What were the initial steps taken to streamline the efficiency of all the systems and equipment deployed in the hotel?
The first step towards streamlining the efficiency of all the systems and equipment is to list down each and every process and then do a thorough analysis. We analyse every single minute detail of how each process in maintenance operates. These thorough analyses by various engineering calculation methods help us to identify the root cause of all technical glitches and prepare new methods based on date to eliminate these problems permanently.
How has the property used IoT to its benefit, especially for the functioning and operations of its facilities?
The internet of things helps people live and work smarter, as well as gain complete control over their lives. IoT provides our Hotels with a real-time look into how their systems really work, delivering insights into everything from the performance of machines to AI failures reported without any human interface. For example, we have added IoT in a few of our lifts to collect data on upcoming service dues and any accidental failures.
In our upcoming projects at Lonavala and Lucknow, we are executing fully IoT enabled BMS systems. IoT-enabled BMS can be used to reduce energy use, repair and maintenance, and administrative costs. For instance, we will be able to monitor the data collected by motion and occupancy sensors at a building level to regulate air-conditioning and lighting in real-time, thereby reducing energy costs and optimizing the internal environment.
Elaborate on the sustainability initiatives undertaken by the team that has had an impact on the business.
There are so many opportunities to improve energy, water, and waste efficiency in hotels but making choices around these elements isn’t the only common practice. We at Renest Hotels and Resorts use HVAC so the temperature is controlled centrally, have a digital thermostat, High-Efficiency water fixtures and LED Lights, One Switch System for Lights so that lights aren’t left on accidentally, Use of Motion sensor for lights in washroom and staircases, Waste composite machines, Use of STP water for flushing system and landscape are some of our initiatives in Hotels which also helps in reducing carbon footprints.
What are the common mistakes prevalent in the industry at the time of selecting and integrating various systems and equipment?
There happen to be a lot many common mistakes that we tend to make at the time of selecting and integrating various systems. Some of them are listed hereunder:
Failing to define specifics and prioritize needs, evaluating too many vendors, not buying future-proofed solutions without considering new upcoming technologies, comparison on cost-effective tools on the basis of primary investment and operational cost considering recovery timeline of project cost involved.
With budgets coming under significant strain, how have you managed to continue on-ground operations without impacting guest or employee experience?
Under the guidance of expert technical seniors with fresh ideas from newcomers, we have explored a number of ways for smooth operations without any compromise on the guest experience. From making in-house sanitiser dispenser machines to filling water tanks during lean hours are a few examples where we have tried to save extra bucks without compromising on guest and employee experience.
How did you develop an engineering budget and operating strategy that is aligned with your property’s business strategy?
A key component of operations is the creation of the budget. Corporate teams prepare annual budgets to help the management team operate the hotel more efficiently. It is important to have sufficient human resources on the property to deliver excellent customer service but not be overstaffed, which can reduce the hotel’s profitability. Budgeting requires foreseeing how the core markets the hotel serves will change over the upcoming year, considering new trends and the situation of the overall economy. Even though budget preparation is a once-a-year task, gathering information about the hotel industry and the local economy is an ongoing process.
What kind of long-term preventative maintenance and 10-year asset protection plans are you currently executing for your property?
Preventive maintenance is a systematic approach to building operations that aims to predict and prevent catastrophic equipment failures before they occur. As a rule of thumb, it’s better to prevent issues than react to them.
The following list features a few ways our team manages to stay on top of preventive maintenance in their departments:
- Schedule and perform regular inspections of the equipment
- Conduct regular cleaning of buildings, grounds and assets
- Lubricate moving parts to reduce wear-and-tear
- Adjust controls for optimal performance and energy efficiency
- Timely repair and replace any defective equipment parts
4 key action items of P.M are: –
- Inspection II Detection II Correction II Prevention
- In our 10 Year asset protection plans, we are working on the below modules for better performance efficiency of plants and machinery deployed: –
- Location-based asset mapping to find and service equipment
- Releasing work order and PM scheduling module to create recurring preventive maintenance tasks and procedures
- Upload asset documentation, receipts and proper O&M manuals for future reference
- Access PM information for assets out in the field via any electronic device
- Stay informed on preventive maintenance success with a data reporting dashboard
