Closing a hotel to renovate it means losing revenue for months. The good news is that, in most cases, a hotel can be renovated without closing it: by planning the works in phases and coordinating them with the day-to-day running of the establishment. Here is how we approach it at Klic Arquitectos on the Costa del Sol.
Why phase the works instead of closing
The calculation is simple: the cost of a full closure is not just the works, but the lost revenue from the rooms you can no longer sell and the risk of losing guests and market position. Phasing the works makes the design and construction somewhat more expensive — the work has to be done more carefully and within restricted hours — but it allows part of the hotel to stay open and protects your cash flow during the renovation.
How a renovation is planned while the hotel stays open
The key is the phasing plan: the hotel is divided into floors, wings or zones, so that work is carried out on one part while the rest keeps running. Before starting, we define the sequence, construction routes kept separate from guest routes, the hours for noisy work and the safety, dust and noise-control measures. Good planning up front avoids the improvisation that causes delays and complaints to spiral.
What can be worked on without affecting guests
Rooms in blocks, communal areas during low-occupancy hours, kitchens and service pantries with temporary solutions, façades and building services behind screening… Most of a renovation can be staggered. The critical points are usually the main building services (electrics, air conditioning, fire protection): for these, short, scheduled shutdowns are planned, normally in the low season.
How we do it at Klic Arquitectos
Site management is led by the partners themselves, with fixed deadlines from the preliminary design stage onwards and fortnightly coordination meetings with the owner and the building contractor. We check the contractor’s progress valuations against the project documents to keep the budget under control and adjust the phasing plan to the hotel’s actual occupancy. The aim: to renovate with minimal impact on the guest experience and on the bottom line.
Frequently asked questions
Can a hotel be renovated while it stays open?
Yes. In most cases the works are organised in phases (floors or wings) so that part of the hotel stays open. Only certain work on the main building services requires short, scheduled shutdowns.
How much longer does a phased renovation take than a full closure?
The overall timescale is usually somewhat longer than closing all at once, because the work is done in stages, but this is offset by keeping revenue coming in during the works. The exact balance is set in the phasing plan according to occupancy.
Do noise and dust affect the guest experience?
With screening, separate construction routes and restricted hours for noisy work, the impact is kept to a minimum. Planning ahead is what makes the difference.
Do you need to renovate your hotel?
At Klic Arquitectos we design and manage hotel renovations in Málaga and on the Costa del Sol, with phased works and direct contact with the partners. Tell us about it in an initial, no-obligation call.
