The morning starts like any other at a popular hotel in Manchester—until the maintenance manager discovers three fire doors damaged during last night’s wedding reception. Across the country in Bristol, another property in the chain faces similar issues after a busy weekend. For hotel and pub chains, scenarios like these aren’t just occasional headaches; they’re daily challenges that demand robust management strategies.
The Multi-Site Challenge
Managing fire doors across dozens or even hundreds of properties presents unique complexities. Each site has its own patterns of usage, local contractors, and maintenance schedules. The Bristol property might have quieter weekdays perfect for maintenance, while the Manchester location needs weekend repairs to accommodate its conference trade.
A Tale of Two Approaches
Consider two contrasting scenarios we’ve observed in the industry. Chain A treats each property independently, with local managers handling their own fire door maintenance. The result? Inconsistent standards, varying costs, and a compliance nightmare. Chain B implements a centralised strategy with standardised procedures and real-time monitoring. Their outcome? Consistent compliance, controlled costs, and efficient maintenance across all properties.
Centralised Control, Local Execution
The key to effective multi-site management lies in balancing centralised oversight with local responsiveness. Picture a hub-and-spoke model where central management:
- Sets standardised maintenance protocols
- Monitors compliance across all sites
- Coordinates contractor relationships
- Analyses performance data
- Controls budgets and spending
While local teams:
- Execute daily inspections
- Report issues promptly
- Coordinate with approved contractors
- Manage guest impact
Technology as the Great Unifier
Modern technology transforms this complex operation into a manageable system. Through digital platforms, a maintenance director in London can instantly view the status of every fire door in their estate. When the Manchester hotel reports damage, the system automatically:
- Logs the issue
- Alerts approved contractors
- Schedules repairs
- Updates compliance records
- Tracks completion
The Power of Predictive Maintenance
Data patterns reveal invaluable insights. A hotel’s weekend wedding trade might correlate with increased door damage. Armed with this knowledge, managers can schedule preventive maintenance and staff training to reduce incidents.
At Neo, we understand the complexities of multi-site fire door management in the hospitality sector. Using the Bolster software system we’re able to provide centralised control and local flexibility needed to manage properties efficiently. Whether you operate five sites or five hundred, our repairs-first approach helps maintain consistent standards while optimising costs.
Want to transform your multi-site fire door management? Download our comprehensive guide, Maintaining Compliant Fire Doors Across Multiple Sites: The Power of a Repairs-First Approach or contact us for a free consultation tailored to your hospitality chain.
