How you can keep your hotel open while construction work takes place.

Every hotel will have to undertake a renovation project at some point, and many hotels plan to stay open while this work is being completed.  Naturally, this means that the hotel and general contractor must communicate during the construction work, so it affects guests as little as possible.  Here are some of the ways that you can undertake a hotel renovation project with minimal impact on guest experience.

• Understand the Scope of the Project

Before you start renovations, it's important to have a clear understanding of how in-depth the construction will be.  For instance, if renovations are minor or surface-level repairs, then this will make it easier to host guests.  However, if the project is more serious and requires things like demolition, structural work, or internal systems repairs, then this may be very disruptive for guests. Regardless of the scope, hiring the right general contractor is key!  A professional hospitality renovation general contractor will communicate strategies and schedules starting before the project begins throughout to completion.

• Communicate with Guests

Even if the construction work is light enough that you can host guests without disrupting their stay, you still need to inform them about the renovations.  Guests who book without knowing about the construction work will be upset and are more likely to post criticism on online review platforms.  If you don't want negative reviews to hurt your hotel's reputation, then it's best to be transparent about the renovation work being done.  When you keep guests informed and reassure them of the efforts you are taking to minimize disruptions, they are more likely to take a chance and book with you.

• Place Limits on Construction Work

If you are doing renovations on guest rooms, then tackle work in sections.  For instance, have contractors work one floor at a time, so you don't have guests staying on the same floor as the rooms being renovated.  You should also reserve certain elevators and entrances for your construction staff to minimize the contact that they have with your guests.  Finally, you should limit construction work to certain hours of the day, so guests aren't affected by the noise when they are trying to sleep.  When you keep the construction work contained, you minimize the impact that it has on your guests. These are some of the things that you should consider when serving guests during a hotel renovation.  Do you need assistance with an upcoming renovation or construction project?  If so, then contact Nikki Fox at Parkwest General Contractors at Nikki@ParkwestGC.com.  Our dedicated team is eager to assist you with all your building upgrade needs today.