2005 Winter Amplifier - Atlas Van Lines

BDS WorldwideThe five-star FourSeasons Resortat Manele Bayon the southernshore of Lana’i,Hawaii comprisesnine buildings ona terraced, cliffsideterrain. FromAugust throughOctober BDSWorldwideorchestratedan efficientsolution for acomplex logisticalchallenge.BDS WorldwideFive-Star Solution:BDS helps ready luxury resortFinding your way to paradise is one thing. But findinga way to furnish paradise is another thing entirely.Over a ninety-day span beginning in August, BDSWorldwide orchestrated a logistics solution for one of theworld’s most enticing destinations, the five-star FourSeasons Resort at Manele Bay on the remote southernshore of Lana’i, Hawaii.“This is one of the most complex challenges we have evermounted,” says Bill Dickerson, Director of Installations. “It’slike putting together a thousand-piece puzzle while someof the pieces keep moving.”The project scope under normal circumstances wouldbe daunting, with 200 luxury rooms plus common areasrequiring ready-for-occupancy furnishing within a narrowtime frame. Add to that the complications that accompanypulling together an inventory from multiple internationalpoints of origin, plus the constant attention required tocue a thousand-plus pieces so delivery and installation areas efficient as possible. But perhaps the biggest hurdle isthe location itself.BDS crews unload containers from the barge that travelsweekly from Honolulu.“Seclusion is a big part of what makes the resort soattractive,” says Bill. “But it is also a big part of what makeslogistics so demanding.”Bill says that everything is first shipped to a warehouse inLos Angeles. From there it is parceled into rooms andloaded into 20-foot sea containers. The total job comprises70 such containers.“At Honolulu the containers are transferred fromsteamship to a barge that makes a weekly trip to the portat Lana’i,” says Bill. “There is no warehouse on the island,and we can only stage three containers at a time. So wemust take extra care to cue them in the right order.”At destination, BDS crews are assisted by a select team oflocal workers. Deliveries require extensive dollying and handmaneuvering across the terraced, cliffside grounds. In thefinal stage, BDS crews perform complete installation of TVs,artwork, mirrors, case goods, furniture and bedding tomake rooms ready for occupancy.Synchronized Information SystemsTo perform the physical aspect of the project, BDSmaintains tight control over the information that affectstimes and events.“The complexities of this project required that weupgrade our information systems,” says Stephanie Brown,Vice President, BDS Operations. “As a result, our systeminterfaces with the client’s system through a daily filetransfer that informs both of us. An efficient system forsharing and using information is vital.”Stephanie says that BDS and Four Seasons beganworking together about three years ago. “Our relationshiphas become a partnership, with BDS providing a resourcefor complete logistics solutions including freightmanagement, warehousing and installation.”Currently BDS is serving Four Seasons on a variety ofhospitality projects involving both new construction andrenovation—and is bidding on several more. Four SeasonsDesign and Procurement has listed BDS as a preferredvendor on its web site, a recommendation producingleads to other quality-conscious hospitality clients.“We work well with Four Seasons in that ourcommitment to service excellence fits their need,”BDS Project Supervisor Steven Dickerson receives inventory,a daily task that involves an accounting for the contents of5 to 7 containers.BDS Project Supervisor Jeff Brittingham reviews handling andplacement details with crew members.says Stephanie. “When we take a project on, we do so withthe full commitment to work through all the little wrinklesand deliver according to our client’s trust. In the process wehave earned the respect and trust of their other vendors.All of this contributes to our mutual success.”14 Atlas Amplifier • Winter 2005 Atlas Amplifier • Winter 2005 15