Hotel renovation specialist focuses on long-term relationships

'Technology behind the interior is biggest challenge'

Pleijsier Hotelrenovation, a family business based in Genemuiden, Overijssel, has specialised in renovating existing hotels and finishing new hotel buildings for more than 30 years. "We are a humane construction company, and always looking for long-term cooperation with our clients," says co-owner Jan Pleijsier about the success of the hotel renovation company, which has been a specific discipline within the existing construction company, Pleijsier Bouw en Onderhoud, for several years.

Pleijsier Hotel Renovation prefers large-scale renovation projects. "We are not a project designer or management agency, as is sometimes thought, but a real construction company with a passion for hospitality. In addition to coordination, we also take care of execution," Jan Pleijsier emphasises.

"Renovation projects in the hotel industry require a specialist approach. Our work usually has to be carried out quickly, safely and with minimum inconvenience to hotel guests and staff. This requires good coordination and communication with hotel management, but also a conscious approach that our people master like no other. After all, from check-in to check-out, we are guests." 

Hard and soft side

Because careful working methods are paramount in hotel renovations, Pleijsier believes it is important that all employees have a feel for the hospitality industry in addition to technical expertise. "Besides a hard side, so to speak, our people also have a soft side. Because apart from being excellent craftsmen, they are also good at dealing with people, an essential quality in this industry. Precisely this mix is the great strength of our company. We also focus on establishing and maintaining long-term relationships with our clients. Our guiding principle with every job is that we are always happy to come back for the next project as well." 

Technical feasibility

To manage a renovation project, Pleijsier says it is important to be involved in the design at an early stage. "Usually, we come into the picture when there is already a fully developed design from the architect. However, this does not always take into account the technical feasibility that certain choices have for a renovation. Especially the available technology behind an interior is often not given the necessary attention. The absence or non-availability of existing architectural drawings and existing revision drawings can cause technical problems that have a major impact on price and planning."

Sustainability

Only one in four hotels has an energy label C or better, while more than 44 per cent of the Dutch consider sustainability an important issue when travelling. And 54 per cent of Booking.com users filter search results on sustainability. This is according to research by the NBTC (July 2023). According to Kirsten Pleijsier, the role of sustainability in hotel renovations is rather relative: "We like to think along with the sustainability transition of hotel properties, but this also involves huge investments for a client. Think, for instance, of façade and roof insulation, insulating monumental glazing, LED lighting, solar panels or the application of smart climate control. How can we design the building management system to reduce the energy bill while maintaining comfort? Here, too, we are happy to think along and offer a scenario that suits the hotel. Just as this applies to building sustainable relationships, doing expensive building interventions for sustainability also requires a long-term vision."

Large-scale renovation

Two large-scale projects realised by Pleijsier Hotelrenovatie in the past year are the NH Amsterdam Leidseplein and Avani Museum Quarter, both located in the heart of Amsterdam. "Together with our co-makers, we renovated some four hundred hotel and bathroom facilities, including corridors and common areas, at these hotels alone."