The hotel carpark - oft overlooked yet critically important
An area in a hotel that arguably receives the least amount of love has got to be the carpark. Because let’s face it, this vehicular accommodation space is probably one of the more unglamorous parts of the hotel – unless you count the loading dock or garbage receptacle area. Most hoteliers dismiss it as such. After all, you’ve got valet parking to handle such things. But remember, not everyone prefers valet parking. There are some well-heeled people who shun valet service in favour of parking their own car. These are the sort of people who wouldn’t garner a second look unless you saw them entering or exiting their expensive automobile. But they’re the ones who will likely spend six or even seven-figure Rupee (that’s four or five-figure US Dollar) amounts in one visit. Can you afford to lose them? Sometimes, you might if your carpark isn’t up to scratch.
Time and time again, I’ve been to hotels where the carpark was either a long way away from and disconnected with the main building of the hotel, dimly lit, stuffy, smelly, felt downright dangerous, or a mix of these factors. So, let me give you some pointers to consider when designing the carpark for your hotel. For existing hoteliers, take a look and see if some of these issues exist, and can be corrected.
Connectivity
No, I don’t mean mobile phone reception, although some hotel carparks severely lack this as well. What I mean is, connectivity with the hotel’s main building. There’s a internationally branded hotel in Colombo 3 that has the carpark in a separate building with no link to the main one. So, if it’s raining, you’ve either got to carry an umbrella, or make a quick dash across an open space between buildings at the ground level…that’s after descending down a ramp that’s the very same one that cars use to enter the car park. When you go to retrieve your car, it’s an uphill slog as a result. There appear to be elevators but at the time of writing, they remain non-functional. It’s almost like the owners of this hotel started building the carpark but decided not to finish it...how appalling!
And while you’re at it, don’t stick the carpark in the furthest corner of your plot of land. Ideally, it should take a person no more than two to three minutes from exiting their car before they enter the main lobby of your hotel (notwithstanding security checks).
Signage and Traffic Markings
Your carpark needs to have adequate signage and traffic flow markings, guiding drivers to move about seamlessly - especially if it’s a multi-level affair with entry and exit pathways in close proximity. This is important to avoid situations where drivers attempt to enter via the exit pathway, or vice-versa. Given that we Sri Lankans aren’t very conscientious on the public road, you need to expect the unexpected even inside your hotel’s car park.
Security
A hotel carpark can be a hotbed of undesirable activity or even potential crime, because let’s face it; there’s infrequent foot traffic, zero crowds, plenty of places to hide and numerous ‘black spots’ that no CCTV system can fully cover. From exchanges of prohibited substances to more nefarious intentions, if it’s going to happen in a hotel, the carpark is the most likely place. So, you’d better have some security personnel patrolling around – not just sitting flat-footed at a desk by the entrance. And while you’re at it, take a critical look at your carpark’s CCTV system and try to minimize black spots or areas with low coverage.
Lighting
This point ties in to security as well. Carparks need to be well-lit, not fitted with dim, flickering and buzzing tube lights like you find in horror movies. Yet, this is what we find in the carpark of many Colombo hotels. A proper, bright, LED lighting system is far more preferable. Remember, if your carpark is bathed in light, it’s also less likely to harbour security risks. And don’t forget to install an emergency lighting system too.
Ventilation
Any car with an internal combustion engine emits numerous harmful gases, including Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxides and more. That’s why you’ll find some car parks prohibiting idling, namely the act of sitting in your car with the engine switched on, usually because you’re running the air conditioning while waiting for someone. A robust ventilation system is a must for any car park that’s totally or mostly enclosed from the outside. This is particularly applicable for underground car parks, since above ground or multi-level parks tend to have openings along the sides. That being said, it’s always a good idea to periodically perform checks to ensure that a safe and breathable atmosphere remains within the carpark at all times.
Fire and Life Safety
It goes without saying that carparks can be hotspots for potential fires. Cars do catch fire after all, whether they’re electric or internal combustion powered. And this is something that’s totally out of your control as a hotel owner or operator because you can’t be sure of how well-maintained (or not) every single patron’s car is. It goes without saying, then, that you need to have ample fire fighting equipment in the car park, including CO2 and powder fire extinguishers, as well as clearly marked exits for evacuation. And it also goes without saying; there should be more than one exit pathway!
So, there you are - a few ideas on which to get started with your car park audit. Some of these can be easily fixed, while others will take more time. But if you get the basics right, it will definitely pay dividends in the long run.
Ashraaq Wahab - Director Marketing and Technical Hospitality Sri Lanka, Automotive Journalist, Marketer, Photographer and Writer, who enjoys penning his thoughts, insights and ideas on a variety of topics.
|
|
|
|
