Closing a hotel to refurbish it means losing income for months. The good news is that, in most cases, a hotel can be refurbished without closing it: by planning the works in phases and coordinating them with the operation of the establishment. This 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 stop selling and the risk of losing customers and market position. Phasing the works makes the design and execution somewhat more expensive — you have to work more carefully and within restricted hours — but it allows part of the hotel to keep operating and protects cash flow during the refurbishment.
How a refurbishment in operation is planned
The key is the phasing plan: the hotel is divided by floors, wings or zones, so that one part is worked on while the rest keeps running. Before starting, the sequence is defined, along with construction routes separated from guest routes, the hours for noisy work and the measures for safety, dust and acoustics. Good prior planning avoids improvisation that sends deadlines and complaints soaring.
What can be worked on without affecting guests
Rooms in blocks, communal areas during low-occupancy hours, kitchens and pantries with temporary solutions, façades and services behind screens… Most of a refurbishment can be staggered. The critical points are usually the general services (electrical, air conditioning, fire protection): there, short, scheduled shutdowns are planned, normally in low season.
How we do it at Klic Arquitectos
The partners supervise the works ourselves, with fixed deadlines from the preliminary design and coordination meetings with the owner and the contractor every fortnight. We check the certificates against the design to control the budget and adjust the phasing plan to the hotel’s actual occupancy. The aim: to refurbish with the minimum impact on the guest experience and on the profit and loss account.
Frequently asked questions
Can a hotel be refurbished while staying open?
Yes. In most cases the works are organised in phases (floors or wings) to keep part of the hotel operating. Only certain interventions on the general services require short, scheduled shutdowns.
How much longer does a phased refurbishment take compared with a full closure?
The overall timescale is usually somewhat longer than closing all at once, because the work is done in sections, but this is offset by keeping income flowing during the works. The exact balance is defined 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 reduced to a minimum. Prior planning is what makes the difference.
Do you need to refurbish your hotel?
At Klic Arquitectos we design and supervise hotel refurbishments in Málaga and on the Costa del Sol with phased works and direct contact with the partners. Tell us about it in a first, no-obligation call.
