Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best Hotel furniture quality standards

16 Apr.,2024

 

 

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?

  1. ADA Regulations
  2. Materials
  3. Technology
  4. Architectural woodworking standards
  5. 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.

 

 

 

 

Your hotel furniture design needs to meet modern guest expectations. It also needs to fulfill your vision while meeting industry standards for functionality and aesthetics. This AWS hotel furniture design checklist is your key to success.

 

The Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI) is the leading expert on wood product quality, and  the gatekeeper of functional and aesthetic woodwork standards across industries.

All of your wood-based hotel furniture designs - including furniture, casegoods, and finishings - should conform to these standards for the comfort and safety of your guests.

How Do Architectural Woodwork Standards (AWS) Apply to My Hotel Furniture Design?

AWS provide the bare minimum criteria for the concept, design, fabrication, finishing and installation of wood-based hotel furniture.

The purpose of these standards is to help designers to specify hotel furniture and casework that meets the functional and aesthetic requirements of their hotel project.

Quality standards are different based on the Grades of Work you choose:

  • 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.

AWS standards also provide helpful information on:

  • Scope

  • Design best practices

  • Useful materials/products you may not be familiar with

  • Suggestions for processes and materials if you don’t have base specs

  • Minimum material, fabrication, and assembly requirements

  • Minimum installation requirements

  • Ways to verify compliance with these standards

To ensure the quality of your hotel furniture (or check it post-production), you can present AWS standards as guidelines for your manufacturer.

As an AWI certified vendor, our hospitality furniture & casegoods conform to these standards by default. However, if your vendor is not AWI certified, there’s no guarantee your furniture will meet the same standards.

Improve Your Hotel Furniture Design & Enhance Guest Experience [CHECKLIST]

Want your guests to leave happy? Run through the checklist below when you contract with a hotel furniture manufacturer. This ensures your furniture meets both minimum industry standards, your vision, AND modern guest expectations.

If your project is already complete, feel free to use this checklist as a post-mortem review!


AWS Quality Checklist For Hospitality Furniture

Vendor

 

My vendor is AWS pre-qualified

 

My vendor participates in AWS Compliance Programs and will provide status reports throughout the project

 

Concept

 

Budget constraints have been communicated up front

 

I have reviewed material choices with vendor and received guidance on possible changes for cost savings and/or workmanship quality improvements

 

My vendor has provided information on proper care and storage of my hotel furniture based on material choice

 

I have discussed hotel furniture installation with my vendor & considered installation in my design

 

Specifications

 

Language used in specifications is clear and detailed (e.g. “AND” vs. “OR” usage)

 

Special requirements or unusual applications are noted in the specifications

 

Hotel furniture specifications match their Grade of Work

 

Casework that needs refinishing, refacing, or refurbishing has been indicated

 

Hospitality Furniture & Casework Drawings

 

Casework construction type has been indicated

 

If using Cabinet Design Series numbers, there is a floor plan specifying each design number and relative dimensions

 

If not using Cabinet Design Series numbers, elevations include all following items:

 

Basic overall dimensions

 

Dimensions of items with a predetermined/controlled size

 

Dimensions for installation of items/equipment

 

Sliding or hinged doors specified (if hinged, swing is also specified)

 

Thickness of cabinet doors is noted if thicker than 19mm

 

Requirements for installation of unusual equipment

 

If/where locks need to be installed

 

Shelving: location, fixed or adjustable, material, load capacity

 

Type of countertop

 


Want to know more about enhancing guest experience and ensuring hospitality furniture quality? Check out the resources below!

Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best Hotel furniture quality standards

Improve Your Hotel Furniture Design & Enhance Guest Experience [CHECKLIST]