SPONSOR Creature comforts P James Porter is national sales manager at Remeha Commercial Web: www.remeha.co.uk @RemehaUK Twitter: lanning a weekend away? Taking out gym membership? When it comes to evaluating a leisure centre or hotel, the efficiency of the building infrastructure is rarely the first factor that springs to mind. Yet, who chooses to work out in a gym that is too hot, or swim in a pool that is too cold, or shower in just a dribble of lukewarm water? Whether consciously or unconsciously, we allow the effective building services in these facilities to form one of our top requirements for a five-star rating. Poor ventilation, inadequate heating and cold showers dramatically undermine the all-important comfort factor for visitors and guests. So, while the boilers, hot water cylinders, ventilation and air conditioning might not seem the most exciting elements in the building design, they can literally transform the visitors experience. Profitability is a key driver for hoteliers and leisure centre operators. This supplement highlights how investing in best-quality products and building services can support greater profitability. Todays high efficiency technology requires reduced energy for operation with lower running costs, while more effective building services can also promote positive customer ratings for increased future custom. Advances in design further support profitability: in the heating sector, for example, reliable, flexible installation solutions accommodate every requirement, speeding up installation and minimising disruption. Maximising client comfort and safety is a main objective of the hotel and leisure industry, and one that investment in high performance building services can help achieve. Perhaps TripAdvisor should add a building services category to its ratings summary after all.