…AND
A FEW
DON’TS
This story features many of the
“do’s” of renovation. Here are
some of the don’ts:
DON’T RUSH THROUGH
PLANNING.
The secret to a successful (and cost-
effective) renovation is to do the legwork
on the front-end. Any problems that you
gloss over while planning will rear their
head once construction begins.
had to be on their game,” Runge
notes, “and they had to have a great
working relationship with the ranch.”
DO: Maximize the Potential
of New Spaces
The renovation was completed ontime,
and the new facilities have afforded
Mountain Sky Guest Ranch
new opportunities to enhance the
guest experience. “It’s allowing us to
connect with a broader scope of
people,” says Middleton, by enabling
spa staff to assemble customized spa
packages for Ranch guests less interested
in fishing, riding and shooting.
The spa’s yoga program has expanded
greatly, offering more sessions
than before and being more personalized
to each group of guests.
Mountain Sky Guest Ranch has
also decided to maximize their new
space by hosting its first-ever “Wellness
Week” this fall, featuring a full
week of special spa programming,
seminars and services. This all-inclusive
experience simply would not
have been possible prior to the renovations.
Once your renovation is complete,
maximize its potential with ideas like
Mountain Sky’s—expand your programming.
Market the renovation on
social media or through digital advertising.
Keep in touch with your email
database, ensuring that your most
frequent customers are aware of and
excited by the changes. And develop
signature events and services that utilize
your new facility’s full capabilities.
Preparation Matters Most
In the end, the stakeholders in the renovation
of Mountain Sky Guest
Ranch’s spa signaled that the actual
renovation—that is, the construction
and refurbishment itself—was the
least critical part of a successful renovation
project. By the time that the
walls are opened up, both you and
your project partners should have a
thorough and complete understanding
of the plan, the potential challenges
and what your spa’s priorities
are. Doing this work up front—especially
when it’s done with an architect,
contractor, builder or interior designer
you trust—is the single biggest contributor
to a successful renovation of
any spa. n
DON’T BE AFRAID TO CHOOSE
A RESIDENTIAL FIRM.
You might think that because your spa is
a commercial business, you need a
commercial architect. But Roodell notes
that a spa is “more similar than different”
to a residential project. Both should feel
personal, warm and home-like.
DON’T OVER-EXPAND.
The last thing you want is to build new
treatment rooms that are never used—
especially given the uncertain
marketplace we’ll experience in a
post-COVID-19 world. Do research and
build what is necessary to grow your
spa—no more, no less.
JUNE 2020 ■ PULSE 43