Bold Campus

The Corona pandemic has hit both the hotel industry and the event industry hard. Artlife also lost around 80 percent of its orders last year. So what to do with the craftsmen, the large workshop and all the resources? Tackling it and making a virtue out of necessity. This is how the creative trade fair and event service provider from Hofheim im Taunus has found a new business area: hotel conversion instead of trade fair construction.

The reference project is the KTC Königstein, which already began extensive renovation and conversion work in 2019. Since spring 2020, Artlife GmbH has completely gutted a total of 107 hotel rooms in addition to common areas and lounges and rebuilt them according to a designer’s design concept.

“Last year, KTC Königstein was looking for craftsmen who could implement the conversion,” says Georg Weyell, member of the management board of Artlife and project manager for the conversion at KTC Königstein. “Due to the pandemic, we not only had the necessary manpower, i.e. craftsmen, but also the time to be able to start the conversion immediately. In the process, a very trusting relationship has developed between us and those responsible at KTC Königstein, so that even unforeseen challenges that arise again and again in such projects could be solved quickly and constructively.”

From its many years of experience in international event and trade fair construction, Artlife knows exactly what is important when it comes to craftsmen’s services – perfect and solution-oriented work, adherence to deadlines and budgets as well as the ability to put oneself in the customer’s shoes and his wishes.

In addition, the booth builder operates a modern carpentry workshop in Hofheim as well as a high-performance locksmith’s shop, with which production is possible from a single source. For example, high-quality furniture was made of solid wood for the KTC Königstein. In order to implement the designer’s creative ideas, Artlife was particularly asked to find the right mix of look, feel and durability when processing the materials.

Instead of commissioning a suitable craftsman for the individual conversion measures at KTC Königstein, Artlife GmbH offers everything from a single source and is therefore the contact for all trades. This not only means enormous time savings, but has also reduced conversion costs by up to 30 percent compared to the respective individual orders.

“In the spring of 2020, we were looking for craftsmen from the region to support us in our renovation,” says Yvonne Federhoff, hotel director KTC Königstein. “But at the time, it was difficult to find the appropriate trades in such a way that they fit together in terms of scheduling and, above all, in terms of costs. Turning to a booth builder from the region has proven to be a real stroke of luck. At Artlife, we have a contact person who understands our concept, advises us and always thinks along with us. In addition, it is of course also very pleasant for us that Artlife not only takes care of the implementation of the project, but also of the support of all craftsmen. That was and is a real relief.” The topic of sustainability also plays an important role for KTC Königstein: For example, resource-saving materials from Germany are used as far as possible, which are durable and reusable.

The conversion order at KTC Königstein for Artlife GmbH has not yet been completed. “We are particularly proud that we have just been awarded the contract for the next 30 hotel rooms,” adds Georg Weyell. “We have proven that we can also create and implement sustainable design for hotels.”

And since nothing will be the same after Corona, attractive and cost-effective conversion options are being created for hoteliers in need of renovation by clever booth builders such as Artlife.