Robert Elliott | National Association of Hotel & Lodging Engineers

Author Archives: Robert Elliott

Smart boilers keep Gaylord property running efficiently

Facilities Net  On a property that includes more than 1,500 rooms and 2 million square feet on an 85-acre property, facility maintenance teams have plenty of other responsibilities to monitor at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado. Read More

How hotels are thinking about gen AI

Skift  Hotel companies are continuing to game out how the innovations and disruptions brought about by generative AI will impact them. But it’s still early days. “There’s been a lot of hype,” said Jess Petitt, SVP of commercial strategy, insights, and analytics at Hilton. Read More

Building check-ups and diagnostics: ensuring your infrastructure stays fit and healthy

Buildings Throughout my three decades of championing building technologies and services, I’ve seen structures built from the ground up, 100-year-old buildings modernized, and everything in between. Within those phases, I’ve witnessed the importance of maintaining resiliency throughout the lifecycle of a building — and the consequences to occupants and the environment when systems are left [...]

Hilton builds latest hotel in fast-growing Tennessee county

FacilitiesNet As the Middle Tennessee’s first full-service hotel built in nearly a decade, the eight-story, 244-room Hilton Franklin Cool Springs offers one of the only roof-level patios in town plus a stylish lobby and contemporary guest rooms with Tubelite thermal entrance systems and floor-to-ceiling window wall. Read More

Prevent costly repairs with envelope maintenance

Facilities Net The main reasons facility managers should maintain a building envelope are life safety, water tightness and efficiency. “You need to do things to improve water tightness and improve the integrity of the building, including putting on a new roof, restoring walls, replacing windows for energy efficiency, and upgrades that improve energy efficiency,” says [...]

The links between climate change and mold and mildew proliferation in commercial buildings

Buildings Most of us have dealt with mold and mildew before. Brought into our homes by high levels of humidity, inclement weather or leaky pipes, what starts as an inconvenience often turns quickly into a serious problem. Mold and mildew have various effects on our health and wellbeing and can also erode property value if [...]

How are hotel rooms designed? Here’s how Hilton gets guest spaces check-in ready.

USA Today As I walked down the halls of the upcoming Printing House Downtown Nashville, Tennessee, hotel, I stepped around cardboard boxes and cables. But as I entered a guest room on the 11th floor in late April as part of a hard hat tour, the dusty concrete floors gave way to clean, wide planks [...]

6 skills facility managers need to showcase

Facilities Net On the surface it might seem a facility management professional and a NASA astronaut do not have much in common. Upon closer examination, however, the skills and abilities performed by facility personnel are not particularly different from what a NASA search committee looks for in a potential astronaut. It is really a matter [...]

Key tips for building envelope maintenance

Facilities Net Building envelopes in institutional and commercial facilities are like a suit of armor, protecting the six sides of a building — the ground floor, the four walls and the roof, from outside hazards. Building owners and facility managers must know their envelopes inside and out and make sure they stay in good condition [...]

Key tips for building envelope maintenance

Facilities Net Building envelopes in institutional and commercial facilities are like a suit of armor, protecting the six sides of a building — the ground floor, the four walls and the roof, from outside hazards. Building owners and facility managers must know their envelopes inside and out and make sure they stay in good condition [...]

Key tips for building envelope maintenance

Facilities Net Building envelopes in institutional and commercial facilities are like a suit of armor, protecting the six sides of a building — the ground floor, the four walls and the roof, from outside hazards. Building owners and facility managers must know their envelopes inside and out and make sure they stay in good condition [...]

Beyond the stripes: Leveraging parking lot and maintenance trends

IFMA’s FMJ Magazine The parking lot and property maintenance services industry is constantly innovating, and to keep up with the growth potential, FM service providers must do the same. It is a competitive field, but there are ways to stay ahead, namely being aware of industry trends. Knowing how to leverage these trends — incorporating [...]

What to look for when buying disinfection solutions for senior care settings

iAdvance Senior Care Wheelchairs, commodes, carts and more are used daily in senior care communities, posing an ongoing cleaning and disinfection challenge. Senior care communities must meet standards for cleaning and disinfecting such medical equipment but given staffing shortages, stretched budgets, and increasing quality of care metrics, the challenge of meeting these standards is only [...]

Why hotels are saying goodbye to plastic key cards

nside Hook Travelers are accustomed to checking into a hotel and receiving a shiny plastic keycard. Since 1978, electronic plastic keycards have become standard for hotel guests, who can access their rooms with a simple swipe or insertion. But as single-use plastic is being eliminated from properties, the plastic keycard has become an antiquated tool. [...]

Electric phase loss: Challenges and solutions

Facilities Net We’ve all experienced power outages. They can be stressful, frightening, and costly. Common causes of power loss are environmental conditions such as severe wind, lightning strikes and storms, wildlife, trees and vehicular accidents. Read More

Hotel developers balance dreams with reality in today’s lifestyle-driven era

Hotel News Now via CoStar How hotel firms frame projects and brands has a huge influence on developers and owners, especially in an era in which the definitions of lifestyle and experience are broadening. Common sense must be applied, though, according to panelists speaking at the Hotel Investment Conference, Central & Eastern Europe, better known [...]

The evolution of facilities management in 2024

BDC Magazine The last few years have seen significant changes in legislation and regulations within the FM space. These changes in the industry have forced a shift in priorities and duties for those working in facility management in 2024 and beyond. Read More

Debunking cleaning automation myths

Cleaning & Maintenance Management Cleaning floors in industrial and commercial spaces, such as warehouses, airports, retail stores, hospitals and schools, is a time-consuming task. Fortunately, the use of autonomous floor-scrubbing robots can make these tasks dramatically more efficient and cost-effective, thanks to significant product innovations in machine learning, engineering and artificial intelligence. Read More

A comprehensive guide to ready your commercial property for the winter season

Buildings New Hampshire gets an average of 174.35 inches of snowfall per year. While not all states will fight such a harsh snow battle, winters always demand careful preparation for commercial property owners. As the colder months approach, consider these three stages to ensure a successful snow season and fortify your property against winter’s harshness. Read [...]

Is senior living prepared for the incoming wave of middle-income older adults?

McKnight’s Senior Living Is senior living going to be prepared for the incoming growth of middle-income older adults? Read More