Whether you’re seeking contemporary or trendy, traditional or transitional. Choosing guest room furniture that appeals to your target audience can prove to become a daunting task.
But knowing what furniture specifications to ask your hotel furniture manufacturer can put minds at ease.
What Hospitality Furniture Specs Should You Be Mindful Of?
- ADA Regulations
- Materials
- Technology
- Architectural woodworking standards
- Warranty
Here’s a little bit more about why these things are so important to clarify up front with your hotel furniture manufacturer:
1.ADA Regulations
In 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) established a series of accessible design requirements for the construction of hotels and other lodging facilities that apply to the design of ADA hotel rooms.
An experienced casegoods manufacturer will explain to you that your choice of furniture and how it’s incorporated into your hotel design plays a vital role. For example, we know that space is already at a premium in the hotel industry. Your design will need to meet the following criteria for guests using wheelchairs or other mobility devices:
Entrances to guest rooms and restrooms with at least 32” of clear passage and 54” of space on both sides of the door for 360 degrees of rotation
- Beds, chairs, and other furniture situated with at least 32” of clear passage for mobility
- Beds 20-23” in height from the floor to the top of the mattress
- Unhindered access to electrical outlets and data ports without stooping, kneeling, or reaching
Before you open your doors, make sure you’re in compliance.
2. Materials
Selecting appropriate materials and finishes for your guestroom casegoods require considering more than just aesthetics. Hospitality furniture specifications for any high-traffic, commercial setting must be:
- durable,
- functional,
- and meet budgetary needs of the project.
Note: While the more durable material may be the more expensive one, ultimately if you are getting more years out of your casegoods than you would by choosing the cheaper material -- you are saving both time and money.
3. Technology
The demand to incorporate technology into today’s furniture specifications is more complex than ever. From smart guestrooms to robot concierge service, keyless entry to green technology, one thing is for sure, guests want access.
And while it may require a pricey initial investments for hoteliers, the financial rewards are vast.
So, what can you expect to provide? While nobody can predict the future, current trends that have been picked up by millennial influencers can point us in the direction of where guests' demands will be within a decade or two from now.
4. Architectural Woodworking Standards
Designing and purchasing hotel guestroom casegoods that not only appeal to your target guest demographic while meeting the industry standards for functionality, can be overwhelming.
The Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI) is the hospitality industry expert on wood product quality, and the gatekeeper of functional and aesthetic woodwork standards. It is important that you ensure the quality of your hotel furniture by presenting AWS standards, for your specific project, as guidelines for your manufacturer:
AWI Grades of Work include:
- Economy Grade specs mean you’re getting the minimum requirements for workmanship, materials, or installation.
- Typically applies to wood products that are out of public view, so your hospitality furniture should not fall into this category.
- Custom Grade is specified for most high-quality wooden hotel furniture. Custom-level specs give a designer more wiggle room in their concept.
- Premium Grade is reserved for high-use and high-profile furniture and casegoods. Specifying Premium Grade woodwork means you’re getting the highest quality materials, production, and/or installation.
5. Warranty
In the hospitality industry, reputation is everything and competition is fierce. Providing exceptional service and a high-quality product only gets you the opportunity; it is what happens after the product is installed that makes a lasting relationship.
A guestroom casegoods manufacturer should not only engineer and manufacture commercial-grade products for your hotel, they should abide by the industry standard, 5-year warranty. Ideally, you’ll never have to use it. But a hotel furniture warranty is a critical piece to your hospitality design project.
