Hotels trim costs at edges

It’s a brutal recession for South Florida hotels, so hoteliers are
searching for ways to keep up the aesthetic touches guests appreciate, while
still controlling costs as revenues decline. Pelican Grand Beach Resort general
manager Barry Frommer said switching flower vendors cut the flower expense by $6,000 —
not a lot, but every bit helps in tough times. In Delray Beach,
Colony Hotel and Spa owner Jestena Boughton consolidated office supply vendors to maximize her
discounts. Employees are also learning to do more jobs to control labor costs.