OUR SERVICES

HLC focus exclusively on providing strategic or project specific advice on all aspects of Product and Property Development / Construction to companies and other organisations involved in the Hospitality Industry. Please select from the list below for more information:

Project Monitoring
FF&E and OS&E Budgets
Product Repositioning
Briefing Documentation
Site Appraisal
Property Reviews
Brand Reviews
Standards Manuals
Litigation Support
Construction Consultancy
Budgets & Cost Repositioning
Value Engineering
Value Management
Asset Management

Project Monitoring
There are always a number of ways of achieving the desired results, but seldom is there more than one best way.

From the experience gained over many years, HLC can audit the decision making process and ensure that the methodologies in place will result in the adoption of best practice for the specific circumstances.

HLC can work with the project teams as client representative, on behalf of the owner, investor or funder to assist all parties to realise best value in terms of Cost, Time and Quality.
                                       

FF&E and OS&E Budgets
When there is a third party involved in day to day operations, whether through management contract or lease of franchise, the opportunity for conflict between owner and operators always exists.

As the owner, your needs are to ensure that the specification of fixtures, furnishings and equipment and levels of operating supplies and equipment are appropriate. The temptation for the operator to over-specify or overstock to enhance brand standing (the ‘gold taps’ syndrome) must be controlled. Equally, the tendency for a ‘Design & Build’ or ‘Turnkey’ contract to under-provide for FF&E items can create difficulties.

HLC can ensure the appropriate definition and budget provision are allocated and agreed between the parties at the outset of a project.
                                       

Product Repositioning
With the increasing segmentation in hotel quality ratings and service provision, correctly positioning your property in the market in terms of the perceived and actual price:value relationship will enhance and ensure continued success.

Successful repositioning of existing properties by way of refurbishment, enlargement or additions, requires careful evaluation of space standards, planning, costs and product imagery.

HLC can provide property evaluations of existing hotels or other properties for financial appraisal prior to acquisition or investment commitment.
                                       

Briefing Documentation
Most successful business managers inherently ‘know’ what they want to achieve in terms of the physical product but communicating that to the contractors, interior designers or shop fitters, in a form suitable for their comprehensive tender responses, requires more that just ‘knowing what you want’. HLC has originated and contributed to a number of major project briefing documents for single or mixed-use developments, as well as the standard manuals for some of the best internationally recognised hotel brands.

HLC can provide comprehensive Briefing Documentation, which can be the pre-requisite for efficient trouble free contractual relationships.
                                       

Site Appraisal
Detailed Site Appraisals undertaken at the outset can save time, wasted effort and significant aborted costs.

A detailed Site Appraisal will include an assessment of accessibility, suitability of neighbouring properties (power plants and pig farms do not make good neighbours!), proximity to demand generators, proximity to competitors and proximity to labour force and similar key criteria for successful business operations.

No less important are the physical characteristics of the site, which will impact directly on what physically can be built and operated successfully. Less predictable, but essential, is the attitude of local planning officers.

HLC can ensure all the elements for a successful development are firmly in place.
                                       

Property Reviews
Whether it is the first or one hundred and first acquisition, an independent knowledgeable review of the architectural merits of the property, its operational efficiency and structural and decorative condition are critical to business success.

Most detailed Property Reviews identify maintenance and replacement needs but, crucially, will not highlight opportunities for increasing the facilities or trading capacities (often characterised as revenue mining).

HLC can, with its unique expertise, deliver this added value aspect to a Property Review.
                                       

Brand Reviews
The essence of branding in hospitality business is consistency. But even with consistent product delivery, the time comes when a brand needs to be refreshed to keep pace with market needs, contemporary style and competitive pressure.

A brand review, encompassing all elements of the physical product, style and design, colour scheme, case goods, uniforms, operating supplies, service delivery, marketing collateral and staff attitudes will reset the standards allowing the business to move forward. Equally, rapid brand expansion can benefit from standardisation and industrialisation of the building systems.

HLC can assist the client and his team to maximise such benefits.
                                       

Standards Manuals
With consistency being the essence of branding, ensuring all properties deliver to the same uncompromising standard is essential.

Detailed and comprehensive Standards Manuals for all elements of the product are the first step towards achieving brand recognition. Assimilating the content and communicating effectively both the spirit and detail of your brand standards to staff and development partners, is essential for successful development that conveys a consistent message to customers.

HLC has contributed to some of the most successful brand manualisation programmes in the industry.
                                       

Litigation Support
Whenever there is a contract, the opportunity for dispute arises. No one sets out to be litigious but, if that becomes necessary, it is important to be aware of the merits of the case being presented.

Experienced, knowledgeable expert advice, taken at the outset, assists litigants to formulate the strategy and tactics to be adopted, allows a quantification of loss or damage to be presented with rational factual support and will often result in settlement before the legal costs become the dominant rationale for proceeding.

HLC can provide expert advice in respect of hotel architectural and interior design, FF&E, fitting out and most other aspects of hotel development.
                                       

Construction Consultancy
If a building is under specified then it may not only fail to met applicable regulation, but also result in dissatisfied clients. If a building is over specified it will just cost more.

From an independent review of the specifications, the balance between mere compliance with regulations and the delivery of a structure fit for the intended purpose can be achieved.

Once optimum specifications are agreed, delivery of those specifications at the best value is critical. With the increasing tendency towards turnkey contracts, this function becomes key to a successful project.

HLC can help guide you through this process to achieve the appropriate balance in Quality, cost and Time.
                                       

Budgets & Cost Repositioning
For most development projects, budgets and subsequent costed progress reports are prepared for the benefit of the contractor comparing actual costs incurred against tender estimates. Although that is fine for the contractor, the owner really needs better, or perhaps different information.

HLC will specify and tailor budgets and cost reports to your actual requirements, using your Chart of Accounts and providing analysis which will enable maximisation of Capital Allowances, minimisation of consequent taxation and enhancement of the project cash flow. Communication is at the heart of successful development

HLC can assist you to achieve a shared understanding of the message.
                                       

Value Engineering
Working with the contractor, Value Engineering ensures the work will be specified and delivered in the most cost effective way.

Making decisions on technical construction issues are second nature to experienced contractors, but those decisions need to result in benefits for the client.

HLC can review the decisions you made, guide you through the decision making process and ensure that the priority is, and remains, in delivering the most cost effective solutions.
                                       

Value Management
Getting it right first time, on time, every time is the recipe for the efficient delivery of the development that is technically sound, operationally efficient and within anticipated costs.

Initial conceptual designs and floor layouts rarely provide the most operationally robust solutions.

Whether it is access roads, car parking, internal circulation or the creation of a retail façade, ensuring the marriage of stunning design with a building that works efficiently is paramount.

HLC can work with the architects and design teams at the pre-contract and pre-tender stages to interpret and turn the operators needs for efficiency into designs, which work operationally and financially.
                                       

Asset Management
Probably the most valuable asset of any hospitality business is its property. Over time, needs change, efficiency drops and habitual use takes over.

Converting storerooms into bedrooms, basements into leisure centres, garden patios into food and beverage outlets, under utilised lounges into business centres are just some of the examples of how HLC has optimised the space utilisation of older buildings.

HLC can identify these inefficiencies and make practical recommendations to enhance the revenue earning capacity and overall contribution the property makes to the business.