Many of our clients are looking closely at their guests’ preferences and in turn, are installing showers in lieu of tubs. Studies show that most hotel guests use tubs for showering and less than 2% actually use tubs for baths. This reflects that few, if any, baths are drawn these days. Showers provide an advantage over tubs by:

• Delivering a more upscale look
• Giving back some square feet into an already small space
• Providing more lighting by having a glass door instead of a shower curtain
• Offering more design options
• Getting rid of the awkward and moldy shower curtain

Indeed, we Americans tend to be in a hurry everywhere we go and quick showers accommodate our fast-paced schedules.  We are also aging and showers are a safer option because they eliminate the dangerous, giant slippery step over the porcelain cofferdam.  Many of us are also germaphobes and would rather not dive into a fungal abyss. Therefore, today, a shower makes a lot of sense when considering a renovation or a ground up, new-build.

Parc 55 Hotel Bathroom

However, we caution our clients that showers are not necessarily cost saving and have other repercussions, including: (more…)

A Transforming “Wow” Effect for Guestrooms

Today, with engineered hard wood flooring, carpet is no longer the only option for the guestroom.  The property receives a giant “wow” effect and the perceived increase in quality can bring higher ADR’s and a more residential feel to the homesick traveler.

Canary Hotel Guestroom

Installation speed and thus, significantly less labor, makes this a viable option. At less than $10 ft² installed, hard wood floors are twice as much as carpet, but may be worth it for that upscale look. As always in renovations, there are other factors to consider:

• Area rugs will be necessary. Make sure you consider this in your evaluation.
• Furniture will need to have appropriate glides in order to prevent scratches to the flooring.
• Overage will be necessary for materials (allow 10%).
• Matching wood base is typically more expensive than traditional guestroom base.
• Sound transmission to the guestrooms below can be an issue.  Make sure you test this in your model room with high heels. If this is a problem, the solution is a cork or nylon underlayment.
• Make sure your sub-straight is level. If not the wood floor will “bow”. This may not be noticeable with carpet, but with wood your guest will trampoline to bed. The solution is a cementitious self leveling application prior to wood floor installation.
• Remember transition strips to accommodate flooring thickness differences to other types of flooring at the vestibule, corridor and bathroom.
• Keep some attic stock for at least 5% of the project just in case you need to repair guestrooms in the future.

Durability for engineered wood floors is an issue as the number of times they can be refinished is limited.  However, as compared to carpet, the long term payback should be considered. In other words, the flooring can last 10 – 15 years compared to carpet’s 3 – 5 years.

To see some great guestroom wood floor installations, visit the Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara and the St. Regis Aspen in Colorado- both TynanGroup, Inc. projects.