When it comes to constructing and renovating hospitality facilities, prioritizing the guest experience is paramount. This means minimizing disruptions during renovations and delivering exceptional quality for new projects. Ranked number two in the United States on Building Design + Construction’s “Top 90 Hotel and Resort Construction Firms for 2024,” PCL Construction excels at this by providing services such as diverse self-perform capabilities and a highly personalized preconstruction approach tailored to the specific needs of its clients. Having built world-class resorts for flagship brands like Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons and more, PCL teams capitalize on these services to deliver world-class hospitality projects.

The preconstruction phase is often the most critical stage of any construction project. For hospitality projects, preconstruction sets the stage for success by focusing on client vision, guest experience, and optimizing both schedule and budget. Through an ingrained collaborative culture, PCL adds value to these projects right from the start by leveraging extensive data from past successes to advise on cost, schedule and constructability.

For example, the recently completed Evermore Orlando Resort, which includes the Conrad Orlando hotel and The Flats multi-unit lodging complex, demonstrates PCL’s ability to navigate challenges through effective preconstruction. The team navigated unprecedented market conditions, particularly in material procurement resulting from global supply chain challenges. Their solution was early procurement during preconstruction, purchasing every scope as soon as possible, and closely monitoring domestic deliveries and the status of various ports worldwide.

PCL’s proactive approach and ability to find solutions continues to be crucial in setting a project up for success, as seen in the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences in Jacksonville. This project will be the city's first five-star resort and is part of the larger Shipyards development, a major mixed-use project revitalizing the riverfront property adjacent to the EverBank Stadium.

A proactive procurement strategy is even more necessary for PCL’s projects in remote areas like the Rocky Mountain region and Hawaii, where supply chain disruptions and rising prices can have a larger impact than urban environments. Early involvement of the general contractor enables an informed design, facilitating a more strategic planning and procurement process.

“Mountain projects come with unique logistical challenges, such as difficult site access, limited space and significant weather impacts,” says Matt Meunier, a PCL construction manager with extensive experience in high-end hospitality projects in the Rocky Mountain region. “Early involvement helps us better understand the client's goals and the project as a whole.”

In Hawaii, new hospitality developments and expansions often face challenges due to state regulations and cultural and environmental preservation efforts. Instead, hospitality properties focus on renovating existing buildings to stay current with trends and brand standards. Often, these hotels remain operational during renovations, necessitating significant upfront planning to ensure timely material delivery to the remote islands and limited guest interruption.

According to Nathan Ramler, a Nordic PCL project manager overseeing renovations and new construction on the Hokuala property on the island of Kauaʻi, early collaboration with the entire integrated team has become a standard part of preconstruction operations across all PCL offices. “We spend a lot of time during preconstruction developing logistics plans and walking through them with the entire project team, including the property staff who will manage daily operations throughout the construction phase,” says Ramler.

Whether it’s putting up a barricade in a hallway or planning utility shutdowns in the middle of the night to complete scopes of work, the PCL teams always develop a contingency plan and maintain consistent communication. By fostering collaboration from the earliest phases, integrated project teams can address challenges before they arise, allowing for a smoother transition from preconstruction to construction.

Excellence in hospitality construction begins in the preconstruction phase, according to Caleigh Raymer, director of preconstruction and estimating for PCL's California offices. The team takes a comprehensive approach that goes beyond simply estimating costs and timelines. “We delve into every detail, from design elements and guest experience to mechanical systems and budget management,” says Raymer.

PCL's involvement extends beyond traditional construction perspectives. With access to extensive industry data, PCL advises clients based on budget, guest experience and location.

“We don’t just look at a plan and say, ‘This is what it will cost, and this is how long it will take,’” says Raymer. “We look at every little detail to understand and adapt to the needs of our clients, acting as advisors and ensuring the entire integrated team is aligned.”

Once construction begins, PCL’s ability to self-perform key scopes of work — such as concrete, carpentry and finishing — ensures greater control over quality, scheduling and workforce management. The value of these services can be seen in another project in Florida: the Four Seasons Private Residences Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, adjacent to the Four Seasons Resort Orlando.

This complex, high-profile hospitality project is driven by a tight schedule and requires expertise in quality and adaptability. The project is a new mid-rise tower featuring 31 luxury units and is surrounded by residential neighborhoods and Orlando's renowned theme parks. This proximity necessitates meticulous planning and execution.

“When we self-perform concrete on a project, we're steering the ship right from the start,” says Nate Curtis, a PCL superintendent on the project. “We have the majority of the manpower on site, and we create and control the schedule. This allows us to set the tone for the entire project.”

This approach also benefited the Conrad Orlando and The Flats project.

“For a project of that size and profile, self-performing concrete was critical,” says David Keeler, a PCL senior project manager who worked on the project. “Our self-perform work was so beneficial, we started training our employees to self-perform some finishing scopes as well. We have the skills and manpower, which is a win-win for us and our clients, as it helps ensure both schedule and quality.”

This cross-training initiative is a bold demonstration of PCL’s commitment to innovation. By equipping its concrete tradespeople with the skills to self-perform millwork, PCL is proactively addressing the industry's skilled labor shortage. At the Conrad Orlando project, around 40 craft workers were trained to install millwork, leveraging their existing knowledge of PCL’s safety and quality standards. The outcome was a streamlined workflow and high-quality results throughout the project, as well as a stronger team of craft workers with valuable new skills.

Self-performing also provides value for the remote Rocky Mountain projects. “Mountain projects are very isolated, and there isn’t a large population base to meet the demands of the large projects we’re building,” says Meunier. “By self-performing, we can better manage workforce fluctuations by bringing in our own crews. Controlling this variable makes the project more predictable and allows us to meet the goals of our clients.”

The same approach benefits hotel renovations, where maintaining guest satisfaction is crucial.

“Managing the pace of the project through our self-perform work is our bread and butter,” says Julio Vasquez, a construction manager who has worked in PCL’s Hawaii and California offices. Vasquez previously oversaw a renovation at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel in Hawaii, where multiple scopes of work were self-performed. He explains, “When we take charge, we can better ensure a successful project.”

PCL's commitment to self-performing key scopes of work ensures that projects are completed to the highest standards and adhere to clients' schedules, which is crucial for the success of these projects. This approach not only enhances the outcome of high-profile hospitality projects but also provides significant value in remote and challenging locations. With deep industry knowledge, adaptive problem-solving, and a commitment to guest and client satisfaction, PCL continues to lead the way in world-class hospitality construction.