We are different in the way
we approach the business. We rely on the finest
components and materials and "Made in Maine"
craftsmanship for an exceptional quality of
finished product that we stand behind. We also
take a personal approach, offering factory direct
application support to end user customers as
well as to their HVAC installation and maintenance
contractors to ensure the product will perform
as intended.
The benefits of proper dehumidification in the
indoor pool for the hotelier are multiple. They
include odor management, reduced risk of mold
and mildew, reduced building maintenance, improved
appearance, elimination of fog and water drops
on windows, improved indoor air quality and
energy conservation. Perhaps the most important
benefit is putting that indoor pool asset back
to work in service of the hotelier's real aim,
to make guests more comfortable and happy with
their stay, encouraging referrals and repeat
business. How many hotels with indoor pools
have you visited, where upon entering the vestibule,
you instantly know from the odor and humidity
that there is a pool there? This is not good,
nor is it healthy (for the people or the building).
And that is not good for business. At the very
least, it is not capitalizing on that high value
pool asset; at worst, it turns customers away
or reduces their perceived satisfaction with
the visit.
2) How has the economy downturn affected
your business? What steps have your taken to
help hoteliers in this economy? Any special
deal, discount, or offer?
Interestingly, as a small niche manufacturer
to begin with, we have not so much experienced
a downturn as an inhibitor to growth. The global
economic collapse hit just as we were launching
several major initiatives. The result is that
we have had to reign in our expectations, while
remaining true to our mission and continuing
to lay the groundwork for future financial success.
As a subsidiary of a highly successful and well
respected contracting firm, we are fortunate
to have the financial support to weather the
storm.
3) What do you see as the future of
Hotel industry? What major trends will impact
hotel business in coming 20 years?
I am not an expert on the hospitality industry,
but I have been a consumer as well as a supplier.
I see the future of the Hotel industry as multiple
futures. These are as varied as the distinct
groups of clients and the locations you serve.
In general, there will likely be a growing demand
for customization. For example, sleep and hygiene
only layover service for international business
travelers on location at major airports, at
one end of the spectrum, to full American plan
accomodations tied with amusements such as indoor
mini-golf, waterpark and cineplex for families
on a long weekend getaway in the midst of a
mid-America winter, on the other. Situated between
these two extremes would be those multi-functional
hotels that serve the business traveler, the
family on the road and local community. In these
cases, the successful hotel will provide a comfortable
safe haven, a feeling of home away from home
for the travelers, and access to facilities
such as meeting rooms and banquet services that
may not be available in the local area.
Major trends that will have significant impact
have to be headlined with energy efficiency
and water conservation. By extension we should
add a trend toward greater use of solar thermal
and PV as well as super efficient and durable
building envelopes. Coupled with these we will
see an overall shift to "life cycle costing"
wherein an analysis of the cost of any building
element is judged for both its initial outlay
as well as its impact on energy and maintenance
for the life of the structure as opposed to
the simplistic "first cost" which
tends to dominate today. Our hotels along with
other buildings will begin to assume more of
a permanent place in the culture (think Europe,
where the World Wars did not destroy the infrastructure).
Those hotels with historic significance will
be retrofit with a greater awareness and placing
a greater value on their historic siginficance
and flavor. Quality will become more of an expectation
as opposed to the exception.
Similarly, quality service will also become
more of a norm than it is today. This will be
an inevitable result of greater competition,
as well as the evolution of the culture. Your
employees will come better trained, with internship
experience and higher education backgrounds,
including those who come to the business from
family ownership. There will be greater opportunities
for hospitality training, including specific
background in niche areas, such as ecotourism,
recreation, historic and cultural venues, etc.
Family businesses will welcome these programs
as a means of preparing the next generation,
while preserving and expanding their legacy
as well as their family fortunes.
4) What benefits and key advantages
you offer over competition? Why should over
readers consider doing business with you?
Our Aqua-TEC units are a traditional indoor
pool dehumidifier developed with over 20 years
experience. What we have learned is that our
robust electromechanical system designs stand
up better in the corrosive pool environment.
They are not the least expensive units on the
market, but they are the best value. If you
are going to own your hotel for more than a
few years, you will be well advised to install
good reliable dehumidification for the indoor
pool. Our designs are simpler and easier to
service, lowering lifetime costs and providing
more effective year round performance, especially
for hotel owners and residential customers who
do not have specialized facilities managers
to maintain these systems.
In some hotel pools, the original design did
not include a dehumidification system, often
with disastrous results. In these cases, it
can be prohibitive or impossible to install
a central system dehumidfier like Aqua-TEC.
With our new DryMAX product, we have introduced
a means for owners to "do the job right",
without requiring major reconstruction or modification
of an existing facility. This also allows a
contractor comfortable with installing a mini-split
air-conditioner to handle the job, reducing
installed cost as well as equipment cost. We
are the only manufacturer to offer this innovative,
easy to install, yet high quality solution for
pool retrofits.
5) Do you provide E-commerce or online
payment facility? Can our readers book your
products or services online?
We do not sell directly to the end user as a
matter of course, because all indoor pool and
commercial dehumidifiers require the expertise
of a qualified HVAC contractor to perform the
installation, including EPA approved handling
of refrigerants. On the other hand, via the
website, E-mail and telephone, we offer best
in class support and straight talk on pros and
cons of systems applications to hotel owners
and operators. You may contact us directly online
and we will put you together with our distribution
after providing factory direct engineering guidance
and suggestions. Please do not hesitate to put
your local HVAC services providers in touch
with us, if you prefer. We will look forward
to serving you in the best way possible to meet
your dehumidfication and indoor pool climate
control requirements.
For more information: Call: 207-513-3397
Fax: 207-333-3845
Visit www.vital-air.com
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