Ep 2. Futility Closet

In season 7 episode 2 of Hotel Impossible, entitled "Futility Closet," host Anthony Melchiorri travels to a struggling hotel in Ocean City, Maryland. The establishment, Futility Closet, is owned by a family who invested their life savings into the property. However, after four years of operations, they find themselves in deep financial trouble and unable to attract enough guests to sustain their business.

Anthony begins his assessment of the hotel by observing the exterior and interior of the building. He notes that the outside is in decent shape, but the lobby is too cluttered with decorations and lacks a clear direction and purpose. Upon further inspection of the rooms, he discovers that they are poorly kept and in need of major repairs, including fixing mold issues and outdated furnishings.

Anthony meets with the hotel owners to discuss their financial situation and the challenges they have faced in their business. He advises them to focus on their strengths, including their prime location near the beach, and shift their marketing efforts to target specific demographics.

To turn things around, Anthony puts together a team of designers and contractors to revamp the hotel rooms and re-design the lobby to create a more inviting atmosphere for guests. He also implements new management practices, such as a more streamlined system for maintenance requests and guidelines for cleaning staff.

Throughout the episode, Anthony faces challenges in implementing his changes due to pushback from some of the hotel staff and unexpected issues that arise during renovations. However, he remains determined to help the family and turn their struggling hotel around.

In the end, the hotel owners are pleased with the changes that have been made and are optimistic about the future of their business. Anthony leaves them with valuable advice on how to continue improving and growing their operation.

Overall, the episode "Futility Closet" showcases the challenges faced by a small business in a competitive market and the impact that effective management and renovations can have in turning things around.