Hotel & Motel Management - October 1, 2007 - (Page 20)

20 Design WALLCOVERINGS H&MM October 1, 2007 | HotelMotel.com www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition BY CHRISTINE BLANK, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ‘green’ As hospitality design goes green, the trend has spilled over into wallcovering designs and materials. “We see a big trend, especially in the larger hotel chains, for bringing in green products. They are putting pressure on the manufacturers and distributors to bring them green products,” said Bill Byron, v.p. and c.e.o., Big Apple Wallcoverings, Longwood, Fla. “Everyone has talked about environmental products for a long time. In the last eight to 12 months, they are making decisions differently,” said Patti Francis, director of marketing for Omnova Solutions, Fairlawn, Ohio. As a result, wallcovering suppliers are using more natural and renewable materials in wallcoverings, including wood and wood veneer, woven grass and bamboo. For example, a popular wood veneer wallcovering offered by Big Apple Wallcoverings is made from Japanese trees that regrow their bark, according to Byron. Omnova’s eco-friendly nanoﬁber line, called ECORE, is made from a non-PVC substrate and is 100-percent recyclable. Another major trend is vinyl wallcoverings that are more breathable and resistant to moisture. “The fear of mold and mildew may keep some owners away from wall vinyl, but it can be used successfully in high humidity areas,” said Robert Bernhardt, national sales manager, U.S. Vinyl Manufacturing Corp., LaFayette, Ga. Dressing walls in face LIFTS Loews Philadelphia Hotel completed a $9-million upgrade of its guestrooms and public areas. The 581 guestrooms feature new carpeting, bedding, custom fabric wallcoverings, window treatments, upholstered headboards, 32-inch ﬂat-screen televisions and decorative crown molding. The La Posada Hotel in Laredo, Texas, completed a $15-million makeover. While the original 1916 façade remains the same, the hotel’s reconstruction includes a redesigned lobby and guestrooms. Highlights include the stained glass, wood and marble lobby, with Spanish-inﬂuenced contemporary furnishings. Guestrooms feature granite and marble ﬁnishes, triple-sheeted bedding, oversized work desks and a neutral, warm color palette highlighted by rich reds. BIG APPLE WALLCOVERINGS Buying & installing tips Choose wallcoverings that are environmentally friendly and functional. Hotel owners should not have to compromise one beneﬁt to get another. Choose durable wallcoverings. Stick to heavier-weight materials that are easy to clean. Select a pattern with a random, reverse hang. Hire qualiﬁed installers. Order custom wallcoverings well in advance. Many manufacturers need a few weeks notice. Sources: Bill Byron, v.p. and c.e.o., Big Apple Wallcoverings; Patti Francis, director of marketing, Omnova Solutions; Cherie Davis, senior marketing coordinator, Designtex; and Robert Bernhardt, national sales manager, U.S. Vinyl Customization, color top design trends list Differentiation: Hotels want unique designs, including wallcoverings, that help them stand out from their competitors. “Hotels are looking for a wow look and a signature look, especially if they are boutique hotels and newer hotels,” said Michael Glynn, v.p., sales and marketing, MDC Wallcoverings, Chicago. 1 wood veneer wallcoverings, in part because hotels want materials that are more natural. Woods can be ingrained into patterns custom-made for hotels. For example, Big Apple Wallcoverings recently supplied hand-crafted, custom inlaid wood wallcoverings for the renovated corridors at the Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, N.J. The 582-room Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, Va., opened the Capital View Ballroom on its 14th ﬂoor. The ballroom is part of a multimillion-dollar renovation scheduled to be completed this year. The ballroom has 6,000 square feet of function space and ﬂoor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of Georgetown, the Potomac River and Washington. The Quincy in Washington reopened after a one-year renovation, with upscale bedding, 27-inch ﬂat-screen televisions, custom wood blinds and complimentary high-speed Internet in all 99 guestrooms. A third of the renovated rooms are executive studio suites, which have a full-size refrigerator, oven, stove, microwave, sink, dishes and pots and pans, making them ideal for extended stays. Compiled by Heather Gunter, hgunter@questex.com Color: Saturated colors, rather than dull, neutral colors, are in. “Years ago, wall vinyl was a silent backdrop. Now design is moving more to darker and richer colors,” said Robert Bernhardt, national sales manager, U.S. Vinyl Manufacturing, LaFayette, Ga. “Current wallcovering designs are cleaner and bolder,” said Cherie Davis, senior marketing coordinator, Designtex, New York. For more info 3 Wood and woodgrain materials: Manufacturers are offering more wood and Company Circle No. Big Apple Wallcoverings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370 Designtex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371 Innovations in Wallcoverings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372 MDC Wallcoverings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373 Omnova Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374 U.S. Vinyl Manufacturing Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375 DESIGNTEX 2 4 Large, contemporary designs: “Boutique hotels, especially, are looking for large-scale, modern prints,” Glynn said. http://HotelMotel.com http://www.HotelMotel.com/digital_edition

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Hotel & Motel Management - October 1, 2007

Hotel & Motel Management - October 1, 2007 Contents Independents Rely on Guest Feedback Models Showcase Aloft, Element Brands Trainers Emphasize Communication, Cooperation Perspective At Your Risk Satisfaction Trends Sales Clinic Energy Star Update HotelWorld Update Trends & Stats Dressing Walls in 'Green' Music Programming Provides a Sound Solution Remote Check-In/Out for Leisure Travelers Q&A: Western U.S. Pipeline Softgoods - Beds and Bedding Transactions A Cause Célèbre Awards People on the Move Events Cleaning and Maintenance Solutions Marketplace Ad/Editorial Index Classifieds Checking Out

Hotel & Motel Management - October 1, 2007

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