Laundry design: Keeping it fresh Room-within-a-room Guests of extended-stay properties anticipate a certain set of amenities and services during their stay. Self-service laundry is a big expectation. “Guests who come to us aren’t looking for the atmosphere of a transient hotel,” said Diane Mayer, VP and global brand manager of Residence Inn. “They want to feel like they are in an apartment building or at home, so at that level it’s a standard to have a laundry room.” In order to stand out, some extended-stay brands have worked to combine their laundry facilities with other aspects of the hotel in order to both consolidate space and create an enjoyable recreational area for guests to use while doing their laundry. “After talking to our long-term guests, we learned that they really wanted something to do while they do their laundry, while at the same time staying close by their laundry,” said Dawn Koenig, VP of brand performance for Homewood Suites and Home2 Suites. In response, Home2 Suites combined the laundry room with the fitness area, called it Spin2 Cycle, and created a room-within-a-room concept where guests can work out or read while washing their clothes. “We had to take into account how the laundry room is positioned,” Koenig said. “When you walk into our fitness area there is an extra entrance for the laundry area, but while you are on a machine you can’t see into the laundry area or visa versa.” While visits to the fitness and laundry facilities are linked in customer experiences, any time a guest’s possessions leave their hands security concerns are raised. To deal with these concerns, Home2 Suites positions the laundry room close to the front desk, and always requires key cards for access. “The decisions we’ve made for the [laundry room] design have been well-received by female travelers, who like the safety provided by being close to the front desk and in a central part of the hotel,” Koenig said. “When you keep your guests close to the lobby, nothing is far from them.” ■➔ Location The laundry room in Virginia’s Residence Inn Alexandria Old Town South at Carlyle is located near the main lobby. RESIDENCE INN ■➔ Convenience The Home2 Suites property in West Valley City, Utah, features a Spin2 Cycle fitness center connected directly to a laundry room. HOME2 SUITES Offer laundry—guests will use it Diane Mayer, VP and global brand manager of Residence Inn, insists that the most important aspect of a self-service laundry room is simply providing a working one. Without a working laundry room, Mayer said it is difficult to offer a true residential experience, and when designing a hotel it is important to place your laundry facilities near other amenities. “Guests love laundry facilities to be proximate to other amenities, and we make sure to place our laundry rooms next to fitness rooms, as well as food and beverage and common areas,” Mayer said. Residence Inn recently opened a hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland, where the GM was skeptical that the inclusion of a laundry room was necessary. “While they thought the facilities would never be used, the rooms need more attention because they are operating far above capacity,” Mayer said. “The lesson here is if you have them, they will be used.” With the new standards mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act, hoteliers operating laundry rooms have been limited in the direction they can take when opening new facilities. “To be in full compliance, our facilities are typically on a first floor off of a corridor, and they always require a window on the door,” said Dawn Koenig, VP of brand performance at Homewood Suites and Home2 Suites. Home2 Suites worked with design and construction experts to ensure they were meeting ADA standards in areas that needed clarification. “For instance, equipment controls must be within a certain reach for all customers, and folding counters must have a clearance under them while not being higher than 34 inches,” said Koenig. Upgrading as needed Whether it’s for guest laundry machines or commercial laundry equipment, the costs of upgrading and repairing laundry facilities can be surprising, so hoteliers must make regular inspections and maintenance part of their schedule. “We have our facilities inspected two times a year for conditions and cleanliness levels,” said Dawn Koenig, VP of brand performance at Homewood Suites and Home2 Suites. For large hotels looking to make big changes to their back-of-the-house laundry facilities, Ray Hammer, GM of the Sheraton Dallas Hotel, has many suggestions. “Before you start upgrading, you have to become comfortable with the layout of your facilities,” Hammer said. “It is important to review your plans with the people who will work there daily.” With utilities costs rising, hoteliers can’t afford for big-ticket items like laundry machines to be used improperly or inefficiently. For Hammer, upgrading paid off. “We expected a four-year return on investment, but we were able to cut the time in half and earn our ROI in just two years,” he said. “You have to set a baseline for the productivity you are achieving now and what your costs are,” Hammer said.”