AFCO Lodges strives to provide the highest quality professional and personalized management services to hotel investors. Areas of expertise include:
AFCO Lodges provides these services with a team approach involving both regional and local management to achieve both financial and operating goals established by AFCO with input from the hotel investor.
Human Resources Management is an ever-changing and challenging aspect of every business. AFCO Lodges philosophically believes that the success of any hotel is largely dependent on the selection of a qualified and motivated leader to fill the General Manager's position. AFCO Lodges typically recruits management candidates utilizing both internal promotion and selection from larger, well known industry brands which provide sound fundamental skill training.
Training of a newly hired manager involves an extensive two week, on-the-job training program with one of AFCO Lodges' General Managers. This program consists of learning AFCO Lodges specific front desk, housekeeping and maintenance operating philosophy and procedures, as well as the operation of the Radiant Property Management System.
The training process continues for General Managers at two annual General Manager's Meetings during which key topics such as leadership skills, sales techniques and human resources issues are addressed. Additionally, each General Manager receives daily guidance and oversight from an experienced Regional Manager.
General Managers are responsible for the hiring and training of hotel staff. Appropriate background checks and reference checks are performed on all employees. Additionally, all employees receive an AFCO Lodges Employee Handbook in the appropriate language. The handbook sets forth AFCO Lodges standards of conduct and performance as well as administrative policies and procedures.
Policy and Procedure Development and Implementation
Policy and Procedure Development and Implementation is an important function that requires constant review and assurance to protect the resources of the Investor. AFCO Lodges has continued to evolve and enhance its operating policies and procedures to keep instep with today's rapidly changing business environment. AFCO Lodges' philosophy is to develop policies and procedures that will improve operating efficiency, maximize revenue, minimize risk and protect assets.
Expense Control begins with the development of an operating budget for each property against which actual performance may be measured. Budgets reflect individual property characteristics and considerations while establishing performance goals based upon industry and company standards. AFCO Lodges' composes its budgets into six parts: (1) Revenue Detail, (2) Labor Budget, (3) Capital Expenditure Plan, (4) Mortgage Amortization Schedule, (5) Historical Revenue and Occupancy Data, and the (6)Budget Summary.
After a budget is developed by AFCO and approved by the Investor, the plan is implemented and monitored through the preparation of monthly financial statements as well as several interim management reports. Some of the management reports utilized are the Labor Productivity Report and Labor Summary Report. Many expenses incurred in the operation of a limited service hotel are fixed in nature so AFCO focuses a great deal of attention to labor control because labor is the largest controllable expense. The Labor Productivity report is utilized by hotel management to control housekeeping labor on a daily basis. The Labor Summary Report calculates payroll expense for the hotel on a weekly basis which is then compared to the weekly labor budget.
Information and Data Communication
Information and Data Communication is provided by AFCO Lodges to the investor on a weekly basis so that the investor may be kept informed, in a timely manner, of events and issues that are occurring at their property. These reports are prepared by hotel management following a report template designed to focus on areas of interest to Executive Management and Investors. This report may be customized to include specific information. Detailed property reviews are provided for each visit to a hotel. These reviews focus on property condition, operation issues, marketing programs, human resource issues, as well as any other subject that may occur.
Maintenance and Repair Supervision
Maintenance and Repair Supervision is essential to maintain a hotel in peak condition, thereby making the hotel more appealing to guests. When a hotel is well maintained, investors benefit from increased revenues resulting from higher room rates charged to guests, higher occupancy, and higher appraisal values if the hotel is ever sold. AFCO Lodges employs a Regional Maintenance Manager who can be contracted, for an additional fee, to a hotel on a weekly basis to provide hands-on supervision of a preventative maintenance program, assure the hotel is in compliance with local and state health, life and safety regulations, assist with major renovation projects, or substitute for maintenance personnel that may be ill or on vacation.
Quality and Standards Assurance
Quality and Standards Assurance is ultimately judged by the guests. For this reason, AFCO Lodges believes every member of the AFCO Team is responsible to assure our guests have a favorable experience. Hotel management must set the standard for quality at their hotel not only in the housekeeping department, but also for the front desk and maintenance employees. In turn, AFCO Lodges' Executive Management is responsible for setting the quality standards for hotel management. AFCO Lodges believes that the only way to achieve and maintain a high standard is to take a hands-on approach to inspecting the hotel, including inspecting guest rooms and public areas for cleanliness and maintenance issues. Generally, housekeeping and maintenance staff are included in these inspections because it is important for them to see what the guests see. AFCO's Executive Management also performs ongoing mystery telephone shopping calls to the front desk staff to ensure that the staff is properly trained and is performing their job according to company procedures.