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At some point, all hotels if they want to stay in business need to plan for and undertake a renovation.

 

There’s no escaping the fact, however, that renovations are a hassle – not only are they costly, but they are also disruptive. Other than temporarily closing the hotel, there is little to be done to make the renovation less visible (or audible), but clever planning can mean that at least the expense of a renovation can be kept low if you are renovating on a budget.

 

Taking time at the planning stages will pay dividends, advises Ariane Steinbeck, managing director and principal at hospitality design firm Gettys. “Your interior designer and development team should assess carefully what can be re-used or refinished,” she says.   “You would be surprised how much of an impact a new finish, new tops and decorative hardware to your existing pieces of furniture will make in the spaces in lieu of buying all new case goods. If necessary, always consider “selective replacement” if you are looking to renovate smartly on a budget. A collected look, as long as it is thought through can add character and an eclectic quality to your rooms.  Making sure to approach and talk through all of your options at the beginning of the renovation is a recipe for success.”

 

If you’re on a limited budget and can’t put off that renovation any longer, the focus has to go on the guest comfort, she believes.

“Anything & everything that has anything to do with guest comfort cannot be ignored if your project is looking to renovate on a tight budget. A great bed, a good shower with consistent temperature and pressure, wireless internet connection that is included in your room amenities and enough outlets to charge today's gear will take you a long way with your guests. If some of these tangible features are well implemented in your guestrooms, guests will see past other areas of the room where you made sacrifices,” she says.

 

On the other hand, making cosmetic changes that are nice to have but not critical, such as replacing a perfectly decent floor or wall tile, just because you prefer a new colour should be avoided.   

 

Obviously, one of the big drawbacks of a renovation is the impact it can have on occupancy and when planning a renovation a general manager needs to weigh up the pros and cons between shutting off specific areas whilst the renovation is underway and trying to keep disruption to a minimum, or closing the hotel completely for a shorter period. A low occupancy is never desirable, but could prove more cost effective in the long run, says Jonathan Nehmer, founder of US-based specialist design practice Jonathan Nehmer + Associates in his 10 tips on planning a renovation.

 

“Schedule the work carefully. Work with the project manager to define the scope of work carefully and in detail. Low occupancy isn’t good news for the bottom line; however, this cloud has a silver lining. Lower occupancies may allow for faster construction, saving on general conditions costs and the costs of displaced business,” he says.