks in workspaces (or in rooms) Expanded & usable outdoor spaces Guests continue to search for these amenities and hotels should remember that It’s vital to include how they’re promoting guests' safety and health on their website, app, and social platforms. Hotel Designs Reflecting Local Culture & Originality There has been a shift in focus within the hospitality industry to make the hotel the destination. To do this, brands have begun to allow hotels to create designs that reflect their local culture and landscape. With the demand for memorable, unique, local, and aesthetically pleasing spaces, hotel design will become less cookie-cutter and more customizable. Travelers want to experience the local culture. In fact, according to the American Express 2022 Global Travel Trends Report, 81% of travelers want to immerse themselves into the local culture while 78% want to have a positive impact on the community they’re visiting. Utilizing local culture in hotel design can improve the local economy and promote artists, craftspeople, and businesses. It will also encourage your guests to explore the area, and return another time. Creating aesthetically pleasing spaces will encourage guests to take pictures of your hotel and share them on social media platforms which will help promote your property. Go a step further and make it easy for guests to share pictures by adding a QR code linking to your social media or personalized hashtag for them to use near areas they would take pictures of - this will help hotels create user-generated content. Hotel designs that reflect this trend: Hyper-local design - local art, furniture, scents, books Memorable WOW factors Striking decor Colors, patterns, & textures that reflect the locations environment & culture Unique murals & light fixtures Furniture that stands out and invites you in Personalized room experiences with advanced tech Homey Hotel Designs/Family Welcoming Hotel design trends that are fairly new are spaces designed to feel homey and welcoming. Along with this are trends to make families feel more comfortable extending their stays by adding amenities for their pets while lifting restrictions. According to the American Express 2022 Global Travel Trends Report, 76% of people wanted to travel more with family. Hotels have realized that accommodating family needs and the needs of their pets will encourage guests to stay longer Hotel designs that reflect this trend: Cozy and intimate lobbies Segmented spaces for working, lounging, sleeping, and eating in lobbies and rooms Pet beds in rooms Designated outdoor spaces for pets Bookshelves In-room laundry machines In-room kitchens Moveable furniture Exterior Hotel Design Trends We’re Seeing: Modern & Dynamic Architectural Features Most branded hotels are prototyped to some extent so to create unique experiences for guests, designers are adding unique structural elements to hotel design. For example, an unconventional entrance, multiple color & texture options, cantilevered details, fins, or bulkheads are all ways hotels can set themselves apart from each other. Exteriors continue to take on a more modern look with clean lines, modern colors, and structures framed in LED lights. Customizable Lighting Purposefully placed lights can dramatically transform your hotel especially if your staff is able to customize the colors and patterns displayed. For example, the Hampton Inns V8 design, feature exterior light panels for a more modern look. Textural Diversity Textural diversity in exterior hotel design is here to stay. Designers are including more than one or two different exterior finishes giving their buildings even more dimension. Trending Materials: Textured Fiber Cement Siding Brick Cultured Stone Reflective Glass Metal Stucco Wood These design elements are chosen to help create unique exteriors and are made to fit and integrate into the local landscape or cityscape. 2023 Hotel Design Trends Wrap Up It feels like over the last few years we've experienced a hotel design renaissance. Hotels have gone from cookie-cutter design to now meeting the demand for uniqueness and personality. In 2023 we expect to see a boom in extended stay hotels and a demand for new builds and conversions. We also expect to see huge increases and advancements in hotel technology. We're so excited to see what's to come and we'll keep you updated every step of the way. Why does hotel design matter to us? Hotels connect us to family and friends, provide us with new experiences, and are there for us when we need to rest along our journey. They’re there for your celebrations, new adventures your business deals, and family breakfasts. No matter what is happening in our world, the hospitality industry has persevered while providing accommodations for weary & not-so-weary travelers. They're there for us, so we're there for them. At Amerail Systems we’re dedicated to providing top-tier, value-engineered renovations in the most efficient way possible so hotels can provide their guests with beautiful and comfortable spaces to gather and rest. We do what we do best so hotels can do what they do best. We aim for WOW. See how at amerailsys.com

Hotel renovations are a part of every hotelier's journey whether it’s fulfilling a PIP, repairing EIFS, or just wanting to stay competitive. While they may seem like an inconvenience, hotel renovations & PIPs are meant to help by keeping your hotel competitive, increasing the property value, and most importantly for this guide - improving the guest experience. As a hotel owner, manager, etc. you may worry about the impact renovations will have on your hotel operations. Wondering if you’ll be able to get heads in beds while also keeping those heads (guests) happy is a very normal concern but proper planning will provide you with ease of mind and make the renovation/PIP fulfillment process less stressful on you and your team. This guide focuses on how to keep guests happy during a hotel renovation but you can ensure guest satisfaction before construction begins by choosing the right design-build contractor. For that reason, our first point is why choosing the right design-build hotel renovation company can help keep hotel guests happy during a renovation. 1. Choosing the Right Design-Build Hotel Renovation Company When renovating a hotel it’s vital to choose a hotel renovation company that is experienced in and specializes in hotel renovations. Because of the uniqueness of hospitality renovations, choosing an experienced hospitality contractor will make your job as a hotel owner, manager, etc., and your team's jobs much easier. For example, at Amerail Systems, we have over 35 years of experience designing and renovating hotels nationwide. Because of this extensive experience, we understand the unique needs of hotel owners, managers, and everyone involved. Our unique knowledge makes us able to provide cost-saving, value-engineered design solutions so you can achieve the best ROI. We’re also dedicated to keeping your hotel as operational as possible. Our team of expert communicators will work with hotel management to develop a renovation schedule that is the least interruptive to your guests. Once you’ve secured the right design-build contractor for your hotel renovations it’s time to plan how you’ll keep your guests happy. Amerail Systems is here to help you with that as well. Below are 4 more ways hoteliers can reduce complaints and keep guests happy during a hotel renovation. Now for one of the easiest and best ways to reduce complaints… 2. Communication Like most things in life, communication & transparency are the keys to success and understanding during hotel renovations. Being transparent and informing guests about your renovation happenings before their stay will prevent them from being shocked and maybe displeased if they were to see debris or dust in areas being remodeled. Being transparent about construction may seem like a risky move but not informing your guests may lead to more complaints not only about the renovations but also because they were unaware of them. When should you inform guests of your hotel renovations? You can communicate with your guests about your property's renovations before they check-in, while they check-in, before they book with you, and you can and should communicate with them after they’ve checked out as well. Here are some ways you can effectively communicate your renovations with your potential, current, and returning guests: Email Guests About Renovations Before their Arrival & After their Stay Suppose you’ve chosen Amerail Systems as your hotel renovator. In that case, you can take this opportunity to emphasize that you’re working with an experienced, guest-friendly contracting company and that a schedule has been arranged so guests are not disturbed. This is also an opportunity to drum up excitement by including renderings of what your hotel will look like after it’s been remodeled and highlighting how they will improve their future experience at your hotel. Make sure to include how much you value them as a guest and that they can come to you with any questions or concerns. When guests check out you can send them an email thanking them for their stay and their patience with your renovations. As a bonus, you could invite them back to stay with you when your hotel is fully renovated and, if you’re able to, add a discount to encourage their booking. Post on Social Media A free and easy way to communicate with people is by utilizing social media. If your hotel is able to take advantage of platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, it should. These platforms give you the opportunity to easily share what’s going on at your hotel and keep potential guests up to date on your renovations. Here are some ideas for renovation posts: Before photos alongside renderings of your future look How renovations will improve the guest stay Timelines informing guests of when renovations will begin Progress photos to promote the renovations The finished results to encourage bookings If you’re not sure where to start with social media see our Ultimate Hotel Social Media Guide. Your Website To be as transparent as possible with guests who want to stay at your hotel while it’s undergoing renovations, you can add a disclaimer to your website informing travelers of the renovations. If this is something that is possible for you, make sure to add when the renovations will be happening and where. 3. Signage Adding signage throughout your hotel regarding hotel renovations is a great way to show that you acknowledge that the remodel may be inconvenient for guests. It also helps ensure that guests are informed about the renovations and can be an opportunity to promote your hotel's future look. Phrases like “Pardon our dust” and “We’re renovating your future stay” are great ways to let guests know what’s going on and why there may be some debris outside or why one hallway may look newer than another. Signage can also be a great resource in promoting your renovations. Printing out renderings of what your hotel will look like once the remodel is completed and posting them in common areas can get guests excited to return and experience the new look. Need ideas for “Pardon our Dust” signage? Check out our Extra Renovation Resources. 4. Discounts & Re-Openings Our fourth way to keep guests happy during a hotel renovation is to offer them a discounted rate on their future stay when your renovations are complete. If you’re unable to do this, finding something else that’s comparable can also be beneficial. For example, you could offer complimentary breakfast or offer a free room upgrade if available. Another way to get guests excited about your remodel and encourage future stays is to invite them to a grand re-opening party once construction is completed. Even if your hotel remains operational during your renovations, you can still celebrate the completed remodel with a symbolic re-opening party. The event can include a discounted rate, a tour of the renovated hotel including before photos, food & drinks, and even music if you’d like. This can be a great way to connect with guests and employees while celebrating your hotel's new look. 5. Plan Renovations Around your Busy Seasons One of our biggest pieces of advice for hoteliers is to start planning your hotel renovations as soon as possible. Timelines are increasing due to due to staffing shortages and supply chain issues and the sooner you put your renovation in motion, the more likely it is to be completed on time and on budget. Beginning the renovation process sooner rather than later also gives you enough time to think about when you want the physical remodel to happen. When planning for hotel construction, make sure to consider when your hotel is at its busiest, or if you have any events occurring. Working with a contractor experienced in hotel renovations will make it easier to schedule renovations around your busy season and events. While interior renovations can be completed at any time of the year, exterior renovations typically must be completed in temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of this, it can be easier to schedule interior hotel renovations around your busy season and events while scheduling exterior renovations can be trickier. But if your hotel is located in a climate where it is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for most of the year you should have no problem scheduling renovations around your busy season or events. When you schedule renovations around times when your hotel may be the busiest or most sought-after for events, you prevent having too many people affected by the renovations occurring. Contact Us today to get a head start on your hotel renovation. Conclusion Although it may not be possible to ensure that every guest remains perfectly happy during a renovation it is possible to ensure that you have done everything you can to make them happy. We encourage you to use whichever methods are best for your hotel and even use this list as inspiration during your next PIP fulfillment, renovation, or repair. Ready to take the first step? Learn more about our hotel renovation services here.

Preparing for Hotel CapEx Budgets & Hotel Renovations Every year hotel owners everywhere share a common goal to complete their CapEx budgets or Capital Expenditure budgets. A CapEx budget for hotels refers to long-term improvement costs that prolong the economic life of the hotel. These “long-term” costs include improvements and purchases for the hotel that will last approximately one to thirty years. Because the costs factored into a CapEx budget are long-term, they will include improvements and purchases such as repairing EIFS damage, painting the exterior of your hotel, purchasing a photocopier, full-scale renovations, and more along those lines. As hotel owners prepare their 2023 CapEx budgets it’s important for them to remember what they can and should include in those budgets. For the purpose of this guide, we will be focusing on why hoteliers can and should include renovation and repair costs into their CapEx budgets. Why should hotel owners include renovation & repair costs in their CapEx budgets? As the hospitality industry recovers we are seeing an increase in demand for traveling and with it, an increase in demand for clean, updated, and trendy spaces. This demand comes not only from travelers but also from the brands themselves. It seems that a hiatus of 2 years during the pandemic has motivated hotel brands to reinvigorate themselves to stay in touch with consumer wants and needs. Hotel brands have gone full steam ahead with this reinvigoration, including and not limited to, developing new marketing strategies, re-brands, re-inforced brand standards (i.e. PIPs), and increased social activity from almost every hotel chain. Along with all of this? Fresh and trendy hotel design standards arriving in the form of PIPs. A PIP or property Improvement Plan is a set of standards set by a hotel brand and given to a hotel under that brand's flag to complete within a given time frame. These standards include improvements to be made to the property and can be anything from updating technology to a full-scale hotel renovation. These improvements are meant to increase the value of the hotel while simultaneously keeping them competitive with other newer, or recently renovated properties. In addition to the assumed benefit of PIPs, a study done in 2019 by Michael J. Turner and James W. Hesford revealed that capital expenditure on hotel renovations was vital to improving hotel property performance. In this study titled “The Impact of Renovation Capital Expenditure on Hotel Property Performance”, the pair found a significant increase in revenue, profitability, and guest satisfaction 0-3 years after a renovation while R&M expenses decreased. This study shows us that PIPs can lead to increased hotel performance and including renovation and repair costs in your CapEx budgets can help you prepare for them. If you haven’t received a PIP yet, it’s best to be prepared for when that day comes. We predict that most major hotel brands will be enforcing hotels under their flags to complete PIPs by at least 2025. With lead times and costs increasing, it’s better to get the PIP fulfillment process started as early as possible. Including renovation and repair costs in your hotel’s CapEx budget can help you be prepared for almost anything. Plan your PIP fulfillment today. Contact Us What to include in your CapEx budget? Keeping the focus on long-term renovations and repairs to your hotel, Chief engineers will typically put together a list of fixtures, appliances, etc that may need to be repaired or replaced in the next year. But if your hotel has received a PIP or is expecting a PIP (property improvement plan) that includes a complete renovation then it would be more prudent to include the FF&E that needs repaired/replaced within the renovation/PIP allocation of your CapEx budget. This will help hotel general managers and owners better understand how much they should be budgeting for. How Amerail Systems Helps with CapEx: As a hotel renovation company, we understand the importance and urgency of budgeting for hotel renovations and repairs. Hotel owners can rely on Amerail Systems to help them budget for renovations and repairs and how to allocate those funds for hotel renovations to their CapEx budget. With over 35 years of experience in the industry, we’re able to effortlessly examine a PIP and provide hotel owners with costs to figure into their CapEx budgets for the year. Determine how much to invest in your CapEx budget for hotel renovations. Contact Us How much to reinvest in CapEx? A hotel owner's main concern when preparing their CapEx budget may be wondering how much to reinvest or spend on CapEx. On average, hotels are re-investing around 7% of their gross revenue each year but studies show that this could increase by about 70% by 2024. To calculate your hotels capital expenditure you can use the formula below: CapEx = PP&E (current period) - PP&E (prior period) + Depreciation (current period) *Your depreciation expense can be found in your income statement* While this formula can help you discover what to base your CapEx on, it’s important to consider things that could improve your hotel but may not be determined by a formula. For example, increased guest satisfaction from hotel renovations, and increased employee happiness from new equipment. These additional costs in your CapEx budget must be determined at the owner's discretion. To make this process easier and less ambiguous, Amerail Systems can help hotel owners determine hotel renovation costs to include in their CapEx budgets. Statement from Amerail Systems Costs and lead times are increasing all over the world, at Amerail Systems we are committed to providing clients with the best price available and we succeed in this because of our extensive value-engineering abilities. Being prepared and including renovation costs in your hotel CapEx budgets may be the difference between you and your competition. We’re here to help your hotel succeed. We aim for WOW.

One of the most common occurrences in a hotelier's career is the responsibility to fulfill PIPs and complete hotel renovations. While this can be a stressful and sometimes time-consuming journey there are resources to help hoteliers learn more about managing their hotel renovations and PIP fulfillment. At Amerail Systems, we’re dedicated to providing hoteliers with guides to help them prepare for and navigate their hotel PIPs and renovations the best they can. In this guide, we have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions we get regarding PIPs, hotel renovations, and our services. Frequently Asked Hotel Renovation Questions: Q: How long has (Amerail) been around? A: Amerail Systems has been one of the top hotel renovation companies for over 36 years. Fun fact: We began as a hotel railing company and then expanded into exterior and interior hotel design and renovations. Read more about us here. Q: Who else have you worked for? A: Over the last 36+ years we’ve been lucky enough to provide PIP fulfillments, hotel repairs and renovations to many hospitality companies and brands. Some hotel brands included are: Hilton Marriott IHG Choice Wyndham Hyatt Best Western Some hospitality companies included are: Driftwood Hospitality Management LLC Kinseth Hospitality Companies Meyer Jabara Hotels The Manor Group Global Hotel Group ZMC Hotels Roedel Companies First Hospitality Group Orchid Global/Galaxy hotels Pacific Inns Aimbridge Hospitality/Litt Group Q: What states/locations do you offer hotel renovation services in? A: We offer hotel renovation services in the continental United States. Q: Are you licensed in (Hotels Location)? A: We are licensed/able to obtain licensing in every state in the continental United States. Q: How long does the average upgrade take? A: On average a hotel renovation once construction begins will last approximately 3-5 Months. But if you consider the time for everything that comes before construction (design approval, permits, etc.), an average hotel renovation in total can take 7-12+ months from when a contract is signed. Because the entire process can take 7-12 months, it's important to get started as early as possible. Read more on this here. Q: How many rooms does your crew need once we get started? A: For a typical hotel upgrade we would need 4-7 rooms for our crew. Q: What do you warranty? A: All labor. Q: How long is your warranty? A: 1 year, plus the owner receives any manufactures warranty. Q: Would you use one of my subs on this project? A: We prefer to use our crews because of their extensive experience. They have been with us for over 20 years, and are highly skilled and proficient in their field of expertise. Q: How much of a deposit do you need? A: Typically 20-25% Q: How long does the hotel design take? A: Hotel design timelines can vary, but on average it takes about 2 weeks to reach a design agreement, 4-8 weeks to come up with a design concept, and 3-4 months to reach a final design and approval. Read more on this here. Q: Will there be photos of my hotel renovation that I can use? A: Throughout your renovation, our team will take photos of each stage of the project. We post these photos on our social media platforms and once a project is completed, on our website. If you’d like to use any photos taken by our team we would be more than happy to share them with you to post on social media or your website with appropriate credit given to Amerail Systems. Example of appropriate credit when using a photo provided by us: “Photo and renovation credit to Amerail Systems” Q: Are you on social media? A: We are active on nearly every major social media platform including Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. We share project updates and announcements, free educational guides for hoteliers, relatable content, and industry news. Here are some links so you can follow us! Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Youtube Q: Will you tag us on social media? A: We love connecting through social media and we always try to find the hotels we’re renovating on social pages. We now offer an easy way for you to get tagged on social media! Click here to submit your hotel's social media information to make sure your hotel is tagged on all your platforms! Q: When can our hotel renovations begin? A: Before we mobilize our crews and begin your hotel renovation, we will discuss a timeline that works best for you and your hotel to make sure your guests stay as undisturbed as possible. Once a contract is signed and a deposit is received, we will begin to mobilize our crews and equipment to get started on your hotel renovation as soon as possible. Q: How can I keep my guests happy during a renovation? A: As experienced renovators in the hospitality industry and also people who stay in hotels often, we understand how important it is to keep guests undisturbed so they can enjoy their stay. Our crews are all guest sensitive and we plan around a timeline that is best for you and your guests. We also suggest adding signage around your common areas and entrances that alert your guests of the renovations. Click here for free downloadable renovation signage. Q: How long do the plans take? A: Hotel plans are a part of the pre-construction phase and can take 3-4 months to complete once a hotel design concept is agreed upon. Read more Q: How much does (*insert hotel renovation or service*) cost? A: Once we receive a PIP and as-built drawings we can accurately determine a cost per key for your hotel renovation. Q: Is there a way to lower my renovation cost? A: With 35+ years as a top hotel renovation company, our team at Amerail Systems is able to provide our clients with value-engineered solutions to keep costs as low as possible. Read more Q: Would rebranding/reflagging be cheaper than fulfilling our PIP? A: Sometimes rebranding/reflagging your hotel is more cost-efficient than fulfilling your current brand's PIP. If you’re wondering whether to rebrand or renovate your hotel we would be happy to complete an analysis based on both brand's current PIPs for you to make the best decision. Wondering whether to rebrand or renovate? Contact us today Q: What percentage of my hotel will/won’t be operational during a renovation? A: For an exterior hotel renovation we can keep 100% of your hotel operational with our guest-friendly crews and top-tier communication. For Interior hotel renovations, we typically renovate one floor at a time starting from the top floor. This usually means that 75% of your hotel will be operational at any given time while 25% of your hotel will not be operational while we renovate your hotel guest rooms. *These percentages are based on an average hotel renovation and may be either higher or lower depending on the scope of work. Q: Do you offer smaller renovation/repair services for hotels? A: Yes! We are happy to offer services outside of full scale hotel renovations. Some of our most common hotel renovation/repair services are: Hotel EIFS repair EIFS water damage repair Painting Hotel room front renovations Hotel window replacement/Energy efficient window installation Hotel railing Systems Hotel Porte Cochere Reconfiguration If you don’t see a hotel renovation or repair service that you’re in need of, please contact us to see if we can help! Q: How long does a window replacement job take? A: On average, a hotel window replacement job can take 2-4 months to complete but the time for completion can vary depending on the hotel property. Q: Do you provide hotel lighting and roofing services? A: We can provide hotel lighting and roofing services with a hotel renovation. Have a hotel renovation/PIP question but didn’t see it here? Contact us today and we’ll be happy to answer it! Ask us a Question

Imagine you've just received a PIP or Property Improvement Plan for your hotel. In it, you find that you're required to renovate the exterior of the property to give it a more modern look. The PIP also gives you a deadline for the renovations and other improvements needed. You'll have a year to complete the exterior renovations of your hotel to meet the most recent brand standards. A year may seem like a long time, but if you factor in things such as weather conditions you'll realize it's best to get started right away. When you receive a PIP you should immediately research experienced hotel contractors who can help you fulfill it as successfully as possible. Experienced hotel renovation companies such as Amerail Systems, will understand how something like the weather will affect a hotel renovation timeline. They are the best equip to help you plan a timeline that avoids unworkable weather conditions as much as possible so your PIP is successful. Weather can impact hotel renovations and their timelines in a few different ways. For example, if temperatures reach below 40 degrees Fahrenheit during your renovations, properly installing EIFS becomes impossible. Another example of how weather impacts hotel renovations is if your renovations occur in the middle of hurricane season. This would obviously cause issues and would set back the fulfillment date of your PIP. In this post, we will help you understand how weather can affect hotel renovations and our tips on how to navigate through the seasons so you can plan for a successful PIP. How should you decide when to renovate your hotel based on the weather? Consider the following: Is your hotel located in an area prone to extreme weather? Tips from Amerail Systems: Start the renovation process a year ahead of time. Make sure the construction start date is after your extreme weather season and will end before it begins again. Get to know the site's weather history - when do hurricanes usually occur near your hotel? Tornados? Other extreme weather? Knowing the averages will help you plan for when to begin a project or at least how to plan around the weather. Is your hotel located in an area where the temperature is always above 40 degrees? Tips from Amerail Systems: You can theoretically renovate at any time during the year - but even if you're in an area that's warm year-round you will still have set backs such as extreme weather that you'd have to plan around (tornados, hurricanes, etc.). In general, hotel owners will want to plan renovations to begin after your busy season and finish before your busy season begins again. Renovating through the Seasons Fall Renovations Most hotel renovations that begin in the Spring will be completed in the fall months with some minor details sometimes being finished in the winter. A great time to begin interior renovations to be ready for the following summer. If this is your hope, make sure your FF&E is ordered at least a year out as shipping delays are impacting every industry. Hurricane season can slip into the fall months thus affecting the ability of some hotels to renovate in during this season. Winter Renovations Interior renovations can be completed anywhere in the US during this time as long as materials have arrived. Exterior renovations can be completed in warmer climates as long as the temperature remains above 40 degrees. In fact, in areas prone to hurricanes (southern & coastal) hotels may want to begin their renovations in the winter to avoid unruly weather. A great time to finish your interior remodel so you attract more summer guests. Exterior renovations could happen in cooler climates if the client is willing to pay for tenting and heating costs. Spring Renovations Most exterior renovations begin in the Spring as long as the temperature is above 40 degrees. Starting a renovation in the Spring will typically allow for a Fall completion depending on if weather conditions are workable. Summer Renovations Hurricane season begins in the summer and ends in the fall. This means coastal hotels may have trouble renovating, so it may be more ideal to renovate winter to summer rather than the typical spring to fall. While coastal hotels may have issues with extreme weather conditions in the Summer months, this time of the year can be beneficial for hotels located in cooler climates. Another issue with Summer renovations is that it is typically the busiest time of the year for most hotels. But well-planned exterior hotel renovations should have little impact on your guest's stay and you should be able to remain completely operational.

Traveling in a post-pandemic world has meant an increase in demand for wellness experiences. After a stressful 2 years, many of us now put mental and physical well-being above all else. This shift in focus has altered many industries' ways of reaching and serving their consumer. Personal wellness is now a priority and the travel industry is no exception to this. People are actively seeking wellness travel experiences when booking their hotels. In fact, wellness tourism is one of the fastest-growing trends in the industry. Wellness Travel is defined by the Wellness Tourism Association as: Travel that allows the traveler to maintain, enhance or kick-start a healthy lifestyle, and support or increase one’s sense of wellbeing. Many hotels are already taking advantage of this trend and many hoteliers want to be next. Incorporating Wellness design into your hotel can start by simply including healthier food and beverage options to offering complimentary water in the lobby. Hoteliers who want to incorporate more wellness experiences into their hotels can really take advantage of wellness tourism by incorporating wellness design into their hotel renovations. Designing with wellness travel in mind is designing with current and future travel trends in mind. Here are some ways hotels can incorporate wellness into their hotel renovations: Imagine finally reaching your hotel after a long stressful journey. You’re anxious to relax and want to check-in as soon as possible. As you pull into the Porte Cochere you see natural colors mixed with wood and stone, you're reminded of a fun trail you walked. You walk into the lobby and experience the perfect light for that time of the day to match your circadian rhythm. Imagine smelling eucalyptus, lavender, or maybe another scent that relaxes you. You look around and find that there is a clear, easy, and open flow to the space around you. Suddenly your stress is gone. As you walk to the front desk with your luggage, the colors of the walls and furniture calm you further while the green wall, plants, and natural materials around you make you feel connected to nature. You no longer care about the line to the front desk or how long it may take to check in. You're at ease because of your surroundings, you grab a cup of water and sit in an ergonomic chair to wait for the line to die down. You're stress free and ready to take on the day. Maybe you'll even hit the fitness center, you heard they had red lights in there to help muscle soreness. Time to check in! Let's break that down... Lighting Did you know that lighting can improve your mental health? There have been numerous studies now that prove the effect lighting can have on our brains. For example, natural light (sunlight) has been proven to enhance the brains production of serotonin. Using customizable LED lighting can improve a persons brain function and mental health by changing the light to match the time of day and what your circadian rhythm calls for. A new light therapy trend emerging is Chromotherapy. This is the practice of using different light colors to improve mood, motivation, health, and creativity while also helping to cure disease. For example according to Sweat Box Sauna Bar, red light is said to increase motivation, activate your metabolism, relieve sore muscles, aches, and pains as well as fight against illnesses like the cold & flu. Natural light - A natural way to introduce circadian rhythm lighting. Add more windows or remove obstructions in front of them in common areas & fitness centers to improve the ambiance and reduce energy costs. Customizable LED lighting & Circadian Rhythm - This allows staff and guests to change the lighting in the common areas or hotel rooms depending on their needs. For example, brighter light in the morning/day and dimmer/warmer light in the evening. LED candles in common areas - Promote relaxation with LED candles that give off an amber hue for calmness. Chromotherapy - The practice of using different colored lights to improve things like anxiety, health, stress, happiness, motivation, etc. Using Colors in Lighting & Paint to Improve Mood Paint or Light Colors to Improve Relaxation/Calmness: Blue, Green, White, Teal, & Lavender Paint or Light Colors to Improve Energy/Productivity/Motivation: Red & Orange Paint or Light Colors to Improve Happiness/Optimism: Pink & Yellow Paint or Light Colors to Improve Creativity/Meditation: Indigo Ambiance & Flow Improving the ambiance and flow of your hotel promotes wellness. When people are able to move through a space with ease, they are less likely to be stressed. When there are clear indicators for things like the elevators, the pool, fitness center, etc. guests will be able to move more freely throughout your hotel. Removing obstacles and allowing as much room as possible for wheelchairs and walkers will help you promote wellness while also being more inclusive. Improving the ambiance can also be done by adding aromatherapy in your hotel lobby or including customizable lighting options like the ones mentioned above. Here are some things to think about when improving your ambiance and flow: Create floor plans that allow people to move comfortably through the space Remove any obstacles Allow more than enough room for wheelchairs and walkers Consider aromatherapy in your common areas, spas, etc. Include Feng Shui in your hotels interior design plans Biophilic Design Biophilic design and wellness go hand and hand. When you incorporate biophilic design into your hotel you promote wellness. Bringing outside elements inside improves both the physical and mental well-being of guests. Using natural materials in hotel design such as stone and wood on the exterior and in the interior can help guests establish a link to nature and promote wellness. Ways to implement biophilic design: Green Walls Flowing Water Fixtures Plants in common areas Landscaping Natural materials Physical Fitness People are interested maybe more than ever on their physical fitness and health. Having a fitness center in your hotel could be the deciding factor in whether a guest chooses to stay with you or not. While having a hotel gym is great, there are always ways of making you stand out even more among your competition. Introducing better or even customizable lighting in your fitness centers can help promote wellness and give you a competitive advantage. Remember when we discussed Chromotherapy? Red light is said to improve motivation as well as reduce muscle soreness, activate metabolism, and build collagen. Including an option for red light customization in your fitness center will give your hotel a step ahead of the competition. Want to go even further with your hotel wellness journey? Some hotels took advantage of the increased interest in fitness and wellbeing by offering rooms that included workout equipment in them. These rooms allow guests to keep up with their fitness goals while in the privacy of their own room. Be creative with wellness! Have a courtyard? Make it a designated area for sunrise or sunset yoga. Promote the area as a space for guests to get fit while enjoying the nice weather. Ways to promote wellness with physical fitness: Renovated Gyms with newer equipment Better lighting in gyms In-room fitness options Outside areas for physical fitness - Have a courtyard? Make it a designated area for sunrise or sunset yoga.

Promote your Hotel Renovations for Free Social media marketing for hotels is a free and simple way to improve your property's visibility online, attract more guests to your hotel, and increase direct bookings. According to thewanderingrv.com, 87% of millennial bookings are inspired by Facebook. In fact, 2 out of 5 millennials look for social proof when booking and admit that images of hotels and places to travel influence their booking. Because millennials are the largest group of travelers, hotels have an excellent opportunity to take advantage of social media and promote their hotels for free. In this guide, we will discuss how hotels can take advantage of social media including what to post and when, the best hashtags, where you should be posting, and some ideas on how to promote your renovations. Where, What & When to Post Deciding where to focus your attention when it comes to choosing a social media platform for your hotel can be intimidating at first. But the choice can be made simple if you already have one or more platforms that you use regularly for your hotel. If you haven’t created a profile on any platform yet it’s not too late to get started! Before you create one though let’s discuss which platform is best for you, what to use it for and when you should post. The top platforms hotels should be utilizing are Facebook, Instagram and Twitter so here we will discuss how each platform should be used to get the most out of it and what times of the day to post. Below is a quick guide on each of the platforms mentioned above. Note: If you haven’t created a profile on any of these platforms, use this guide to help you choose which one/s you’ll be using. Look at the best ways to use each and pick whichever fits your hotel best. At Amerail Systems, we suggest using at least Facebook and Instagram. Facebook: A crucial platform for your social media plan. Facebook is the most visited platform and gives you the most range of promotion abilities. Best ways for hotels to use Facebook: Promoting Events (Holiday Brunches, Dinners, etc.) Promoting Specials (Cocktail Hour) Receiving & Responding to Reviews Promoting Services (Amenities Special to your Hotel - Spa, Pool, Firepit, bar, Etc.) Promoting your Website/Booking Site Answering Guest Questions Paid Ads (Not necessary but ads have the ability for you to include a “book now” button) Remember to use CTAs (Calls to Action) whenever you want the result of your post to be a click to your website or booking site. Here are some examples of CTAs: “Book Now” “Book Today” “Sign Up Today” “Register for Event” When Hotels should post on Facebook: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9 am–1 pm Instagram: As the second most visited platform, Instagram should also be in your hotel social marketing plan. In fact according to Mediaboom.com, 80% of Instagram users use the platform to make buying conclusions. Luckily for hotels, posts to Facebook and Instagram can be posted to at the same time within the Instagram app. This makes posting quick and easy for hoteliers. But for more unique posts (such as creating and sharing events) you will need to post on the platforms separately. Best ways for hotels to use Instagram: Make the most of Reels, stories, and live videos Example: Do a walk-through tour of your property starting from when you enter under the Porte Cochere and into the lobby. Participate in trends that fit within your brands guidelines. Trends will help your chances of going viral and reaching a much larger audience. Inspire guests to stay with you and stand out by using high-quality and aesthetically pleasing images and videos. Use and promote a hashtag just for your hotel - promote this everywhere, even inside the hotel itself - when guests use your hashtag on a post about your hotel they are creating content for you - this is called "curated content". Use relative hashtags on each post for a higher chance of appearing on the discovery page or on your audiences following feed. Come up with a theme, guidelines & posting schedule to make posting to social media easier for you. The first thing someone notices on Instagram is an image and then the caption. Make sure your images will get your audience to stay long enough to see your caption & make sure your caption is captivating enough to get them to read further and/or take action. Share local events, destinations, restaurants, etc. on your page and promote your hotels proximity to them. Destination content/inspiration Wedding and event content/inspiration Hotel Instagram Caption Ideas: When Hotels should post on Instagram: Tuesday 11 am–2 pm, Monday through Friday 11 am Twitter: While Facebook and Instagram are great for promoting your events, amenities, and specials, Twitter is the best platform for hotels to answer customer questions, and resolve complaints. Best ways for hotels to use Twitter: Use for customer service & communication with guests who have questions or concerns. Find relative content and join the discussion to engage with your guests online to appear more friendly and relatable. Follow mentions of your hotel to ensure you resolve or respond to any post that mentions you. Also use this to find any curated content. Share deals, offers, and events utilizing hashtags related to your location, the events, and your hotel. Near a beach? Follow hashtags related to beach travel and comment on relative posts to promote your local beach and your proximity to it. When Hotels should post on Twitter: Wednesday 9 am– 3 pm, Tuesday and Thursday 9–11 am Pinterest: An underutilized platform for hotels, if you are near a destination/tourist spot or if your hotel hosts events this platform will help you boost traffic to your site and inspire people to book with you. Best ways for hotels to use Pinterest: Share high-quality images of destinations around your hotel that are included on your website to gain traffic. Share images from events you’ve held such as weddings, birthday parties, etc. Include content related keywords & buzzwords such as "wedding" "events" “inspo” “inspiration” and “aesthetic” to appear in searches made by your audience. Platform Wrap Up When creating your profile on your platform/s of choice make sure to create a username that is easily recognizable and specific to your hotel. Example: HamptonInnSanteeSC this username clearly states which hotel you are representing and where it is located. Also, keep in mind that it’s important to experiment with your posts. Try posting at different times and using different hashtags to see what works best for your account. Remember to engage with your audience on every platform your choose to use. Like and respond to comments on your posts. Tag any parties included in the photos/videos you post. Engage in conversations related to your hotel on Twitter/Facebook. 31 Hashtags for Hospitality #vacation #travel #architecture #hotellife #travelgram #holiday #travelblogger #boutiquehotel #travelphotography #luxuraytravel #venues #weddinginspo #bedandbreakfast #summer #photooftheday #hoteldeals #livethere #besthotels #places #beautifulhotels #travelinspo #hotelsofinstragram #travelgoals #weddinggoals #beautifuldestinations #hotelbar #hotelpool #luxuryhotels #poolside #vacation #vacationstyle Hashtags are essential to landing in front of your audience but it is possible to overuse them. Hotel Hashtag Rules In general, you should stay between 3-11 hashtags per post. How do you choose your hashtags? We’ve covered how many hashtags you should use on each platform, now let’s discuss what they should be. Typically you want to include at least one or two “branded hashtags”. These will allow you to promote your specific property and is a great way to get curated content from your audience. Make sure you promote the hashtag/s and then follow it so you can track and see how it’s being used. For your remaining hashtags think about what the post is advertising. For example, if your post is about how guests can enjoy your outdoor pool you would want to choose hashtags that relate to this experience along with your typical hashtags. Put yourself into your potential guest's shoes, if they would be interested in your pool what other hashtags/topics would they be following, and what are their interests? If you were targeting potential guests based on their interest in your pool amenity, they’d probably be interested in or following the hashtags or hashtags similar to: #poolside #travelinspo #vacation #vacationinspo #summer #getaway #familyvacation #funinthesun #travelmore #staycation It’s also important to include any local hashtags that would draw in people near you or tourists interested in the local scene. For example, if your hotel is located in downtown Pittsburgh, you may want to include hashtags like: #pgh #pittsburgh #gobucks #pittsburghpenguins #gopens #gosteelers #downtownpittsburgh #pittsburgheats Promoting your Hotel Renovations on Social Media Hotel renovations are a part of every hotelier's experience in the hospitality industry. At some point, a hotelier will receive a PIP (Property Improvement Plan) from their brand/flag and they will then need to find a contractor to fulfill the demands of the PIP. This process is an exciting time for hotels. Although it can be stressful, this is an opportunity for hotels to promote their renovations and earn new guests. Promoting a hotels transformations via social media is a free and easy way to attract attention. Below are some ideas on how to utilize social media to promote your hotel renovations. Before the renovation Announce your renovations Show your audience which areas are being renovated using video & image content. If possible, the before photos/videos along with renderings from your contractor of what your hotel will look like after it's been renovated. Share what company you're working with to fulfill your PIP. Include why they're the best for the job (ex. If their crews are guest friendly and experienced in hotel renovations such as Amerail Systems). Create and promote a hashtag for your renovations. Ex. #springhillsuitesreno22 Make sure you're following hashtags related to your hotel to stay on top of & solve any customer service issues that may come up during your renovations. Also watch for mentions of your hotel on the platforms you're using. During the renovation Post high-quality progress photos of the renovations. These could be from you or from your renovation company. Use guest testimonials on why their excited about the renovations. Ask your guests if you can use their statements on social media. Post before photos along with progress photos and a preview of what’s to come. Utilize stories to give guests a live view into the renovation progress. Create a highlight reel on your Instagram for the renovations to store the stories on. Keep up with responding to any mentions of your hotel & engaging positively with your audience. Watch for uses of your promoted renovation hashtag - resolve complaints & find user generated content to repost. Create and promote an event on Facebook so guests can receive updates and read details regarding the event. *If applicable* Towards the end of your renovation, start promoting any events or deals that you'll be offering to celebrate the completion of your hotels renovations. *Make it easy for out-of-town guests to attend by offering and promoting a virtual option and/or go live on Instagram during the event.* *Promoting the event on your other platforms will help create awareness for your Facebook page.* After the renovation Post high-quality photos & videos of your completed renovations with an intriguing caption. Post before and after photos of each area that was renovated/transformed. Utilize stories to take a video of the property and highlight the areas renovated. Utilize stories, videos and live videos to give your followers a tour of the newly renovated property. Promote any re-opening deals or events happening. Post guest testimonials on the renovation results. Keep up with responding to any mentions of your hotel & engaging positively with your audience. Continue sharing your renovations. Watch for uses of your promoted renovation hashtag - resolve complaints & find user generated content to repost. Creating Hotel Social Media Content Social media content for hotels can be anything from posting about events to sharing great booking deals or even highlighting a featured cocktail from your lounge. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your content. Utilize stories and reels to give tours of your hotel or even participate in a trend (as long as it fits within your brand's guidelines). Use the next page to make sure the content you post is tailored to the platform you’re using. When developing a social media plan, remember to abide by the 80/20 rule which states that 80% of your content should be useful to or entertain you audience while 20% of your content should explicitly promote your business. So for every 10 posts you do, 8 should be entertaining/informative and 2 should be explicitly promoting your hotel. Tailoring your Posts On Instagram, posts should include high-quality images so make sure you utilize this platform to show off all your beautiful spaces, great amenities, and any food and beverage options you offer. On Facebook, posts should encourage visitors to book with you, read a post further, attend an event, etc. On this platform make sure you focus on having an attention-grabbing header with great CTAs and all the information they need. On Twitter, posts should be short and to the point while also being relatable and friendly. Here you’ll want to engage with your audience, and make sure they know they can use the platform for customer service. Watch for mentions of your hotel and get involved in any discussions related to your hotel, its location, and/or anything related. On Pinterest, posts should include high-quality images and a quick one-liner or punchy text that gets your message across in the shortest way possible. Focus on adding tags that revolve around travel, experiences, and destinations you offer or that can be found near you. Resources for Creating Social Media Content Free Stock Photos: https://www.pexels.com/ Free Content Designing Website: https://www.canva.com/ Hotel Fun Facts: https://djaunter.com/hotel-facts/ National Days: https://nationaltoday.com/ Grammar Checker: https://app.grammarly.com/ Motivational Quotes: https://www.shopify.com/blog/motivational-quotes Examples of Great Hotel Social Media DoubleTree Durango Instagram - Uses many images of beautiful scenery around them as well as relative hashtags and tags. Check them out here: https://www.instagram.com/doubletreedurango/ Marriott Harbor Beach Instagram - Includes high-quality images of their amenities and of things to do while you stay there. Also uses relative and branded hashtags on their posts. Check them out here: https://www.instagram.com/marriottharborbeach/ Hamilton Princess Bermuda Instagram - Has a set theme to their posts, utilizes the uniqueness of their hotel and location, uses curated content that fits their theme and gives appropriate credit to the original posters, and posts a variety of content that appeals to their audience. Check them out here: https://www.instagram.com/princessbermuda/ Subscribe to our newsletter for our 31 Hotel Social Media Content Ideas & Content Calendar for June. At Amerail Systems we understand the hospitality industry and that coming up with new ideas to post on social media can be time consuming. That’s why, in addition to this guide we’ve put together a content calendar and list of 31 free content ideas! Subscribe Here

Travel is back and expected to be larger than ever this summer. While this wave of travel will most likely continue through the year and beyond, the race to renovate hotels is on. At this time hoteliers and hotel brands are considering whether they should invest in hotel renovations and PIP fulfillments sooner rather than later. Our advice? Get started ASAP. It’s no secret that the faster you get started on a hotel renovation the faster it will be completed. Although, there are reasons why hoteliers may be hesitant to start the process. For example, some may not be sure where or how to start. But don’t worry, if you haven’t begun the renovation process it’s not too late and you don’t have to be an expert in construction or hotel renovations to have your hotel PIPs successfully fulfilled and your hotels renovated. To help you get started we’ve put together a list of essential tips for hotel renovations and hotel PIP fulfillments to assist hoteliers like yourself. Follow along with the hotel renovation tips below to gain insight into how to navigate your own project and understand the nuances of Property Improvement Plans and hotel renovations. Our 6 Best Hotel Renovation Tips: Hotel Renovation Tip 1: Choose the right contractor Choosing the right contractor is one of our most essential tips for hotel renovations. When choosing a hotel renovation contractor, make sure they have experience working on hotels and that their crews are guest-sensitive. Experience in the niche field of hotel remodeling is vital to the success of the project. An experienced hotel renovator will understand the uniqueness of the project as well as be able to value-engineer it better than most. For example, Amerail Systems has been remodeling hotels since 1985. We’re experts in renovating fully operative hotels so they can maintain their bottom lines, increase RevPAR & overall guest satisfaction. Our crews keep a clean worksite and always put your guest first. Here are some questions to ask yourself when choosing your hotel contractor: Are the experienced in hospitality renovations and repairs? Can they provide Value-Engineered solutions? Are they experts in Design-Build? Have they worked with your hotel brand? Do their services fit your needs? Do they have Guest friendly construction crews? How long have they been in business? Bonus question: Are they active on social media? Why does being active on social media matter? A renovation company that stays active on social media can shine a light on your property gaining you more organic outreach, and visibility while creating buzz around your property. Hotel Renovation Tip 2: Communication is Key Our second tip for hotel renovations is to be transparent and communicate with all parties involved in your project to ensure a smoother hotel renovation. Communication includes your guests, your contracting team, and any other stakeholders. Make sure to inform your contractors of any important details such as EIFS damage, timeline restraints, deadlines, or anything else that may impact the renovation process. Your contractor should also be just as communicative. At Amerail Systems our goal is not only to provide you with breathtaking results but also to maintain a longstanding relationship through transparency and communication. Probably the most important of your stakeholders are your guests. Communicate with your guests to ensure that their stays are not severely impacted by your hotel renovations. Being transparent about your renovations will prevent guests from being surprised when they arrive for their stay. If complaints do occur, communicate with your staff on how to navigate them in the best way possible. Keep an exciting air around the renovations when informing your guests about them. Show them renderings of how the hotel will look in the future and emphasize how the renovations will improve their stays. Here are some ways to communicate your renovations to guests: Emails to incoming guests informing them of the renovations. Need help writing one? Check out our template here. Use signage in common areas and the entrance informing guests about renovations and previews (renderings) of what’s coming. Post about your renovations on social media before, during, and after. Hotel Renovation Tip 3: Keep up with Current Design Trends Changes in design trends happen regularly, our third essential tip for hotel renovations is to stay up to date with these changes so you can have an idea of what to expect in your PIP or so you know what your guests may be expecting from your hotel design during their stay. To get an idea of what might pop up on your PIP, keep in mind that design trends for hotels typically reflect what’s trending in the world around us. Keep in mind who you’re designing for (what generations are traveling most now and what appeals to them?). In the last few years, we’ve seen a shift in hotel design to include a more modern exterior that incorporates natural materials and cooler/neutral colors. While on the interior we have seen biophilic elements, new sustainability standards, and now more modular and multi-functional designs. These trends stemmed from society’s focus on health, the environment, and the need to attract a new group of travelers (Millennials & Gen-Z). Here are some trends to keep in mind: Advanced Lighting - Customizable LED Dynamic Building Shapes & Unique Architectural Features Sustainability Improved Technology - Smart rooms Textural Diversity Functionality / Modular design (Making the most of spaces.) Accessibility Local Culture & Inclusion Unique Elements / FF&E - If your PIP allows for any customization to design or unique elements be sure to have these planned ahead of time so that your designs can be approved as soon as possible. Pro Tip: Hiring a contractor experienced in this type of work will allow for a more streamlined renovation. Here's a look at an example of textural diversity in design: Hotel Renovation Tip 4: Take Lots of Pictures & Promote your Renovation In this hotel renovation tip, we simply want to remind you to always take photos of your hotel throughout the entirety of your remodel. Before, during, and after images will allow your guests to follow along and see the results of your renovation clearly. Having enough photos will allow you to promote your hotel via social media and any other means you’re comfortable with. Your audience will love to see the progress of your hotel's renovations which will get them excited to stay with you in the future. At Amerail Systems, we continuously take photos of your hotels renovation progress and will share them to our social media platforms to raise awareness for your newly renovated property. Hotel Renovation Tip 5: Be Prepared for Issues & Unexpected Costs One of the most unexpected costs/time constraints of a renovation is water damage to the EIFS of a hotel. When Amerail is on the job and comes across water damage we notify ownership immediately and will repair the damage at a time and material rate so we can continue on the renovation. To check for water damage, look for: Bulges in the EIFS Cracks on or around window and door caulking joints Soft wood near windows/doors Discolored or soft areas Hotel Renovation Tip 6: Get Started ASAP & Know your Timeline One of the most underrated facts of a PIP is knowing that it will take longer than you think. On average, a PIP fulfillment from initial sale to completion can take 7-13 months. A lot of the time frame depends on permitting, the design approval process, and weather. When you receive your PIP, immediately research contractors who can help you fulfill it as efficiently as possible. Choosing an experienced hospitality contractor will make your PIP fulfillment process less stressful and you will usually experience a higher ROI. The sooner you get started on your hotel renovations, the sooner you can reap the rewards. Once a contract is signed, a hotel renovation can take anywhere from 7-13+ months. Here's a look at the timeline of your renovation after a contract is signed: The steps that come before a contract is signed can take 7-12+ months. Here's a look at the timeline of your renovation before a contract is signed: The timeline of your hotel renovation depends on many variables such as the time it takes for designs to be approved, for permits to be received, etc. but if you begin the process sooner rather than later, you should be able to achieve a faster turnaround. You can read more about your hotel renovation timeline here. Contact Us today to get started! Bonus Hotel Renovation Tip! What's one of the most important places to focus on during your renovation? Find out by subscribing to our newsletter! Subscribe Here Congratulations, you're now better prepared for your future or current hotel renovations! Did you enjoy our hotel renovation tips? Find us on social media & let us know! Want to receive a bonus tip along with our exclusive downloadable guide for this topic? Subscribe to our hotel renovation newsletter below! Subscribe Here When you subscribe you’ll be an honorary member of the A-team here at Amerail Systems! You’ll receive exclusive guides & content, first views of our hotel renovation blogs, and be able to participate in choosing topics we discuss and cover in our guides.

Managing the problems that can arise in a Hotel Renovation PIPs and hotel renovations are cyclical in the hospitality industry. PIPs are meant to encourage hotel owners to keep up with trends and stay competitive. Independent renovations to hotels may also happen from time to time if a hotel owner has decided to rebrand or if they want to improve the look of their property to, again, stay competitive. While these renovations are (and should be) a fun and exciting time they can also be stressful. Instead of a kitchen, bathroom, or even home remodel, we’re talking about some 50 to 300 or more guest room properties. You can imagine why this may be daunting for hotel owners. Being prepared is the best way to reduce hotel renovation stress and achieve a better hotel renovation result. At Amerail Systems, we believe in preparing hotel owners and management for their hotels' renovations so they can look forward to their new and improved property. That’s why we’ve put together hotel renovation guides that will help hotel owners prepare for their property’s renovations. In this guide, we will focus on the issues/problems that can arise in a hotel renovation, and how to manage them. While it is impossible to predict the exact issues that will arise in each individual hotel renovation project, it is possible to give hoteliers an idea of what issues may arise and how they can be managed. It's important to note that most renovations occur with minimal issues and that this list is to help you be prepared for any that do arise. Subscribe to our Hotel Renovation Newsletter to download our complete guide for Overcoming Hotel Renovation Issues or continue reading. Subscribe Here Issues Before the Hotel Renovation Should you Renovate or Reflag? If you receive a PIP you may wonder if it would be best to continue with the required renovations or if you should consider reflagging your hotel. Reflagging your hotel would still typically require renovations to bring your current property to the new brand's standards but sometimes these renovations can be less than the current brand's PIP. When considering the switch it’s important to know if the investment in a rebrand will outweigh the benefits of a PIP renovation and staying within your existing brand or flag. Obtaining As-Builts As-builts are the architectural plans for your property. These plans are vital for your renovation team to provide you with accurate construction and transformation plans. What to look for: Exterior elevations, floor layout, Architectural & structural plans. You could have physical or digital copies of these plans sometimes depending on when your property was built. Amerail WOWs: As a service to ownership, Amerail Systems can scan existing physical plans and provide an electronic version for your convenience. How to find them: Typically you can find as-builts with existing ownership, the local building department, the Chief Engineer, or with the General Managers. How to send them/best way to send them: The best way to send digital as-builts is via email or drop-box if the file is too large. Physical copies can be sent by mail for us to scan. Design Approval Once your hotel renovation company has your as-builts and the PIP requirements or requests for the new design they will be able to provide you with a draft of your new hotel renovations for you to provide to your brand for approval. This process can take anywhere from 3-4 months depending on approval from the hotel owner and then approval from the brand as well. Obtaining approval is dependent upon if your design fulfills the necessary requirements in your PIP. Sometimes things like materials and colors can be negotiated which can cause delays in the renovation process if you’re waiting on a yes or no for a certain design, material, or color changes. Scheduling/Construction Constraints Typically, your hotel renovation company should coordinate with hotel management on a schedule that fits your hotel and its guests best. Issues that could come up when determining your schedule for renovations include things like events taking place in your hotel, sold-out nights, seasonal weather, etc. The best way to handle these issues is to start planning as soon as possible and choose the right contractor. Hotel renovation companies like Amerail Systems which specialize in hospitality renovations will work with you to come up with a plan that takes your guests and their satisfaction into consideration. At Amerail Systems we recommend getting started early on your hotel renovation to help prepare for issues that can arise during the hotel renovation process. To learn more about the timeline of a renovation check out our last article here. Finding EIFS Damage One of the most common unexpected costs and time set-backs of a hotel renovation is water damage to the EIFS. Water damage to the EIFS is usually caused by leaking windows that allow water to infiltrate the EIFS & damage the substrate. To be best prepared for your hotel renovation, check for damage to the EIFS and inform your contractor as soon as possible. Here are some signs of damage to your EIFS: Bulges in the EIFS Cracks on or around window and door caulking joints Soft wood near windows/doors Discolored or soft areas Click through to see examples of damaged EIFS: Amerail WOWs: When we come across damage to the EIFS we notify ownership immediately and will repair the damage at a time and material rate so we can continue providing you with a top tier hotel renovation. Permits Obtaining permits is one of the most time consuming parts in a pre-hotel renovation process. Depending on location and which municipality the property is located in, the permit process could take 30-90 days. Our advice on this issue is to get started on your renovation early so you can avoid time set backs due to gathering permits. Permits are obtained after submitting signed off construction drawings which can only be completed after a signed contract and deposit has been received and after designs & drawings have been approved. Issues During a Hotel Renovation Weather Conditions Weather plays a vital part in the scheduling and executing of exterior hotel renovations. Hotel renovations are usually scheduled for times of the year where the weather is best. This is because it makes the process a lot smoother. Exceptions can be made if the hotel owner is willing to pay for tenting and heating. Remember to plan when your renovation will take place according to your locations weather. Consider if your location has extreme weather seasons and make sure to avoid renovations during that time. There are necessary temperatures and conditions to renovate in and if your hotel resides in a warmer climate you can choose almost any time of the year to renovate. While in the cooler climates, we suggest beginning your hotel renovations in the Spring. Sometimes exceptions can be made if hotel owners or managers want to purchase tenting and heating. But this does not mean that you can't get the process started early! The steps leading up to the actual renovation can take 7-12 months, the sooner this part is completed, the sooner renovations can begin when the weather permits it. Supply Chain Problems Because of the pandemic, the hotel industry has seen and increase in supply chain issues and inflation. According to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America, construction material costs increased by about 20% in 2021. At Amerail Systems we've experienced 4-6 weeks in additional time to receive some building and FF&E products (about a 25% increase). We've also seen a price increase of 10-20% for these products. While these issues may be caused by bigger external problems the whole world is facing, you can alleviate the stress of them by planning for extra time in your renovation. Working with a hotel industry experienced contractor can also help as they are most familiar with brand approved materials and products. Amerail WOWs: At Amerail Systems we will utilize our value-engineering skillset to provide hotel owners with cost saving solutions without sacrificing quality. Guest Satisfaction With any hotel renovation the goal is to improve the guest experience and increase the value of the hotel. So it's no surprise that keeping guests satisfied while undergoing a renovation to your hotel property is one of the most important things to consider. Noise and debris can be off-putting to travelers but there are ways to make sure these won't be an issue or at least as big of an issue. For this issue, communication & transparency is key. Inform your upcoming guests about the renovations and highlight how the remodel will improve their experience in any future stays. If applicable, make sure to emphasize that you are working with an experienced, guest friendly contracting company and that plans have been arranged so guests are not disturbed. Include images of renderings depicting how your property will look after the renovations to drum up excitement. Signage in your common areas and entrance way will also help you inform your guests about the renovation as well as give you a chance to promote your hotels future look with renderings. Overcoming Hotel Renovation Issues Congratulations on finishing this article! You're now better prepared to overcome potential issues in your hotel renovation. Remember to contact Amerail Systems for your hotel renovation & repair needs. If you found this article helpful, share it with others!