Catering for the public is a noble challenge, and hoteliers are in the hot seat more than most. Your guests expect a certain standard inside and out; if you can’t give it to them, they wont hesitate to go somewhere else, instead of flocking back with smiles and suitcases before the season’s over.
Increasingly, outdoor décor has become the barometer of a hotel’s success, at least in terms of its social persuasions. How you deck your gardens, pool area or patio is crucial for encouraging guests to mingle and frolic in your accomplishments. And we’ve got some smashing ideas for doing it…
Showcase dining
Eating outdoors in fine weather cannot be beaten. Hearing the lazy drone of a bee, squinting as the sun breaks through a stream of cloud, is all the more sumptuous when a plate of oysters or a well-cooked steak is in front of you.
Hotel guests are likely to share this view, which is why your outdoor dining space should be of paramount importance. Wooden decking is a brilliant base for table and chair arrangements, offering visitors some variety as they walk through your grounds. Invest in corner chairs to make the most of your available room, with cushions to make those candlelit drinks more cosy.
Water features
The trickling sound of water from a stone trout’s mouth is something special. Most people don’t encounter water features very regularly, so they’re a decent shot at exoticism or, if you have the budget, stateliness.
You can place a fountain, for instance, in the hub of your garden area, impressing anyone who happens to walk by. Alternatively, stainless steel waterfalls make for a regal welcome if they’re at the front of the building, although you’ll have to provide adequate space for guests to manoeuvre wide luggage to the door.
Plants and flowers
A touch of greenery can do wonders for exterior appearances. There’s no rhyme or reason to it; people simply appreciate the presence of nature, no matter how limited it is with a venue’s basic structure. Sprinkle yellow, violet and red flowers on the flanks of your pathways, and think about the impression a pair of bonsai trees can have outside your reception.
Parasols with a twist
If you’ve invested in an outdoor dining area, or sun loungers for your spa, you’ll need parasols to move with the sun, tying a social area together under one shade. Our commercial parasols are honed for hoteliers; with just a single, giant canopy above a huddle of collapsible chairs, you can form an all-weather shelter for your guests to take refuge from the heat or the rain.
Alternatively, individual parasols will give an element of privacy to a table for two or a secluded spot by a pool. They’ll add some eye-catching points to your outdoor set-up, influencing the ordered sensibilities of surrounding furniture.
Hotel owners always need to be one step ahead of customers’ expectations. By implementing these changes to your spatial planning, you’ll give guests a visual sucker punch they won’t forget, and see your reputation climb ever higher. Check out our selection of commercial parasols, or get in touch for more ways to evolve your outdoor area.