Holiday Inn GW Bridge I Fort Lee, New Jersey

REHAU System 4500 windows help Holiday Inn^® GW Bridge - Fort Lee NYC area achieve IHG^® Green Engage Energy Performance Standards while improving guest experience

The Holiday Inn GW Bridge - Fort Lee NYC Area is a popular reprieve for travelers looking to relax and unwind at the end of their busy day.

“With the caliber of guests that the New York City region attracts, we needed to make some changes to stay competitive,” said Allan Bucsak, hotel general manager. “Our hotel is ideally located near numerous international corporate facilities, medical industry centers and popular tourist destinations, and those looking to stay here expect comfort and convenience, not to mention a good night’s sleep.”

Aiming to enhance overall guest comfort while reducing environmental impact, hotel management commenced a renovation and expansion project that would completely overhaul the property’s exterior facade and building envelope elements, including upgrading all existing windows.

According to Bucsak, the hotel’s designation as an IHG Green Engage Hotel mandated a raised bar in energy performance; each Green Engage property is tasked with reducing annual energy consumption by up to 25 percent. “Sustainability is one of the many important factors scrutinized by today’s savvy traveler,” said Busckak, “and this is a very concrete way to show guests we’re committed to environmental responsibility.”

Hotel management worked with REHAU window and door fabrication partner Kohltech to specify a total of 188 REHAU System 4500 fixed uPVC windows, which would serve as replacements for all existing aluminum-frame windows and accommodate several openings in the newly expanded areas.

“It was immediately clear that they could benefit from using REHAU commercial products,” said Greg Koch, REHAU sales manager, window and door division. “The hotel is near several busy highways and airports contributing significant levels of noise pollution. Wide temperature swings and recent examples of vulnerability to coastal storms further emphasized that the typical aluminum solution was not the answer.”

According to Koch, the hotel’s progressive-thinking management team was keen on embracing the attributes of the REHAU System 4500, including its improved sound, air and water infiltration resistance as well as its exceptional energy cost-reducing thermal performance.

“Renovating a functioning hospitality property is a challenge, particularly when it comes to minimizing guest impact,” Koch said. “Everyone involved, from the property ownership and management team through the manufacturing and installation crew performed seamlessly."

“When we started this project we were simply looking to replace old windows with new ones,” said Bucsak. “Working with REHAU, we learned that we could get so much more than an updated, greatlooking product. Ultimately we have reduced our monthly energy costs by about $1,000, we have reduced the complaints from our guests related to exterior noise by about 75 percent, and we weathered a direct hit by Hurricane Sandy without one drop of water entering the building through the windows. Needless to say, we are extremely satisfied with our decision to install System 4500 windows from REHAU.”