When opening a hotel, you have a few different options when it comes to finding the right building. You can either buy an existing hotel building to take over, build your own hotel from the ground up or convert an existing building into a hotel.
More budding hoteliers are choosing the latter option. There are many large vacant homes available across the country that are ideal for turning into hotels - whether it be a simple b&b or a more glamorous hotel. But just how do you turn a house into a hotel? This guide explains a few things to consider.
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Make sure the house is suitable
You do not need to own a huge house to create a successful hotel, but it does need to be large enough to comfortably accommodate guests. Aim for a minimum of 6 rooms - each one should be about 200 square feet at least to accommodate a bed and bathroom. To maximise the number of guests in a small hotel, you may want to consider opting for a hostel or AirBnB guesthouse instead of a hotel.
Choose a theme
Your hotel should have a running theme throughout including a colour scheme and decor style. When coming up with a theme, consider the location and the type of building. With a historical building, it could be worth preserving a lot of the history. Local painting and crafts could meanwhile help represent the location. Alternatively, you may decide to theme it around a personal interest like music or movies for a niche appeal.
Fix up any damage
Wear and tear will negatively affect the guest experience. Before opening your hotel, make sure any visible damage is repaired. It’s worth adding a fresh lick of paint to walls, replacing old flooring and sealing up any cracks.
Budget for guest room bathrooms
One of the biggest costs of turning a house into a hotel could be adding bathrooms to each room if they don’t already have them. Converting a house that already has some en-suite bathrooms could save you money. Make sure that bathrooms are big enough to fit the essentials (a toilet, a sink, a shower and towel rack).
Upgrade your interior doors
Doors to guest rooms need to be suitably secure. You’ll need to fit locks to each room. These could be opened with a key or a card. Invest in good quality soundproof doors for security and privacy.
Design the reception and communal areas
On top of designing the rooms, you need to consider space for a reception and possibly communal areas for eating or lounging. Private office space and commercially-adequate kitchen space could also be necessary. If you’re not offering food, such communal space may not need to be so large. The reception should be located by the entrance - if the hallway is too small to add a reception desk, consider converting an adjacent living room.
Consider disability access
Not accommodating people with disabilities could cause you to lose out on guests. Consider adding features such as ramps or a lift to provide access to disabled people. A lift company will be able to help you install and maintain your lift.
Work with an experienced architect
A great amount of conversion work is needed when turning a house into a hotel. Architects will be able to help you find the best layout, while making sure that everything meets legal standards. It may even be worth bringing an architect with you when viewing houses to get an idea of the feasibility and costs of converting each building before you commit to buying.
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