One of the biggest variables that impact a hotel project is when other people or service providers enter the equation. And it’s hard to complete a hotel project of any sort without involving outside entities.
Working with a partner or partners -- for instance, a hospitality furniture vendor -- that aren’t under your direct supervision does mean that certain things are out of your control. Sometimes, your vendors have to contend with obstacles or setbacks that ultimately impact your project.
The best way to prevent their issues from becoming your problems is to develop a hotel supply chain strategy that is robust, yet flexible long before your project starts.
With a developed plan in place, you’ll be better prepared for the element of surprise (also known as the “why did we not catch that?” moment) and be more confident in the final outcome of your project.
Hotel supply chain management for casegoods was already tricky. The COVID-19 pandemic only augmented challenges in the furniture supply chain for the hospitality industry.
Here are five tips that can help you exert more control over the unexpected and keep your project on track from the beginning:
Assemble a team with the right members
Request info on hotel room design requirements
Have a realistic vision for furniture design & manufacturing
Learn about warranty options
Installing the final product
In a perfect world, your hospitality furniture vendor would have a dream team of people only focused on your project. Unfortunately, not all hotel casegoods manufacturers are set up the same or can shift all their resources to working only with you.
When vetting a hotel casegoods furniture manufacturer, make sure the team you’re working with includes:
Estimators
Project managers
Engineers
Installers
When engineers are available on your team, you likely have access to value-engineering options that could save you time and money - don’t forget to ask about this service!
Engineers are experienced in staying true to your design while tweaking things to save money. (For instance, choosing laminate over wood veneer could save several thousand dollars per room.)
Set up a free, 30-minute consultation with a member of our team to learn how we can optimize your hotel casegoods through value engineering.
An optimized hotel room design is crucial for a variety of factors, from furniture layout to electrical requirements.
Ask your hotel furniture vendor for guidelines that outline guest room blocking, wiring, and outlet placement. (A headboard should not cover an electrical outlet, but we’ve seen it happen!) Integrating these guidelines into your casegoods design saves you from having to overcome them later.
No idea is a bad idea. However, not every idea is physically possible to produce within your budget. Here are some common design elements that can easily push you over budget:
Dimensions
Weights
Sensible assembling in factory vs. assembling on site
Hardware
Inadequate furniture protection
There’s nothing like the peace of mind that comes from knowing your casegoods furniture is protected. A standard 5-year warranty should cover any unexpected damage. You hope you never need it, but it’s there so you can replace the product for a fraction of what it would normally cost.
If you’re confident in the product, you may not feel the need to pay extra for a warranty. However, it’s still recommended as a buffer.
An easy thing to forget until the last minute is hotel furniture installation. You should be planning installation at the very beginning of your hotel project so it doesn’t become an unnecessary obstacle right at the finish line.
Here are a few questions to ask when planning for hotel furniture installation:
At what stage of construction will installation take place?
What can we do to reduce and eliminate damage?
Will every piece of furniture fit through a doorway, stairway, or elevator?
Related: Want more information on hotel furniture installation? Contact our sister company CFI for personalized recommendations!
An effective hotel supply chain strategy isn’t only about making sure that your partners are able to complete the job when it’s supposed to be done. Part of meeting the challenges is making sure your ducks are in a row ahead of time so that when the unexpected does happen, its impact is minimal to your budget and timeline.
Download our Custom Hospitality Furniture Production Timeline for Scheduling, Planning & Tracking for an in-depth look at what it takes to make your casegoods:
Check out these related articles for more information:
Meeting Hotel ADA Requirements
What Percentage of Hotel Construction Costs Should Go to Furniture?
5 Ways Custom Hotel Furniture Keeps Your Employees Safe
(Editor’s note: This is a revised edition of a blog originally published March 27, 2017.)