Hotel brands and developers are finding compelling advantages to using the latest forms of modular construction for new projects, whether it’s implementing just bathroom “pods” or pre-fabricating the entire guestroom.
And with means for the shipping/transport of pre-built units ever expanding, developers all over the globe now have the option of tapping into savvy modular designs.
According to sources, contemporary modular construction techniques can solve myriad development headaches, including scarcity of materials and skilled labor in some areas, as well as weather conditions and situations where speed to market is essential. Although the approach requires careful planning and may cost a premium, experts say the payoff can be found in resulting revenues.
“With the onset of bathroom pods in the last 10 years and the technology behind modular construction getting better and better designs, it’s definitely moved forward,” said Dave Walsh, senior director of new-build project management for Marriott International. “The quality of projects are much better than they ever were in the past. We’re very hot on modular.”
Hilton Worldwide On Board
Hilton Worldwide Holdings is taking the concept a step further. The company recently teamed with modular provider CIMC to build a Hampton by Hilton at Bristol Airport in the United Kingdom, which CIMC owns and Hilton will manage. It’s the first of an anticipated multiple-property push using a newer, more comprehensive modular technique where entire guestrooms are built in the factory, then shipped globally for new Hampton Inn and Hilton Garden Inn properties.
Cost and Benefits
Hotel Developers cite speed to market as the biggest payoff of using modular construction. The Fairfield Inn Hotel in New Brunswick Canada opened almost four months sooner than it would have if traditional methods had been employed.
