Refreshing the hotel sector for 2012 – Advice from Millbrook Contract Beds

With the 2012 Olympics on the way a recent survey conducted across UK hotels has helped to quantify the anticipation for it as a good year for the British hospitality industry. What it seems to represent is the chance for building up and bringing back business to a fluctuating economical climate. The hospitality industry has been suffering from these shockwaves over the past few years.

In blogs from last year Millbrook Contract Beds explored the expected boom in the boutique hotel sector and the impact of the 2012 Olympics on UK industry. We wanted to explore how this cautious optimism for the future that hoteliers seem to be sharing is affecting their strategies in preparation for the big Twenty-Twelve.

Findings in the survey showed that just over 50 per cent of hotel operators said that they would be spending budgets on refurbishing their existing stock and refurbishing their facilities as much as their finances would allow. Essentially, there are 2 approaches to take here when it comes to amenities and guest room refurbishment;

The first is called Hotel Refreshment and the second is Hotel Rebranding.

In this blog we will be focusing on Hotel Refreshment first.

So what is hotel refreshment?

Well, refreshment is required to be carried out every 5 to 7 years at hotels from the small boutiques to the big franchises. It essentially involves adding new elements to the rooms to make sure that the hotel remains competitive in its target market.

The refreshment process will include possible renovations, most likely redecorating, replacing worn or damaged furniture, fixing or replacing fittings, equipment and assorted minor works that improve the ease of a hotel’s operation and capacity.

As a manufacturer and supplier of contract beds we are often called on during these periods to help select and replace the current beds. Most beds have a shelf life of 7 to 10 years anyway. Some high quality service hotels sometimes get beds replaced in even less time than that. We are always highlighting the importance of contract beds for the hospitality industry because we know from our 60 years plus in the business just how much difference it makes to the guest experience.

Some hotels, particularly the big chains, will have a rolling refreshment/refurbishment program like this. If a refreshment program is successful and well-executed it most often gets a very positive response from guests. The whole idea behind this is to increase a brand’s competitive worth on the luxury hotel scene in the UK.

How can Millbrook Contract Beds help?

With the Millbrook International Collection we provide the ideal contract beds for refreshment including The Executive and The President – 2 increasingly popular, superior bed ranges that give a new meaning to words luxury sleep.

We are a leader in bed innovation, design and quality, which makes us to go-to guys for advice and products. If you need some advice on your hotel refreshment program and what the best options available to you are regarding your contract bedroom furniture Contact Us.

We are also on Twitter and Facebook where you can follow us and join the community. Stay tuned for our next blog that explores the second approach to hotel refurbishment – Hotel Rebranding.