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Mr. Brickman

Architecture & Design

Selecting the Right Landscape Maintenance Contractor for Your Hotel: Ten Things to Consider

By Scott B. Brickman, CEO, Brickman

According to a recent study, the U.S. lodging industry continues to benefit from double-digit profit growth in 2006. The data suggests that the gross operating profit for the typical U.S. hotel increased 13.1 percent from the first half of 2005 to the first half of 2006. So, how as a hotel manager, can you make the best use of this profit to create greater value for shareholders?

One answer is an upgrade to your property's landscape. An attractive landscape with vibrant plants, flowers and trees makes a positive first impression on hotel visitors. High visibility areas like driveways, paths and entrances are a great place to introduce new plant materials and reinforce your hotel brand through color schemes and/or other design elements.

But with a seemingly endless selection of landscape maintenance providers out there, how can you really know which one is best for your hotel? If the time is right to consider upgrading your service, what factors are most important to the selection process? To help with the decision-making process, here are some important things to consider:

The profitability of the U.S. lodging industry has created a good problem for hotel executives. The increase suggests that hotels are generating a greater return on assets, yet executives must now decide the best use of these funds to maximize value for shareholders. If upgrading the appearance of your property's landscape is a priority, now might be the right time to start looking for a new landscape maintenance firm.

Again, selecting the right firm for your hotel is a big decision that will directly impact how your property is viewed by guests. To ensure that your landscape maintenance team has the right expertise, tools and experience for your property, make sure you conduct a thorough review process. These 10 tips are intended to serve as an introduction for further discussion and will hopefully guide you to a selection that is a good fit for your property.

For a more detailed assessment, invite several landscape maintenance providers to your hotel and walk your grounds with them. Review the checklist and ask them for ideas about how they would approach your property's specific challenges. Try comparing all firms not exclusively on price - but on the total value that they can bring to your property as an investment for the long-term success of your hotel.

Scott Brickman is CEO of Brickman, the largest commercial landscape maintenance firm in the U.S. Brickman provides landscape maintenance and snow removal services to a wide variety of hospitality and hotel clients across the country. Mr. Brickman joined the Company in 1986 and in 1998 became a Director of the Company and was appointed Chief Executive Officer. His tenure with the company includes serving as a project director and a regional manager, and prior to 1998 he had responsibility for the Company's Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast operations. Mr. Brickman can be contacted at 301-987-9200 or scottb@brickmangroup.com Extended Bio...

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