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Re: Green Tourism Conference to unite businesses from the Catskills to Poconos

The Refinishing Touch — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 09:20:36 -0000

2014 brings the first Green Tourism Conference and the
entire team here at The Refinishing Touch is very much looking forward to it.
The travel and hospitality industries spearhead thousands of green initiatives
yearly to promote environmentalism to employees, travelers and communities and
it is critical to the greener good that these practices not only continue, but
grow. Large industry events such as this promote collaboration and innovation.
As providers of sustainable furniture asset management, we understand the
far-reaching effects eco-friendly behavior can have when it starts from the
ground up.

Re: Adrift Hotel

The Refinishing Touch — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 08:34:35 -0000

The hospitality industry is large and has the power to
impact change on a global scale. For this reason, the team here at The
Refinishing Touch is proud to weave sustainability into the fabric of hotels and resorts across North America. For any hotelier,
PIPs are a looming concern and oftentimes, sustainable and eco-friendly
practices, products and results are overlooked. When the time comes for Long
Beach Adrift to upcycle, we hope they will explore services such as furniture
asset management to reduce carbon footprints and eradicate harmful landfill
waste. We applaud Long Beach’s Adrift Hotel green initiatives and are
excited to see what else the company has up its sleeves.

Re: Downtown Vancouver hotel goes green with multi-million dollar eco-friendly renovation

The Refinishing Touch — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 09:47:30 -0000

The hospitality industry has the ability to impact the
greener good in a major way, and with
tourists paying greater attention to sustainable initiatives and eco-friendly
products and service offerings, investing in environmentalism is simply smart
business. Jarrett got it right when she stated: “It’s more than a trend.”
Hoteliers worldwide are getting on board, and The Best Western Plus Chateau
Granville is helping to inspire even more. As active members of the Canadian
green hospitality community, we can’t wait to see Vancouver succeed in its
mission to be the greenest city in the world by 2025.

Re: Pillmeier Advances Plans For Renovating Orange County Government Center

The Refinishing Touch — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 10:00:19 -0000

The Orange Country Legislature is on the right track with
these proposed renovations. It is imperative to communities that public
facilities are up to date. However, when it comes to public vote, cost and
sustainability are large factors in decision making. Developers should consider
refinishing or re-manufacturing existing furniture assets to like-new condition
rather than replacing them. By doing so, cost, downtime, carbon emissions and waste will be drastically reduced, which appeal to those who are budget
conscious and environmentally aware. We look forward to seeing the
results of today’s meetings, and watching this project progress.

Re: Campus Sustainability applauds strides in University emvironmentalism

The Refinishing Touch — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 17:17:30 -0000

Colleges and universities have been enthusiastically
embracing sustainability efforts in recent years, and we applaud the University
of Virginia’s Committee on Sustainability for pushing for change on these
important issues. In terms of future planning, LEED certification is a great
step in the right direction. Refinishing and furniture remanufacturing are
environmentally friendly ways of upgrading facilities, and can cut costs by
nearly 80% when compared to buying new. Everybody at The Refinishing Touch
wishes the Committee the best of luck with these initiatives.

Re: Sustainability Proofs Revenue Neutral for Hotel Industry

The Refinishing Touch — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 10:07:27 -0000

While many establishments have yet to reap the
financial benefits of going green, many others have and the positive impacts on
the environment associated with going green are promising. As the industry and
the country continues to move forward together toward embracing sustainable
practices, more travelers will follow suit. While significant change to bottom
lines has not yet become the norm, these eco-friendly practices have yielded
tremendous benefits for the future of our planet. The team at The Refinishing
Touch is truly looking forward to seeing more ‘Eco-Green Hotel’ labels.

Re: Hotel leader has high hopes for renovation project

The Refinishing Touch — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 17:29:44 -0000

Corine Hollingsworth and the staff at the High Point Plaza
hotel seem to understand the importance of design aesthetics and re-vamping
facilities to maintain and produce customer satisfaction. In this time of
economic upswing for the hospitality industry, competition between facilities
is heating up and decision makers are planning for this within PIPs. Services
such as furniture asset management provide locations with multiple advantages –
it’s budget-friendly, sustainable and provided on-site, which reduces downtime
drastically. The team here at The Refinishing Touch is genuinely looking
forward to seeing the results of these renovations, and Corine’s hard work.

Re: White House finally reinstalling solar panels

The Refinishing Touch — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 13:58:37 -0000

We’re pleased to see the Obama administration fully
committing to its promise to tackle climate change and protect the
environment. As a company that specializes in large-scale, sustainability
furniture asset management solutions, we know all too well the need to secure
our energy future and protect our environmental resources, today. By investing
in photovoltaic technology, we are one step closer to smart, innovative energy
management. We hope the move will encourage others to do the same and
look towards more renewable forms of energy.

Re: East Quad to open for fall semester

The Refinishing Touch — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 16:44:36 -0000

It’s great to see the University of Michigan continuing its Residential Life Initiative with its most recent renovation project at East Quadrangle Residence Hall. While many of these upgrades are necessary – both functionally and to improve student life – renovation projects don’t have to break the bank. By investing in best practice solutions, such as furniture asset management services, utilities and facilities managers can save their universities up to 80 percent in budget costs and 90 percent in carbon emissions, while ensuring funds are well allocated and students are enjoying the best school environment possible.

Re: You may know how many stars your hotel has, but what color is its sustainable medal?

The Refinishing Touch — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 15:10:28 -0000

As hoteliers continue on their quest towards LEED certification, higher green ratings and positive guest feedback, they should also consider upgrading various aspects of their establishments. Hotels, motels, resorts and inns should take sustainability initiatives further than linen reuse programs, newspaper recycling and eco-friendly water cups, to forge a deeper connection with environmentally-conscious consumers. One way to do this is by reusing existing furniture, by refinishing, re-upholstering or repurposing, rather than buying brand new pieces during a renovation. Through this process, hoteliers can decrease carbon emissions and eradicate harmful landfill waste while increasing the life of assets. This alternative complements other green initiatives being implemented within hotels, without having to break the bank in total expenditure.

Re: Like Recycling But Better: Upcycling

The Refinishing Touch — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 15:53:02 -0000

Upcycling has turned from trend to sustained industry, as
both consumers and entrepreneurs seek to improve sustainability while minimizing costs. Companies like Upcycle It Now demonstrate the success in upcycled clothing and garments, but it’s time we also consider reusing existing furniture assets, which equally crowd our nation’s landfills alongside electronics and textiles. The Refinishing Touch is committed to creating like-new furniture pieces by refinishing, re-upholstering and remanufacturing existing assets within hotels, resorts, universities, and government edifices. Every industry should reconsider its view of “trash”, as many existing commodities can make for even better, modern end products.

Re: Carolina Inn unveils new renovations

The Refinishing Touch — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 17:26:44 -0000

It's great to see the hospitality industry leading the way
in sustainable renovations and encouraging others to become
environmentally-friendly and energy-efficient. The work carried out at The
Carolina Inn proves green initiatives can be incorporated into a project
without comprising the history and style of a building, or reducing the
luxurious feel of such an establishment. It’s also reassuring to see the
commitment to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the hotel’s interest in
buying locally-made furniture - alternatives that make the goal of a greener
facility all the more tangible.

Re: Report: Green Buildings Are on the Rise in the Retail and Hospitality Sectors

The Refinishing Touch — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 10:16:48 -0000

With the steady growth in green building, LEED
certifications, and overall sustainability practices throughout the hospitality
industry, a truly green future is becoming more and more plausible. Material
resource conservation is an area in which hoteliers can increasingly benefit,
as it provides the opportunity to repurpose existing assets rather than buy
new, which is environmentally-friendly and cost-effective. With solutions such
at this, the direction in which hoteliers, retailers, developers and establishments
across all industries are heading is promising and we are keen to see it
continue down this path.

Re: Athletic department working toward sustainable practices

The Refinishing Touch — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 16:45:59 -0000

As an educational venue, the work being done to implement, promote and further sustainable practices at Michigan University has a direct effect and far-reaching impact on its community and beyond. As a university of any caliber looks to reduce waste and improve energy-efficiency, it is beneficial to explore options expanding further than the recycling bin. Services such as furniture asset management allow existing assets to be repurposed rather than replaced – resulting in zero landfill waste, a reduced carbon footprint, and a decrease in total expenditure.

Re: Green Hotel Sustainability Plan, Strategies to Keep in Mind - By Chris Lewis

The Refinishing Touch — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:12:48 -0000

When hoteliers are looking to increase GOP and sustainability simultaneously, roadblocks are often commonplace, and as the article mentions, even knowing where to start can be a battle. By delivering sustainable furniture asset management services to the hospitality industry, it has been our driving force to provide companies that wish to implement or advance green initiatives with the means to do so, quickly and cost-effectively. By researching a wide range of best practices, companies can reap significant environmental benefits as well as minimize necessary budget and improve ROI.

Re: The Best Undergraduate B-Schools for Sustainability

The Refinishing Touch — Wed, 01 May 2013 17:27:19 -0000

The annual Best Undergraduate B-Schools ranking is proof of sustainability’s powerful influence in both the business and collegiate markets. Not only does the ranking help collect feedback, but it furthers environmental awareness through education - an objective more companies and schools should strive for. For universities looking to further their own green initiatives and find a place on the ranking in the future, a great place to start is by investing in furniture asset management. Not only will such services cut renovation costs by 80 percent, but it will also greatly decrease an establishment’s estimated carbon footprint and eradicate harmful landfill waste. This honor given by Bloomberg Businessweek will serve as an inspiration to universities across the globe, and with this friendly competition comes impactful change to the planet for years to come.

Re: Earth Day 2013 Year Anniversary for Eco Hotel Brand’s Sustainable Story

The Refinishing Touch — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:16:46 -0000

Earth Day has always been a widely commemorated event, bringing valuable awareness and action to the environmental cause. However, we’re equally inspired by the year-round commitment of the Adoba Hotel Brand. Travelers today have made a clear move toward green tourism, and hoteliers have the responsibility to provide them this opportunity, so it’s great to see Adoba is committed to ground-up development, as well as facility conversions that promote sustainable building and renovations. Similarly, as a sustainable furniture asset company, we’ve worked to refinish, remanufacture, and re-upholster existing furniture pieces within countless hotels, motels and resorts, to reduce costs, harmful carbon emissions and unnecessary landfill waste. We are proud of the commitments Adoba has made to the environment, the community, and its guests, and we hope more hospitality establishments will follow suit.

Re: Bergen Community College School of Continuing Education to host Sustainability Institute’s First “Student Challenge Competition”

The Refinishing Touch — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:00:36 -0000

The Bergen Community College School of Continuing Education’s Sustainability Institute is setting an admirable example for higher education facilities across the nation. In addition to implementing sustainable initiatives, The Sustainability Institute is also capturing the attention of both students and the community at large in order to maximize action and awareness. The challenge will portray the importance of ‘reuse, repurpose, or remake’, a philosophy that The Refinishing Touch abides by. Through our furniture asset management services, college campuses have the option of repurposing existing furniture pieces, effectively keeping waste away from the landfills and toxins out of the atmosphere, while slowing the rate of deforestation. Whilst beginning a journey towards heightened sustainability, college campuses now have the option of various green alternatives to invest in, helping produce both short- and long-term change.

Re: Energy Efficient Policies Could Save Nearly $1 Trillion

The Refinishing Touch — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:14:37 -0000

The ACEEE’s initiatives for policy reform surrounding energy consumption are noteworthy for more reasons than one. Cost-effective energy solutions benefit more just than the environment – businesses along with our nation’s economy will significantly prosper in direct correlation to these efforts. Reducing energy waste across local, state and federal governments is an essential process on the road to wide-spread change, and as a company
working to achieve sustainability within this sector, we appreciate any steps being taken towards a greener future. At The Refinishing Touch we work in cooperation with government facilities to refinish, refurbish and re-upholster existing furniture assets to eliminate the wasteful process of buying new. Through the act of re-purposing furniture with our sustainable furniture asset management solutions, government edifices are able to greatly reduce harmful waste and carbon emissions, as well as increase ROI and realize major budget cuts. With the help of the ACEEE, policy barriers preventing greater good can be eradicated and we can continue to move forward with saving our planet.

Re: Transat publishes its third corporate responsibility report | Canadian Aviation News

The Refinishing Touch — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:57:20 -0000

The implementation of sustainable tourism is essential to global environmental improvement and it’s great to see an influential Canadian company, like Transat, setting such an exemplary example. By assessing various tours against sustainable criteria and ensuring that new environmental policies are carried out by the company, its partners, and its destination countries, Transat is making a lasting impact. As a company working in Canada to provide hotels with sustainable furniture asset management services, we understand the ins-and-outs of proper resource management and commend Transat for the thoughtful execution of its Corporate Responsibility Program. With the hard work of all organizations in the tourism industry to implement corporate sustainability plans, eco-friendly travel and lodging can and will prosper - along with our environment.

Re: Corporations Can No Longer Sleepwalk Towards Sustainability

The Refinishing Touch — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:07:21 -0000

Despite common misconceptions, ROI improves as offices become greener, making sustainability a great opportunity that far too few CEOs capitalize on. The Lean Sigma Six methodology could prove to be instrumental in carrying out campaigns from beginning to end, as poor planning and follow-through are often cited as reasons for failure. However, as a company that specializes in furniture asset management solutions, we understand that not every corporation has the bandwidth or the budget to strictly implement pricey, technologically-advanced sustainable initiatives. The simple act of refinishing, remanufacturing or reupholstering existing furniture as opposed to buying new has been proven to save up to 80% in budget costs and 90% in carbon emissions, so it is not hard to imagine the savings a total-building renovation could bring in just by making a few environmentally-friendly and cost-effective changes. We hope that more corporations will makes strides toward a greener, more sustainable future.

Re: A chance to take a great green leap forward

The Refinishing Touch — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:37:53 -0000

As the article points out, great strides have been taken in regards to ‘go-green’ initiatives and now it is time to ‘go darker green’. The notion of a climate communication strategy is one that is necessary for all communities and organizations, but unfortunately too often neglected. With the best of intentions, initiatives are regularly put in place yet quickly die out - the cause of this most often being the lack of long-term planning, and proper outreach and communication. As a company committed to combating human-caused environmental damage, our sustainable furniture refinishing, remanufacturing, and re-upholstery solutions help organizations, such as universities, government offices, and hotels, reduce budget costs and the amount of waste disposed in landfills. It’s great to see the city of Eugene taking steps to make a positive environmental impact. With any luck, many towns are soon to follow.

Re: Gov’t Leads the Way Toward Leaner, Greener U.S. Economy

The Refinishing Touch — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:57:55 -0000

It’s always great to read and hear about the US government’s continued commitment to sustainability. As the article points out, by increasing America’s energy efficiency, we also have the ability to improve our international economic and social status. In addition to the steps outlined in the Department of Interior’s 2012 Sustainability Plan, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020, the US government should also commit to cost-effective, environmentally-friendly initiatives. We should strive to combine economic and environmental prowess through solutions such as furniture asset management solutions, which include furniture refinishing, re-upholstery, and remanufacturing, in order to meet the demands of President Obama’s Executive Order quicker and more efficiently.

Re: sleeping around

The Refinishing Touch — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 09:33:53 -0000

What a creative reuse of unwanted materials. Well-designed
and creatively considered spaces such as these make each of us reflect on the
size of our individual footprint, and how we might live more sparingly. As well
as the obvious positive environmental impact of reusing shipping containers,
this also offers a whole new experience for hotel guests. From our
background of working with hotels of all sizes (though possibly not ones quite
this small), we know that hotel visitors are no longer looking for traditional
value, service and comfort - they now also want to enjoy a unique
experience.

Re: U.S. Government Seeing Big Savings From Green Buildings

The Refinishing Touch — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 10:37:24 -0000

Jason Hartke makes an important point in the article, resource efficiency can save money and promote sustainable practices. However, we believe government resources are not limited to electricity, water and heating. As a large-scale furniture refinishing company, the government must also include furniture assets in the resources they strive to maximize. For example, during building retrofit projects, furniture asset management solutions can be utilized to create a greener, more budget-friendly project altogether. Refinishing, remanufacturing, and re-upholstering existing furniture can save up to 80 percent in budgets and 90 percent in carbon emissions when compared to buying new – and has zero return-on-investment time. It’s great to see the US Treasury save such a large amount in operating costs each year, and we hope government buildings around the nation continue to strive for a greener existence, even if that means thinking a bit outside the box.