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Fresh Air. Good for You. Great for Driving F&B Revenue.

by | Jul 30, 2019 | Hospitality, Uncategorized

This year, Almo Hospitality is debuting its first ever outdoor collection; the Cape Soleil Contract Collection of outdoor hospitality furniture, made by Agio. The collection is designed to help hoteliers create better outdoor customer experiences for guests, while giving operators great designs that are affordable yet durable. Oh yeah, it also sets the stage for more food & beverage sales too.

Why? Outdoor living is now essential to many travelers, both on balconies and in outdoor areas around the hotel. In fact, getting closer to nature is a major consumer demand driver for hotels. Take the idea of biophilic deign in hotels. That’s the idea of bringing the outside, inside hotels.

In residential, outdoor living has become increasingly important to the consumer. According to Global Market Insights,  The Outdoor Furniture Market will cross US$23 billion by 2024 as “rapid socializing trends, including dining at gardens, rooftop restaurants, grilling & barbeque events in the garden, or in the backyard area are the factors propelling the product demand.”

So, it’s no surprise hoteliers are seeing increased demand for more outdoor experiences from customers. In fact, the hotel business is seeing increased demand for nature related elements inside too! According to a report from Terrapin Bright Green, guests will spend on average 36% more time in hotel lobbies that have biophilic elements such as living walls and water elements. Also, guests will pay up to 18% more for rooms with a great view.

Now imagine taking that philosophy outdoors by creating an outdoor living experience through partnering with Almo Hospitality to help you create memorable outdoor experiences that drive sales food and beverage while simultaneously setting the stage for increased loyalty.

Hospitality.net notes that properties utilizing rooftops for F&B experiences saw a whopping $13 increase in revenue-per-seat to $68.20. In comparison, other properties saw an average of only $55.22. And that’s just one area within the hotel ripe for possible transformation.

Almo Hospitality has partnered with Agio to expand into the hotel business after finding success in the residential outdoor residential furniture market for more than 25 years.

“Hotels, restaurants and resorts rely on outdoor furniture to provide the best experience for guests by creating a calming, relaxing and inviting space that they can enjoy and remember,” said Apryl Lamberti, director of business development, who also noted this creates an additional revenue opportunity for Almo affiliated resellers.

Created specifically for hoteliers and their guests, the Cape Soleil Contract Collection is designed to be indoor or outdoor and can be mixed and matched as desired. It features what Almo says is comfortable furniture that requires minimal maintenance and is constructed from lightweight materials that provide strength, weather and rust-resistance for long-term durability. In addition, Cape Soleil furniture uses UV-resistant contract fabrics from Sunbrella and Phifer to protect against fading and stand up to rigorous use in commercial environments.

The Cape Soleil Furniture Collection is available in a wide range of styles, finishes and materials that can be stand alone or be paired together. The Cape Soleil line includes tables, dining chairs, lounge seating, sofas and side tables and a variety of complimentary outdoor living essentials like fire pits, umbrellas, patio heaters, outdoor fans, misters, combined with outdoor TVs, mounts and sound bars from Peerless-AV.

To view the complete collection, click here

WIRELESS. IT’S ABOUT TO BE UBIQUITIOUS

by | Jun 26, 2019 | Hospitality

Though wireless electrical charging has been around since the days of Nikola Tesla, it hasn’t been widely adopted until recent years. Now that mobile phones are ubiquitous, both Samsung and Apple (the two leading phone manufacturers) are putting their considerable muscle behind this technology.

And last year, when the wireless charging standard Powermat joined the Wireless Power Consortium, well, it appeared as if the technology business finally has an industry wide standard supercharging adoption of this exciting new customer friendly technology. Now the Qi standard (pronounced chee) is quickly becoming ubiquitous.

For the hotel industry, this means the end of days worrying about significant cash outlays to buy a new charging technology that’s quickly outdated. For example, when traveling around the country we sometimes still see alarm clocks with 30pin connectors. Does anyone still have gear for those? This subtlety warns guests the hotel they’re staying in potentially cuts corners when servicing customers. That’s not the message any hotelier wants to send customers.

Plus, rooms with only Apple lightning connectors tell nearly 40% of room guests, the hotel is not looking after their device charging needs.

Fortunately, wireless charging is the last stop on a technological journey unifying all mobile cellphone users behind a single charging technology. According to TechNative, more than 500 million wireless charging enabled devices shipped in 2017 (most recent numbers available), representing a 40 percent surge.

The technology now works on all new Samsung Galaxy and latest iPhones, for example, as well as devices such as wireless headphones, Apple Watch, and many more.

That means after investing in wireless charging, hoteliers can be confident another technology won’t be supplanting this any time soon. That saves hoteliers money over the long term, while also improving the customer experience since guests no longer must hunt for appropriate connectors or dig through their bag hoping to find the right cables. Instead, guests simply set their mobile device down and charging automatically begins. Plus, in public spaces, wireless charging eliminates ‘low battery anxiety,’ which could cause customers to leave, rather than spend money at your property.

Public areas that include wireless charging stations such as the Hotel Charging Station with Qi Wireless Charging And Dual USB Outlets from Nonstop can actually increase food and beverage sales as the above mentioned survey notes 22 percent of those running low on power will order something simply for the right to charge up. Anecdotally, this improves customer service scores while simultaneously appealing to all generations, especially millennials and Generation Z.

Plus, we’re at the point where wattage delivered to charge devices makes it so wireless or the old-fashioned way takes about the same amount of time to fuel up.

There’s no longer any reason not to install brand new alarm clocks with wireless charging in your hotels. Your guests will think about how thoughtful you are when they wake up with a fully charged device right next to them.

How to Deal with Those Old TVs: Liquidation vs. Recycling

by | Oct 24, 2017 | Hospitality

These days, old TVs can’t be thrown out with the trash — they must be disposed of properly, an expensive undertaking which may impact a project’s funding.

It’s time for your client to update their old TVs. Great news for you, right? Then again, TV disposal can be a huge hassle.

When a property — let’s say: a hotel — has 300 new TVs in their installation, the reality is that they must actually handle 600 units. Unfortunately, the old TVs are often forgotten about until the new TVs are nearly delivered, which leaves hotel management and integrators alike scrambling to figure out what to do with all that outdated hardware.

Similar to car tires and other materials, TVs can’t just be thrown out with the trash. They must be disposed of “properly,” and this can equate to real dollars that may reduce the amount of money a property can spend on other new technology updates. Expectations for technology use in hotels is at an all-time high as tech-savvy millennials are projected to dominate the workforce over the next several decades.

Here are a few points to consider when getting rid of old TVs:

Recycling and Liquidating Old TVs: Pros & Cons

  • Recycling old TVs involves completely dismantling the units and separately recycling each component.
  • Liquidation — or giving the TVs to a company that can resell them — is typically done at a minimal cost, and depending on condition, could even provide a small payout to the property. Liquidated units find homes in one- or two-star properties, dormitories, non-profit organizations, or they may even be shipped overseas.
  • Compared to liquidation, recycling can be pricey, starting at $35-$50+ (depending on location) per unit. This is because the recycling process involves labor to physically break down the unit, machinery, or other operating costs to recycle the components, and could involve freight costs to transport parts to other locations where additional recycling may take place.

Determining Values of Liquidated TVs

  • Liquidating TVs can help properties defray the costs of new TV installations.
  • The condition of the old equipment is the key to how much a property can expect to be paid after the TV disposal. Example: if TVs do not properly function, are inoperable, are missing remotes or stands/bases or are in poor condition (scratches, etc.), it may cost money to have the units liquidated. If there’s no value to resell them, the liquidator still needs to cover costs for labor, truck (rental/maintenance), fuel, etc.

Securing Green Certificates for Recycled TVs

  • Many recycling services provide a green certificate confirming the disposal was completed safely.
  • Documentation proves the property is environmentally responsible and confirms compliance with corporate green initiatives.

The Decision: Liquidation vs. Recycling Old TVs

  • For TVs in poor condition or with visible scratches, recycling is the best choice. Even though costs are higher, liquidators may not be interested in units that are visibly worn or in poor condition.
  • Larger and newer units are worth more and therefore are better candidates for liquidation. The rule of thumb: 85+ units make the pickup attractive to a TV liquidator.
  • There could be tax advantages for liquidation or recycling depending on state regulations. Check with your accounting department to verify applicable tax incentives.

Finding a Reliable TV Disposal Expert

  • Obtaining valid information on the old units (i.e. age, model number, brand, condition, accessories in place) will help ensure they are picked up by a liquidator
  • Check liquidator references:f a liquidator tries to push you to trust them rather than willingly provide references, this should send a red flag.

5 Ways the Hospitality Market is Evolving (5 of 5)

by | Oct 24, 2017 | Hospitality

Amenities Included.  Just a few years ago, amenities that guests now take for granted were revenue generators hoteliers counted on to boost profits.  Did you know that properties now spend nearly 1% of revenues on included amenities like free guest room internet, free public space Wi-Fi, breakfast, happy hour or general manager’s reception, nightly turn down service, and more?  Now consider one of the most sought after necessities by any traveler- power.  The need to charge drained mobile devices is real and will only increase as our society becomes even more reliant on smart phones and mobile devices with an increased number of millennials in the workforce.  This trend started several years ago with hotels providing extra power outlets in bedside lamps and desks but has expanded to common spaces throughout the lobby and other areas and will become even more prevalent in the years to come.

According to Smith Travel Research (STR) analytics, full-service hotels with large F&B outlets can have as much as 50% of total revenue come from those operations.  In this regard, it seems logical that hoteliers would want to encourage guests to stay in on-property bar and restaurants longer to help drive added revenues and profits.  If guests must leave the hotel’s common spaces to re-charge their mobile device in their guest room, essentially it means the property lost potential revenue that could have been captured had  a charging solution been provided hence increasing the guests stay, and therefore the final guest check.  The Kube 5 is a portable charging solution that enables a property to station the set of 5-portable charging cubes at the front desk, bar or restaurant or by the pool or cabanas so that guests can easily and quickly charge their mobile devices (up to 5 devices simultaneously).  With included cables and programmable time-out throttles, hoteliers are now able to provide a universal charging solution that is portable and flexible enough to go wherever the guest goes on property, without guests feeling stranded they’ve forgotten cables at home or relegated to their guest room; Kube Systems also offers in-room charging solutions with Bluetooth audio.

Below is one such example from Powermat (a wireless charging provider):

Wireless charging becomes more dependent on mobile devices, hospitality have had to offer additional digital services.

Wireless charging in venues positively influenced their decision to visit the venue

Source: Powermat Survey

Would stay in the store up to an additional 30 minutes if it offered wireless charging

What it all comes down to is simple: It’s all about the guest experience. 

Management companies and ownership groups need reseller partners with specialized installation capabilities that are willing to take a consultative approach to working with each project to help navigate the specific needs of a property and its clientele to help provide the right technology solutions that match up to the guest experience the hotelier is trying to accomplish. When that partnership is right, with strong management teams, loyalty rates and positive guest experience are a natural effect to the dedicated planning put into each individual project.

Apryl G. Lamberti, DSCE, CSP
Director Business Development Hospitality
Almo Professional A/V
P. 888.420.2566 ext. 6604 | M. 848.565.5060
website: www.almoproav.com/hospitality
Follow us: Facebook | Installments Blog | Almo Hospitality Division Press Release

5 Ways the Hospitality Market is Evolving (4 OF 5)

by | Oct 4, 2017 | Hospitality

Connected Togetherness.  Millennials are driving the evolution of the hospitality market. And what do they want most?  Connectivity! But we’re not just talking about internet service in the guest room- that’s a given.  They also want to stay connected in spaces throughout a property alongside other guests and hoteliers are taking notice and designers are already a few years into designing-to-suit this trend.  Think of airport lounges- multiple seating groups, no one making eye contact, just a cool environment and the buzz of social togetherness…

What does this mean for integrators?  You can count on more technology like larger size screens in common spaces- that’s for sure.  I recently visited a Renaissance property in Austin that had a 60” screen in the lobby with a gaming system setup for this exact purpose if you can believe it.  This could also be a great environment for a solution like Listen Wi-Fi, a streaming audio solution which enables hotel guests to listen any of a property’s TVs using their own iPhone or Android device.

5 Part Series: 5 Ways the Hospitality Market is Evolving (3 of 5)

by | Sep 19, 2017 | Hospitality, Pro Displays

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS.
Hoteliers realize that they can get more screen size for their money these days, what most ownership groups are starting to realize is that television sets are not nearly as simple as they used to be and they need partnerships with resources to help get the job done right the first time.

Commercial (hospitality) televisions are no longer plug-and-play like their consumer cousins yet we often see that the decision makers like ownership groups and purchasing departments have had little to no regard to implementation and often assumed that TVs could simply be just another line item delegated to the on-site engineering team. However, the reality is that hospitality TV installations can be quite complex and involve integration between the end-device technology (television) and the content providers’ equipment (cable or satellite company) at minimum; they can also involve integration with the hotels’ POS system (point-of-sale) if a property is utilizing the television as an interface for guests to order room service, provide easy check-out or in-room entertainment (pay-per-view) or other services; finally, there are projects where content management solutions like REACH are deployed, and all of this requires programming, certification on a variety of manufacturer’s solutions, detailed project management and extensive experience.

In this case, the hotelier has more leverage when they bundle the purchase of television sets along with installation services, plus bundling stops finger-pointing between multiple trades or staff and vendors.

Although new construction projects can sometimes provide slightly more flexibility, typically by the time televisions are delivered, service providers are working against the clock of an opening date- this is when experience makes all the difference and management groups realize that hiring temporary workers or using the general contractor can mean that TVs get installed but they may be left scrambling with days to the finish line to locate a specialized service provider who can save the day (at premium expense) rather than planning ahead with a reseller partner who has capabilities for specialized hospitality installation services and can handle everything 100%.  Renovations are another area where the expertise of an installation partner can help minimize added stress to on-site management and engineering teams with little to no disruption to hotel guests.  In these cases, not only is new installation being managed, but the old product that’s being replaced/removed must also be coordinated and a good partner will often provide a complimentary service of recycling and liquidation search.  Storage can be another issue, many properties literally have every square foot of the hotel booked for meetings and events and there is no storage space available to hold units until they can be picked up from a liquidation company; all of this must be considered and planned for.  Surprisingly, specialized hospitality installation services are more cost effective than most think, but the benefits- peace-of-mind, proven track record in hospitality, no finger-pointing between trades, an engineering staff who can focus on the operations of the hotel and what they do best, finishing on-time and on a fixed-budget without the risk of lost revenues to rooms that can’t be sold- priceless.

INSTALLATION SERVICES

MEET THE TRUCKS INSTALLATION SERVICES
WHITE GLOVE INSTALLATION SERVICES

SERVICES PROVIDED:

  1. Unload and distribute TVs to guest rooms from a centralized area within the property
  2. TVs to be unpacked, assembled and installed using the included base
  3. TVs secured with provided bolts and security nuts (two-sided tape available at an extra exchange)
  4. Provide property with pictures, paperwork for damaged TVs and streamline advance replacement units
  5. Package damaged/DOA TVs for return pick up

SERVICES PROVIDED:

  1. Includes all aspects of MEET THE TRUCKS
  2. Additionally, installation of REACH Server and programming of channel mapping into the head end REACH Server will be provided
  3. Installation will also include setting up each individual TV for receiving the programming from the REACH Server being installed
  4. Provide customer with brief, functional overview of system as well as REACH Server interface

For more information on our hospitality installation services contact Apryl G. Lamberti at [email protected] or at 888.420.2566 x6604.

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