Since leading a renovation at The Adolphus Hotel Dallas back in 1979, CMCA Design has conducted a wide variety of hotel renovations, and the team has become versed in many best practices for these projects. “The Adolphus project was a ‘gut’ renovation where the hotel closed for a period, but usually when we do renovations, the hotel stays in operation, which creates its own set of challenges,” explained Managing Principal Jill Cole. The first step, she said, is to determine the extent of the renovation-the number of rooms and floors where construction will be taking place-and the potential disturbances to guests. For example, a floor of guestrooms may need to be put out of commission just due to noise, or a public elevator taken out of service for use by construction workers. Onsite management needs to “do a very good job of communicating all this to guests,” she stressed. Beyond these logistical measures, Cole shared advice to ensure the design process meets the needs and expectations of all stakeholders.