At Innvision’s recent Annual Meeting, we sat down with IDC Construction, a hospitality general contractor, to talk about projects. As hotel renovation experts with decades of experience, IDC is a wealth of knowledge about what can go wrong. They offered insightful perspectives that can serve as practical guidance for hotel owners, GCs, and procurement providers to navigate renovation challenges and create successful partnerships between all parties on a project.

When Plans Don't Match Reality

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IDC Construction noted that one of the biggest renovation challenges occurs when actual building conditions differ from the available drawings. Properties that have undergone ownership changes often have modifications that existing documentation doesn’t reflect. Furthermore, even if a hotel’s ownership hasn’t changed, actual conditions can be different than what the building plans show.

The IDC team noted that older hotels typically have undergone multiple renovations, so they often find building elements that might have been altered two or three times in different ways. When lacking as-built drawings that capture these changes, construction teams and FF&E installers must rely on experience when documentation falls short. Even basic elements, like determining headboard wall placement, can become complicated for a GC, so having a GC with deep experience in hotel renovations can pay dividends.

Setting A Project Up for Success

IDC Construction specializes in hotel renovations rather than new builds, recognizing these are two fundamentally different specialties. IDC keeps a tight-knit organizational structure that enables every team member to have comprehensive knowledge of hospitality projects.

IDC described how communication serves as their "best defense" against project complications. Starting in the preliminary stages, they make critical inquiries of hotel owners and other project stakeholders. Their questions include:

·       What's your schedule?

·       What's your budget?

·       Is there a responsibility matrix?

·       Can we see your single-unit layout?

Even if these answers change later, IDC expressed that having this information upfront helps a GC provide more accurate guidance and cover everyone involved as things evolve.

Closing Communication Gaps Through Better Partnerships

Procurement companies can work more effectively with construction teams by confirming foundational project elements early. IDC Construction noted that the best procurement partners recognize the importance of alignment between all parties and are in touch with GCs early and often about:

• General contractor schedules
• FF&E delivery timelines
• Responsibility matrices showing which parties provide which components

Furthermore, when a procurement provider attends subcontractor meetings, it provides valuable information and support to all stakeholders. These sessions quickly reveal if a project is running into trouble, allowing procurement teams to adjust their approach before problems escalate.

IDC has seen instances where a hotel owner might inadvertently tell the FF&E team one thing and the general contractor something completely different. Meanwhile, the brand might introduce a new prototype that the owner wants to implement, but the GC has already ordered prefabricated materials with a six-month lead time.

The best procurement partners recognize the potential for disconnects like those above and ask clarifying questions when a new request or constraint arises. IDC emphasized that GCs and procurement providers don't need to have all the answers – they just need to know which questions to ask and be willing to do what it takes to get the various parties on the same page with each other.

How Innvision Can Help

At Innvision, we understand the complexities of hotel renovation projects and the importance of effective coordination between all stakeholders. We have seen the challenges IDC spoke of and our expertise inFF&E procurement enables us to bridge communication gaps between owners, brands, and construction teams, helping to prevent costly misunderstandings and delays. We work closely with GCs and FF&E installers throughout the project to help them get their job done.

We value the insights shared by IDC Construction, as they align with our own commitment to personalized service and proactive problem-solving. By choosing the right GC and engaging with Innvision early in your hotel renovation process, you gain partners who can anticipate challenges and work together to anticipate and address the practical realities of your project.

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Contact us to learn how our collaborative approach to FF&E procurement can enhance your next hotel project.

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