The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Manhattan's Columbus Circle doesn't command its world class ranking by accident. Its attention to detail and the resulting customer service it provides its clientele is impeccable. At $15,000 a night for the Presidential suite, the Mandarin must deliver the highest level of customer service in a nearly zero tolerance environment.
And so, when the Mandarin requested our help in figuring out a solution to the increasingly time consuming process of maintaining their elevator cab interiors, we were honored.
The Issue:
The existing cabs in both the express bank and the local bank were covered in wall-to-wall Sapelli wood veneer finished with in a very dark stain. The maintenance on the veneer was daily, with major refinishing done on a monthly basis. The cost and logistics presented an increasingly difficult challenge as the cab interior finishes aged. The down time needed for major repairs was becoming prohibitive, and more importantly, inconsistent with the level of customer service mandated.
The Solution:
Cab Solutions tore out the existing walls and installed matching, removable wall panels faced in Sapelli wood veneer, stained to match the original wood and remaining return walls. In addition, by using a consistent template on the panels and adjusting wall fasteners to account for the variation in the dimensions of each specific cab, Cab Solutions was able to supply the Mandarin with interchangeable spare panels.
These spare panels can be hung while repairs are being done on specific panels, either on-site or off-site. The solution nearly eliminates the downtime due to panel repair and extends the useful life of each cab, all in the most cost effective way.