Gold Key PHR Laundry Services

Prior to 2005, each property owned and managed by Professional Hospitality Resources were responsible for processing their own linen and terry. The Executive Housekeepers were responsible for overseeing this function at each individual hotel and resort. Several properties handled the service for other PHR locations that needed the service. All terry and linen were hand folded and not ironed. Staffs, with other responsibilities in these locations, were often called upon to assist in the laundry. Each property was responsible for maintaining and replacing their equipment.

PHR recognized that an opportunity existed whereby the laundry function could be consolidated. By moving this function into one building away from the beach, expensive beach front real estate would be freed up for other purposes, a laundry specialist could be hired with the skill set to properly handle the process, more efficient equipment could be used and product could be ironed resulting in a better finished look.

In 2005, PHR opened the Central Laundry to service the needs of its managed and owned portfolio of restaurants, hotels, and timeshares.

The Central Laundry is located at 596 South Birdneck Road in Virginia Beach. The 19,000 square foot facility houses the central laundry as well as 4,000 square feet for office space. Contained within the 14,000 square feet of production space is a state-of-the-art processing plant featuring an eight chamber Pellerin Milnor continuous batch washer in conjunction with three commercial grade high quality dryers for washing and drying linen. The washed linen is automatically ironed, folded and stacked by employing high production rate Chicago Dryer flatware irons and folding equipment. The terry items are automatically folded and stacked by utilizing Chicago Dryer small piece folders.

The Director of Laundry Operations and his Assistant Manager oversee a staff of 24 associates. In season, the laundry runs 7 days a week. The plant is capable of producing 15,500 pounds of linen in an 8-hour period.

It is the goal of ownership to expand into the market (outside Gold Key/PHR Managed Assets) in 2007. The laundry was built with this expanded capacity factored in.