Of course, you want to create the ultimate environment for your hotel guests. However, you don’t need to break the bank to do so. This guide offers tips to help you purchase the hotel furnishings, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) you need to deliver the ultimate guest experience at an affordable price.

Plan Ahead

The first step toward saving money on hotel furnishing procurement is to allow yourself enough time to plan ahead. Give yourself the space to develop a clear vision of your design concept, layout, budget, and timeline. Planning helps avoid rush orders, last-minute changes, and inflated shipping costs. It also allows you to compare suppliers, FF&E options, and expenses. Planning will also help you avoid mistakes that can significantly inflate your budget, such as ordering the wrong size, number, color, or type of furnishing.

Planning also allows you to partner more effectively with a hotel furnishings procurement company like The Stroud Group, which can help you explore your options for finding top-quality materials at prices you can afford.

Negotiate With Suppliers

Another way to save money on hotel furnishing procurement is to make it a point to negotiate with suppliers. This means finding reputable vendors willing to work with you to deliver items at competitive prices, discounts, and warranties.

Negotiating with vendors will allow you to get the best value for your money. It can also help build trust, which could lead to long-term relationships. Some things you can negotiate with suppliers over are bulk discounts, free delivery, installation, maintenance services, and flexible payment terms.

Tip: Use your network and ask for referrals to find the best deals and suppliers.

Not comfortable with negotiating? The professionals at The Stroud Group can leverage our expertise to find the furnishings you need at highly competitive prices.

Consider Custom-Made Furniture

It may seem counterintuitive, but another way to save money on hotel FF&E procurement is to look into custom-made furniture. Believe it or not, custom hotel furnishings can be more cost-effective than ready-made furniture in some instances.

Custom furnishings help create a one-of-a-kind distinctive design that perfectly reflects your brand identity and vision. It can also optimize a space and its functionality by fitting your furniture to specific dimensions, requirements, and preferences.

Custom furnishings are typically more durable and sustainable than mass-produced items, saving you money on repairs and replacement over time.

Not sure how to get access to custom-designed and made hotel furnishings? The experts at The Stroud Group are always available to help by introducing you to our extensive network of custom furnishing suppliers.

Select Versatile and Durable Furnishings

It can be tempting to choose cheap furniture and other things to save money. This can be a big mistake. It’s smarter to select versatile and durable furniture that is also cost-effective. Choose items that can serve different purposes and be used in various settings that can hold up to wear and tear. Versatile and durable furniture allows you to make the most of your space by allowing you to rearrange, repurpose, or reuse items as needed.

Good quality furnishings will help you reduce maintenance and replacement costs because they will last longer and perform better.

Don’t feel confident about being able to determine which furnishings are durable, flexible, and cost-effective versus those that are just plain cheap? The experts at The Stroud Group are always available to help guide you to the right choices.

Take Advantage of Recycled or Reclaimed Furnishings

The final way to save on hotel furniture procurement is to use recycled or reclaimed pieces. This includes items made from materials that are salvaged, refurbished, or repurposed from other sources. Purchasing recycled and reclaimed items can help you save money on material and manufacturing costs. Plus, it’s good for the environment.

On top of this, using reclaimed materials can create a unique and distinctive design that showcases creativity and social responsibility. Recycled or reclaimed furniture adds character and charm to your hospitality operation because pieces come with a story or historical connotation.

Saving Money on Hotel Furnishings: The Bottom Line

It is possible to save money on hotel furnishings and still get great distinctive pieces. You just need to know how to do it right. Use the five tips in this article to guide you. You can also contact The Stroud Group for expert support in securing the FF&E you need at a price you can afford.

The Internet of Things is not only taking over people’s homes. It’s becoming a big part of hotel rooms, as well.

From access to streaming services to controlling lighting via smartphone, more and more parts of the hospitality guest experience are going digital.

Hotel guests today expect concierge services or temperature controls at the tap of a finger. On top of this, voice-activated controls are moving beyond asking Alexa to play a favorite movie or television show.

Some of these trends might seem a long way off, but in the near future, guests will demand them, avoiding hotels that don’t offer them. Many tech innovations require only minimal changes to guest rooms, which means a hotel company that implements them quickly could attract a significant amount of new business.

This guide explains some of the latest innovative technology that’s becoming part of the hotel experience and how to procure the furnishings, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) that guests will expect in the future.

Top Smart Lodging Trends

Bring your own streaming

Portable streaming devices like the Amazon Fire Stick make it possible for guests to bring along their own entertainment on trips. However, they can only access them on a large screen if the hotel television has an accessible USB port.  Another option: Hotels can offer a platform like Enseo, which allows guests to log in to their streaming accounts. They’re automatically logged out when they check out.

Wireless device charging

More and more devices today are wireless. People are set up for this at home but often forget to bring cables and plugs on trips. That’s why the best hotels enhance the guest experience by offering charging mats that transfer power to devices like smartphones or headphones.  Hotels can leverage a platform like Kadence to deliver wireless charging in guest rooms.

Smart controls

People love their at-home smart control systems like Nest. They enable control of things like light, temperature, and power from smartphones or other devices. It can seem like a letdown to visitors when this level of convenience is not available in a hotel.

Tablet controls

Guests no longer have patience for the old-school binder containing information about hotel services. Instead, they want to see restaurant hours, room service menus, spa services, and area recommendations on an in-room tablet. Guests can also use it to play music, control the room’s lights and temperature, and request help and services. Some popular hospitality-related brands include Crestron, INTELITY, SuitePad, and Crave.

Voice-activated controls

Upgrade a smart speaker (think Amazon Alexa) to handle hotel-specific requests with a system like Volara. It makes it possible for guests to use voice commands to request services like housekeeping or room service.

Smart mirrors

People have been installing these high-tech amenities in their homes for years. Now, they expect them in hotel rooms, especially higher-end ones.

It adds a TV screen to a bathroom mirror. While putting on makeup or brushing their teeth, guests can watch television or request hotel services.

Concierge video chat

After scanning a QR code, systems such as Crave allow hotel guests to talk, text, or video chat with hotel staff in real time. It eliminates the need to walk to the front desk or make a call to get answers to questions or get reservations. It allows staff to handle requests quickly and effectively.

Smart televisions

Many hotel guests prefer to view their favorite Netflix or Max show rather than being forced to watch basic cable. A Smart TV with an integrated internet connection or an add-on like Apple TV or Roku makes it possible. It allows guests to select their favorite streaming service from various apps. Samsung and LG are leaders when it comes to smart televisions appropriate for hospitality businesses.

Get the Help You Need to Procure Smart and Smart-Compatible Hotel Devices and Furnishings

Not every hospitality procurement company is able to guide hotel design teams to the Smart items they want and need. The Stroud Group is different. We have a long history of staying current with industry trends, including the current smart revolution. Learn more about The Stroud Group and contact a friendly and knowledgeable representative to discuss your FF&E procurement needs.

Beyond being collections of rooms, hotels are experiences that should delight guests, leaving them content, wanting to visit again, and willing to make recommendations to friends.

Behind every hotel that accomplishes these things is a team of experienced professionals who dream up and create the experience, including owners, designers, manufacturers, architects, general contractors, and FF&E and OS&E procurement companies. While each plays a critical role, a procurement firm helps identify suitable materials and vendors, securing the perfect items to deliver the experience you imagine (or more) on time and at the best possible price.

Here are the four biggest mistakes hotel companies make when they choose procurement companies, which usually results in selecting the wrong one.

Mistake 1: Not Being On the Same Page

Excellent communication is central to an effective hotel buying experience.

With today’s rapid room turnover rate, fitting in renovations around guest scheduling is a huge challenge in the hospitality industry. Another headache for hoteliers: Big projects with many complex components. Furniture delivery, acceptance, assembly, and placement must be treated on an equal footing with construction work. And the only way the entire procurement process can roll out perfectly is to ensure everyone is on the same page and stays that way through constant, effective communication.

The right FF&E and OS&E procurement company will confirm when designs are expected as samples, production will be finished, approvals take place, and products arrive at the location.

Always ensure a hospitality procurement provider has excellent systems in place to facilitate communications.

Mistake 2: Not Being Copasetic

You have a unique vision for your hospitality property. Make sure your hospitality procurement supplier understands it and can deliver on it. Many firms are one-size-fits-all, only able to provide for big, bland hotel companies. Others may be too edgy or avant-garde to be able to consider a simpler style.

Never be afraid to request portfolios and recommendations. A professional procurement company will have no problem providing both.

Remember, you are purchasing the furnishings that will create your hospitality experience for years to come. Partnering with the right experts will ensure you secure the materials you need.

Mistake 3: Not Working With a Genuine Partner

Do you want to work with a firm that’s an outsider or a genuine extension of your company?

Of course, with something as personal and closely connected to your brand as purchasing hotel furnishings, you want to feel that everyone involved in the process is an extension of your team.

Hospitality space design and development can’t be effective if you feel you are handing over any part of the process to someone not integrally connected to your team. You need to feel a genuine sense of connection between you and the people executing your vision for the space.

That’s why it’s critical to do a vibe check before engaging an FF&E and OS&E procurement firm. Like dating, ask the right questions to determine whether you’re a match.

Mistake 4: Lacking Access to Information

How do you know your hospitality design and development experience will be completed successfully?

The key is access to accurate and timely information.

Always take time to learn about a procurement firm’s information-sharing, and that its systems and software are top-notch and will be effective for the people in your organization. Don’t take a company’s word for it. Test their solutions and see if you’re comfortable with them and that they’ll be effective for your firm. Also, ensure they will integrate quickly and effectively with the systems and software your company uses.

Common Procurement Firm Selection Errors: The Final Word

It’s easy for even the best hospitality management businesses to select the wrong partner. That’s why it’s critical to do your due diligence and identify one that will be a perfect fit for you. The experts at The Stroud Group are always available to discuss your FF&E procurement needs and answer any questions you have about working together.

Planning a Casino Renovation or Expansion Project? Here’s What You Need to Know

Casinos are unique when it comes to hospitality properties. Guests have different expectations for these destinations, especially when compared to more traditional lodgings.

This guide explains what you must know to plan and develop your property correctly and get the right furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) and operating supplies and equipment (OS&E) to satisfy your casino guests and deliver an optimal experience.

Start with Your Vision for the Casino

It’s important to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve before getting started on any project. Consider what type of experience you want your customers to have when they visit your property and let that guide the entire process. Do you want an upscale Vegas-style experience or something more relaxed and leisurely? Are there any special features or amenities that will make your casino stand out from the competition? Create a plan that captures all of these elements and use it as your roadmap throughout the process.

Know Your Casino Customers

The key to any successful business strategy is understanding your audience. Before you begin any sort of design process for your casino, do some research into who your target customers are and what they want from an experience in your establishment. Are they looking for a luxurious night out? Or are they simply seeking entertainment? Knowing this information will help you create a plan that meets their needs and keeps them coming back again and again.

Formulate Your Budget

Creating a detailed budget is crucial when it comes to any remodeling or construction project, including casinos. Having an accurate budget will help you determine how much money you need and where it should be allocated including critical later-phase components like FF&E and OS&E. It also prevents unforeseen complications that could arise due to a lack of funds or mismanagement of resources. This is especially true if there are any unexpected costs that arise during the course of the renovations – such as upgrades or changes in materials – as those additional expenses can quickly add up and throw off your entire timeline if not managed properly.

Design Your Casino Layout

The layout of your casino will determine how customers navigate through it and which games they are most likely to play. When deciding on a layout, consider factors such as foot traffic patterns, lighting levels, sound levels, seating arrangements, game type placement, etc., all of which can affect the customer experience in subtle but important ways.  Also consider incorporating features such as kiosks or touchscreens that allow customers to access additional information about different games or promotions quickly and easily.

Develop the Visual Elements for Your Casino

Once you have chosen the perfect layout for your casino project, it’s time to start designing the visual environment. This includes everything from choosing furniture and fixtures that match the overall aesthetic of your building to selecting artwork that reflects its theme or brand identity. You should also pay special attention to any audio or visual elements in gaming areas such as slot machines or table games; these elements should be designed and laid out with customer engagement in mind at all times!

Choose Professionals Experienced in Casino Projects

Selecting experienced contractors who understand gaming and casino regulations and other issues is key.  A contractor with vast experience working on casino projects will be able to anticipate any potential issues along the way and help guide the process toward success. They should be well-versed in relevant gaming regulations so there are no unexpected delays due to non-compliance issues.

At The Stroud Group, we leverage our vast network of contacts in the gaming industry along with our expertise in managing projects from start to finish to ensure nothing gets overlooked during renovations or expansions. You can rest assured knowing that we can deliver the furniture, fixtures, and equipment and operating supplies and equipment you need on time and on budget.

So no matter how big (or small) a casino project may be, having experienced professionals manage it can save time, money, and headaches down the line! Stroud Group has partnered with casinos internationally to create one-of-a-kind experiences that keep customers coming back again and again—so contact us today if you’re ready to get started on your next exciting venture!

If you’re a hotel owner or manager, chances are you’ve had to renovate your property at some point. And if you’re embarking on a new hotel project, you’ll definitely need the services of a hotel procurement company. But with so many hotel procurement companies and options out there, how do you choose the right one? Here are four things to look for when selecting a hotel procurement company.