Turning 40 calls for a celebration of sorts, but after four decades a major upgrade may be in order, too. After all, staying afloat in a dog-eat-dog industry requires work and money, especially when younger, more sophisticated competitors are stepping up to the plate and turning heads. With this in mind, the management of the Kapok Hotel in St Clair, put their creative juices together to come up with a strategy to breathe new life into the hotel. Two years ago, a major facelift, consisting of new furniture, wooden floors instead of carpet, and less clutter, among other changes, got under way. While some may question the timing of the upgrade as it took place smack in the middle of a global financial crisis, George Solomon, the hotel's rooms division manager said taking risks was all a part of the game. As for the project, Solomon said it proved to be just what the doctor ordered.
Transformation
With the hotel industry growing increasingly fierce, and the traveller more assertive, savvy and demanding, Solomon said enhancing the look of the establishment became a top priority. "Within the last five to ten years, the hotel industry got five new properties, so it's important to keep up," he revealed. Today, all of the hotel's 94 rooms have either been extensively upgraded or are currently undergoing transformation, and according to Solomon, guests are commenting in the positive. "People really like the new look. They say they prefer the way everything is laid out. Functionality is a word we use a lot here, we are not a 'cookie cutter' kind of hotel."
In addition to the hotel's gym facility, swimming pool, business centre and lobby/snack shop, guests of Kapok can also enjoy Asian food from its restaurant, Tiki Village, and for palates yearning for a more local flavour, there is the picturesque Bios Cano Bistro and Bar. "The geera pork and cassava fries are a favourite among guests," said Solomon.
Value for money
Noting that the hotel catered primarily to the business traveller, Solomon, who has been with Kapok for the last five years, said its main focus remained giving value for money. Describing his staff as the backbone of the organisation, he asserted that delivering service with a smile is always on the front burner. "About 27 per cent of employees have been with us for the last decade. The service is warm, local and friendly. Because we are a smaller property, it's easier for us to have that human touch. We have guests who stay with us about 90 per cent of the year and our staff greet them by their first name every morning."
Competitive
Also stating that more needed to be done to revitalise the tourism industry which he said was projected to increase from five per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) to 6.5 per cent by 2015, Solomon said he welcomed any initiative which could help improve the industry. And although a local establishment, he lamented that Kapok was yet to receive any large percentage of direct government business as newer, internationally branded hotels were usually given preference. For now, Solomon said Kapok's main focus was retaining its "60 per cent repeat business" and setting a new standard in customer service in a growing and competitive industry.