Irish hotelier John Fitzpatrick has launched his latest refurbishment programme, with plans to spend $2 million on his two hotels in New York.
This includes $500,000 on installing new high-definition smart TVs in the 246 guest rooms and suites at the Fitzpatrick Manhattan and the Fitzpatrick Grand Central hotels over the summer months.
Both hotels have been rewired to accommodate this technology and new programming is being added that will provide guests with 62 network and cable TV stations, including six premium movie channels.
Rewiring
Mr Fitzpatrick has spent $150,000 rewiring his hotels to provide high-speed wifi that will enable guests run up to five devices at once and download movies from the likes of
Netflix
and
Amazon
.
Wifi is free in public areas in the hotels and costs $14.95 for 24-hour access in guest rooms. “The availability of better technology at home has raised expectations of what people expect in technology at hotels,” Mr Fitzpatrick said. “We plan on meeting those expectations.”
He is planning to test technology in August that would allow guests to open the door locks of their rooms by using a smartphone app. The hotels would be among the first in the US to use this technology, which would replace the traditional room key.
Upgraded door locks have been installed, and the software will be installed in July. This project represents an investment of $50,000.
Décor upgrade
Mr Fitzpatrick is also planning to upgrade the décor in the 91-bedroom Fitzpatrick Manhattan hotel, which is situated close to Central Park.
A refurbishment of these rooms will begin in January and will involve new furniture, bedding, lighting and window treatments. One floor at a time will be tackled and the project should be completed next spring.
“I never want it to be that my hotels freshen things up only because our rooms are getting worn out and they have to be redone,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.
Manny O’Hara of House & Garden Presentation Services in Sandyford, Co Dublin, is advising on the fit-out.
Mr Fitzpatrick said average occupancy at the hotels is running at 92 per cent, although the strong dollar has impacted visitor numbers from Europe. “We’ll probably be on a par with last year [in terms of revenues] but the strong dollar will have an effect.”
