Hotels that care for the outside of their properties are seeing more new guests and repeat business.

Fairmont Sonoma

While spending money on extra landscaping and taking time to clean can be challenging, hotels that do are seeing results.

"I didn't think it was a big thing, but it is amazing the number of people who notice the flowers we plant outside. In looking at the expenses of the property, I think it is worth it," said Jim Makowsky, g.m., AmericInn Lodge & Suites, Oswego, Ill.

In addition to planting perennial flowers, shrubs and trees, Makowsky focuses on cleanliness. The housekeeping staff at the Oswego AmericInn checks the parking lot and the exterior of the building for trash.

"If we care enough about the outside of the property, it sends a message about what the inside is going to be like," Makowsky said.

Hiring full-time maintenance and landscaping staff members who care about the property and its appearance is key.

Landscape assistance

"I'm lucky that I have two great people who really take pride in how the properties look," said Makowsky, who also manages an AmericInn Lodge & Suites in Virginia, Minn.

"Our landscape manager has a passion. If she sees something that doesn't look right, she will rip it up and put in something more spectacular," said Jeff Muscat, director of engineering, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa (Calif.).

The Fairmont's staff also keeps the mission-style buildings looking authentic by properly taking care of the stucco exterior and the tile roofs.

"Tile roofs break easily, so you don't want to walk on them [to clean gutters or make repairs]," Muscat said.

Trees reconnect with their roots

IP casino Resort spa

When Melinda Parker, landscape supervisor at IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi, Miss., began working at the hotel a year ago, she was concerned about trees that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

"All of our trees were struggling. We had branches with no leaves," Parker said.

Then, a local arborist referred Parker to National Tree Preservation. The company improves damaged trees or recently transplanted trees by correcting soil problems and restoring the trees' roots.

Problem prevention

"They're injecting fertilizers and aerating the soil. The trees are coming back, and I'm seeing the turf, shrubs and everything else improve," Parker said.

In addition, Parker works to keep the plants, turf and all greenery healthy, so they require insecticides less often. And when the plants do need to be treated, Parker uses only natural and organic pesticides and insecticides.

"I don't want to kill off all the good bugs. I want to create an ecosystem," Parker said.