By Blair Hildahl
The hotel industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with RevPAR and occupancy levels at an all-time low. But there’s a silver lining for those wanting to make the best out of this challenging situation—property improvements.
Get Aid from the Government
The current downturn in hotel occupancy makes it an ideal time for fixing up your hotel. The recent stimulus package provides tax benefits to hotel developers who choose to improve their properties during this economically stressful period. The CARES Act delivers a correction in prior tax legislation to allow 100% bonus depreciation for property improvements, which means any interior upgrades of a nonresidential structure can be written off your taxes immediately—rather than over the 39-year lifespan of the building.
In fact, we’re beginning to see many developers requesting property improvement plans (PIPs) for their hotels and resorts. The above provision increases cash flow for businesses by allowing amendments to their prior year’s tax return (as part of an error correction), while also incentivizing them to invest in improvements.
Today and Tomorrow
On the week ending March 28, RevPAR fell 80.3% and the demand also dipped; 8.5 million rooms were still sold that week, according to STR. The data may look grim today, but the 2021 forecast is something to look forward to.
Aside from the numbers, people are already getting anxious to get out—meaning that the demand will inevitably grow once the pandemic dies down. A hotel undergoing a renovation or PIP usually has to shut down at least a part of its property—if not all of it.
Considering social distancing and travel restrictions—and government assistance—the time couldn’t be better to give your property a facelift.
If your renovation only consists of smaller fixes and FF&E revival, your timeline should be compact. But if you’re looking at a complete refurbishment, you may want to look into using prefabricated components. Such components might include interior and exterior wall panels; ceiling assemblies; bathroom pods and kits; swimming pools; elevators; whole rooms; decorative panels; and more.
Because these components are manufactured in a factory, they take significantly less time for on-site construction and cause little to no site disruption.
Look for These Services
Any quality PIP project requires a design team ready to innovate, including architects, engineers and interior designers who work together to reimagine aging spaces.
Some developers want a lobby facelift that encourages social mixing or may choose to recast tired spaces to blend indoor and outdoor elements for a more vibrant feel. Air units and lighting might need an upgrade that’s both cost-friendly and energy-saving. You can change out interior furniture to fit the needs of a new crowd, such as providing lobby tables and high-tops with built-in charging stations for guests’ devices.
A skilled interior design team can reinvigorate your hotel’s ambiance with FF&E, space planning and thematic elements. Whether large-scale or moderate, focused in one area or throughout your hotel—a PIP can really cast your vision.
Blair Hildahl is principal for Base4, an architecture and engineering design firm based in Boca Raton, FL.
This is a contributed piece to Hotel Business, authored by an industry professional. The thoughts expressed are the perspective of the bylined individual.
