Hotel operators, developers and designers are increasingly looking for long-term partners who can provide more than just a product. Sameer Sawant, Director at leading solid surface manufacturer and supplier Velstone, talks to us about how hotel projects require a completely different approach to specification and delivery…
In hospitality design and construction, the conversation is changing. Product quality alone is no longer enough. For hotel operators managing tight refurbishment schedules, phased installations and demanding brand standards, success depends on working with long-term partners who understand how hotel projects work.
The focus is often on aesthetics, finishes and guest experience which, of course, matter enormously. However, having worked on hotel projects for more than 10 years alongside leading brands such as Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express IHG and Fairfield by Marriott, hotel projects are rarely just about supplying a solid surface product.
Image credit: Velstone
They’re about understanding the pressures developers, operators and contractors are under and how to deal with phased refurbishments, strict timelines, operational pressures and the reality that many hotels remain live while work is taking place.
Unlike many other sectors, hotel projects involve a huge amount of coordination. In refurbishments especially, installations are frequently completed in stages, with contractors given access to only a small number of rooms at a time to minimise operational downtime. Every room that sits empty during works is a room that is not generating income.
Major hotel groups now also want suppliers to operate within broader framework agreements to support projects at scale while maintaining consistent service standards, rather than simply providing materials on a project-by-project basis.
Image credit: Velstone
These frameworks are comprehensive and cover agreed pricing structures, delivery expectations and rebate mechanisms. Brands today expect loyalty and consistency from their supply chain partners and these frameworks create long-term partnerships on trust.
One of our biggest advantages at Velstone is we have complete control over quality and production schedules as we manufacture and deliver the finished product ourselves. In hospitality, where projects are often phased and hotels remain operational during works, that level of control is incredibly important and gives hotel clients confidence that projects will remain on track, even when things can unexpectedly change.
Whether it’s a phased city-centre refurbishment, a landmark new-build hotel or a apartment-style, longer-stay hotel, hospitality projects require suppliers who can think beyond product alone.
Ultimately, hospitality comes down to understanding that successful hotel projects are driven by partnership as much as specification.
Velstone is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Main image credit: Velstone
