Building Smarter: How WaterWalk Hotels Enhanced Accountability with OnsiteIQ

WaterWalk Hotels, a hybrid hotel and apartment brand, was seeking ways to streamline its construction and project management processes across multiple locations. OnsiteIQ transformed WaterWalk’s approach to tracking project progress, reducing delays, and enhancing accountability.

Founded by industry pioneer Jack DeBoer, WaterWalk brings a new take on extended-stay hotels and corporate housing, providing guests with the comforts of home alongside the convenience of hotel services. What sets WaterWalk apart in the industry is its commitment to combining the comfort of home with the services of a hotel. Guests enjoy the convenience of hotel amenities such as housekeeping, utilities, and internet. At the same time, long-term residents benefit from the flexibility of a traditional apartment lease without the extra hassle of setup. To support expanding their footprint across the U.S., WaterWalk sought more efficient ways to manage their construction projects at scale. OnsiteIQ has helped streamline WaterWalk’s development processes, reduce inefficiencies, and support its growth strategy.

Before adopting OnsiteIQ, WaterWalk faced several challenges in managing its construction projects. These challenges became especially prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic when travel restrictions complicated their ability to oversee developments.

“We heavily relied on traditional methods, such as weekly project coordination calls involving the project owner, architect, and contractors, as well as monthly site inspections, where we would capture around 100 photos of the project’s progress manually. It was incredibly inefficient,” Jim Strawn, SVP of Development at WaterWalk Hotels, describes. Yet this method became highly unreliable, “inevitably, you’d come back three months later looking for a specific photo, and it wasn’t there.”

This gap in documentation meant that WaterWalk sometimes needed more crucial evidence for troubleshooting issues or verifying project status. This created inefficiencies, particularly when trying to validate the accuracy of what contractors were reporting or when disputes arose on-site.
Moreover, Jim highlighted how time and travel costs added unnecessary burdens for senior executives. Visiting job sites took two full days of productivity, often leading to disruptions in managing other projects or from discovering new development sites. This was a costly endeavor, both in terms of money and missed opportunities elsewhere.

OnsiteIQ introduced a robust solution that addressed WaterWalk’s challenges through detailed site documentation and progress tracking. The platform enabled virtual monitoring of projects, with weekly visual updates to complement monthly inspections.

Jim emphasized OnsiteIQ’s utility in managing project schedules:

“Time is money for us. OnsiteIQ allows us to verify what the contractor tells us about the project schedule and ensure it’s accurate based on what’s happening in the field.”

The platform also proved invaluable for resolving conflicts. Jim shared an example of identifying the cause of a post-opening leak:

“We were able to see from OnsiteIQ’s documentation that drywall had been stacked against a PVC pipe during construction, which likely caused the leak. This accountability helped us resolve the issue with the contractor.”

Enhanced Project Monitoring &
Improved Documentation and Accountability

Across all of its projects, WaterWalk continues to save, on average, at least two days of productivity per week by reducing the need for frequent on-site inspections. These savings come not only from the reduced travel but also from the ability to focus on other projects without interruption. In addition, having detailed, accurate records also helps to mitigate delays sooner and unexpected costs related to project disputes, especially when problems arise months after certain construction phases are completed. 

OnsiteIQ’s data helped WaterWalk improve its decision-making process. Jim explains, “The platform allows us to manage the project schedules more accurately and efficiently and predict outcomes sooner.” By comparing the real-time data provided by OnsiteIQ with the contractors’ reports, WaterWalk can ensure that they are staying on track and delivering expected results as intended. This also allows them to benchmark projects and use historical data for future developments.

Time and Cost Savings & 
Facilitating Strategic Decision-Making

Across all of its projects, WaterWalk continues to save, on average, at least two days of productivity per week by reducing the need for frequent on-site inspections. These savings come not only from the reduced travel but also from the ability to focus on other projects without interruption.

In addition, having detailed, accurate records also helps to mitigate delays sooner and unexpected costs related to project disputes, especially when problems arise months after certain construction phases are completed. 

OnsiteIQ’s data helped WaterWalk improve its decision-making process. Jim explains, “The platform allows us to manage the project schedules more accurately and efficiently and predict outcomes sooner.” By comparing the real-time data provided by OnsiteIQ with the contractors’ reports, WaterWalk can ensure that they are staying on track and delivering expected results as intended. This also allows them to benchmark projects and use historical data for future developments.

The adoption of OnsiteIQ has transformed how WaterWalk Hotels manages its construction projects. By providing real-time monitoring, detailed documentation, and valuable data insights, OnsiteIQ helped WaterWalk save time, reduce costs, and ensure accountability across multiple stakeholders. “OnsiteIQ allows you to verify that what the contractor is telling you is accurate based on what’s happening in the field.” By enhancing efficiency and transparency, OnsiteIQ became an essential tool for WaterWalk as they continue to expand their portfolio.