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because in addition to the cost of the work, the units under ren-
ovation or even the whole hotel will be closed for renovation and
consequently will have reduced or no revenue.”
Staying on Trend
“We have transcended into softer materials with expanded color
palettes,” Woodhouse says. “The industrial products that were used
before were sometimes harsh. Our newer fabrics, for example, are
so soft, you won’t believe it’s Crypton [a brand of stain-resistant
commercial fabric], but it’s still cleanable and durable. This allows
us to layer in the luxury.” That luxury is increasingly delivered with
clean lines and less blatant theming. “It’s not all wicker and rattan
in beach destinations, but there will still be some elements to add
texture.”
At Westgate, there’s plenty of theming, but it’s unique to that
property. At Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, where Elvis was
in residence for many years, the company’s design pros visited
Graceland for inspiration. In New York City, Gothic Revival and
Art Deco details abound. For example, old-fashioned steam radi-
ator coils became table legs. “The whole idea was that guests are
learning and experiencing the history of New York rather than just
staying in a typical hotel,” Waltrip says.
Although more people are working on vacations, many timeshare
properties now forgo the desk that’s a necessity for hotels catering to
business travelers. “The guests who are staying in the family room
area just end up using desks for their luggage, so we create linear
consoles under the TV that have built-in storage,” Woodhouse says.
“People end up working at the dining table, anyway.”
The sleeper sofas those guests are using have also had major
upgrades, eliminating the dreaded bar across the back. “The Cozy
Mattress System, for example, reorients the bed so that the head
is at the arms and has an extremely comfortable 13-gauge, dual
innerspring mattress,” she adds.
Westgate Resorts has incorporated an updated version of a
Murphy bed into its units. “It’s comfortable as a sofa, and it’s just as
comfortable as a bed,” Waltrip says. In the bedrooms, it’s all about
adding details, Woodhouse says. “We’re using quartz nightstands
with underlighting and built-in plugs to add ambiance. The alarm
clock on the nightstand is a thing of the past.”
In secondary bedrooms, Woodhouse is using twin beds that
can be paired as a king or separated, based on guest preference.
“The nightstands can be used on either side or paired between the
beds when they’re used as twins,” she says.
Steps Toward Modern Flooring
When it comes to flooring, the resort’s environment dictates mate-
rials, but our experts are using less carpet than before. “At beach
resorts, carpeted areas can be problematic,” Kinney says. “In
Europe, marble or tile floors are the norm, and in mountain areas,
wood floors and rugs are used more often.”
For MVW, slip ratings and other regulations also dictate the
choice of flooring materials, along with durability. Kinney notes,
“We always take maintenance and expected product lifetime into
consideration so that we can keep maintenance fees in line.”
21
DIVI LITTLE BAY BEACH RESORT
Elements such as Murphy beds help optimize
smaller footprints in urban conversions. While
some units comprise small-but-complete
kitchen amenities, others feature space for
cooking and entertaining.
WESTGATE NEW YORK GRAND CITY
MARRIOTT VACATION CLUB
®
AT SURFERS PARADISE
THE SEBEL BOWRAL HERITAGE PARK