Hotel & Motel Management - July 21, 2008 - (Page 26)

26 Hotel Operations BUILDING EXTERIOR H&MM July 21, 2008 | HotelMotel.com www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition BY CHRISTINE BLANK, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Pretty outsides lead to proﬁtable insides Hotels that care for the outside of their properties are seeing more new guests and repeat business. While spending money on extra landscaping and taking time to clean can be challenging, hotels that do are seeing results. “I didn’t think it was a big thing, but it is amazing the number of people who notice the ﬂowers we plant outside. In looking at the expenses of the property, I think it is worth it,” said Jim Makowsky, g.m., AmericInn Lodge & Suites, Oswego, Ill. In addition to planting perennial ﬂowers, shrubs and trees, Makowsky focuses on cleanliness. The housekeeping staff at the Oswego AmericInn checks the parking lot and the exterior of the building for trash. “If we care enough about the outside of the property, it sends a message about what the inside is going to be like,” Makowsky said. Hiring full-time maintenance and landscaping staff members who care about the property and its appearance is key. “I’m lucky that I have two great people who really take pride in how the properties look,” said Makowsky, who also manages an AmericInn Lodge & Suites in Virginia, Minn. “Our landscape manager has a passion. If she sees something that doesn’t look right, she will rip it up and put in something more spectacular,” said Jeff Muscat, director of engineering, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa (Calif.). The Fairmont’s staff also keeps the mission-style buildings looking authentic by properly taking care of the stucco exterior and the tile roofs. “Tile roofs break easily, so you don’t want to walk on them [to clean gutters or make repairs],” Muscat said. OCEAN’S THIRTEEN SHREK THE THIRD HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX Landscape assistance National Tree Preservation. (800) 316-6630 www.nationaltree preservation.com Certis USA, manufacturer of natural and organic biopesticides: (800) 847-5620 www.certisusa.com National Green Pages, directory of natural and organic products and services: (800) 58-GREEN, www.coopamerica.org the one to FAIRMONT SONOMA http://HotelMotel.com http://www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition http://www.nationaltreepreservation.com http://www.certisusa.com http://www.coopamerica.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Hotel & Motel Management - July 21, 2008

Contents Larkspur Hotels Branch Out with New Brand Starwood’s C.E.O. Maps Out Journey New Brand Leaders Share Hits, Misses Perspective Letters to the Editor Legal FAQ Training Trends Sales Clinic HotelWorld Update Trends & Stats Special Report: 2008 Construction Companies Survey Guest Column Events Technology: Telephones Hotel Operations: Building Exterior Design: Televisions Transactions Awards Hot Products: Mattresses Supplier News Ad/Edit Index Marketplace Classifieds Checking Out Hotel & Motel Management - July 21, 2008

Hotel & Motel Management - July 21, 2008

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