Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase cleaning supplies for hotel furniture

Furniture for hotels requires powerful cleaning supplies that will not overwhelm the room with fragrances and will not damage the furniture. If possible, purchase cleaners that are specially made for use on various hotel furniture surfaces, including wood, fabric and metal. Additionally, you want cleaning agents that work fast and are available in bulk at a good price.

I recommend: Check out Twin Supply for a good selection of furniture cleaning supplies at low prices. The company has warehouses across the country for fast shipping. Global Equipment Company has a large inventory of cleaning agents, cloths and buckets. The company bills itself as the high-quality, low-cost leader.

Purchase pillows and cushions for hotel furnishings

Attractive pillows and cushions can really add to your hotel furniture. You want to pick something that is soft and comfortable yet resistant to stains and easy to clean.

I recommend: Hotelpillow.com sells pillows that are used in hotels around the world. The company offers free shipping anywhere in the United States and promises hassle-free returns. Cushion Source sells cushions for sofas, chairs, ottomans and benches. Cushions are available in 50 solid colors and even more designer prints. You can also order custom cushions.

Purchase linens for hospitality furniture

Hotel furniture linens are often one of the things a guest remembers the most about a hotel. Here quality matters. You want warm, cozy and attractive sheets, blankets and bed spreads that will stand up to hundreds of washings without wearing or fading.

I recommend: Hotel Linen Source is a wholesale linen distributor that specializes in supplying the hospitality industry. The company promises its bedding is comfortable and durable. For hotel linens that have a high thread count and do not require ironing, check out the catalog from National Hospitality Supply. Linens are available in bulk quantities at discounted prices.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before purchasing large quantities of any product, ask if you can get a sample. Then try it on your hotel furnishings and ask your staff members for their opinions of the product.

Guide to Hotel Furniture

High-quality new and used hotel furniture is key in your quest for hospitality success

By Matt Alderton

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Invest in new hotel furniture when you need pieces that will last

New hotel furniture is worth the money when you need specialty items, custom pieces or wow-inspiring hospitality furniture for lobbies or special suites.

I recommend: Connect with a wealth of hospitality furniture vendors online courtesy of the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s Ultimate Hotel Buyers Guide.

Consider buying used hotel furniture from hotel furniture liquidators

When hotels go out of business or initiate a redesign or remodel, they often recruit hotel furniture liquidators to sell off their entire supply of hospitality furniture. A hotel furniture sale that includes liquidated inventory is a great place to find high-quality hospitality furniture at affordable prices.

I recommend: Hotel furniture liquidators selling used hotel furniture include companies like AMC Liquidators, Tiger Hotel Furniture and LTL Hotel Liquidators.

Hire an interior designer to buy your hospitality furniture for you

Design professionals specializing in hospitality spaces can do all your hotel furniture shopping for you. And because they typically have relationships with suppliers, they can often score deals on hospitality furniture.

I recommend: Consultants specializing in the hospitality industry include HVS, Hirsch Bedner Associates, Alternate Resources and Judd Brown Designs, all of which provide interior design and hospitality furniture purchasing services for hotels.

Make your biggest hotel furniture purchases at trade shows

Hospitality industry gatherings are ideal places to hunt for hotel furniture bargains. Wholesale hospitality furniture vendors often have a presence there and are willing to negotiate with buyers who are placing large orders.

I recommend: Perhaps the industry’s largest trade show is the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show, which attracts dozens of hospitality furniture vendors every year.

Buy hotel furniture for your home

Hotel furniture isn't just for hotels; it can be perfect for homes, too. Consider shopping directly with hotels or with hotel furniture liquidators to secure hotel-quality luxury for your own private sanctuary.

I recommend: You can buy hotel furniture and accessories for your home -- including those awesome hotel beds -- online from the Hilton, the Hyatt, the Peabody, the Radisson, the W, the Westin and the Wyndham.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Hotel furniture should be functional, but should also fit with your hotel's concept and theme. Don't purchase traditional hotel furniture, for example, if your hotel has a contemporary theme, no matter how good the deals are at the hotel furniture sale.
• •  When you're shopping for hotel furniture, pay close attention to fabrics; look for wear and stain resistant upholstery that's as durable as it is pretty.
• •  In order to stay competitive, consider purchasing trend-conscious hotel furniture. Forward-thinking hotels should invest in entertainment centers that are made for flat-panel TVs, for example, or in pieces that are made with sustainable lumber in accordance with green building practices.
• •  The best hospitality furniture vendors have more than hotel furniture for sale; full-service vendors also offer unique services such as hotel furniture installation, restoration, moving and storage.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase new furniture for hotels

t doesn't take long to realize you can spend as much or as little as you want on hotel furniture. The price range is huge. A bed and nightstand set could cost as little as $700 or as much as $3,000. Throw in a dresser, television stand and desk, and you could pay an additional $1,000 to $5,000. It all comes down to matching the right quality and style to your budget.

I recommend: Hotel Furniture Center has one of the largest selections of furniture for hotels in the world. The company supplies small and large hotels and resorts. National Hospitality Supply has more than 7,000 items in its catalog of hotel furnishings and supplies.

Find wholesale hotel furniture

If you're looking to save money on hospitality furniture but you still want to purchase new furniture, consider buying wholesale hotel furniture. Prices vary greatly, depending on what exactly you are buying, but generally, an entire bedroom set will cost you between $1,000 and $5,000.

I recommend: AAA Furniture Wholesale specializes in selling hotel furnishings at wholesale prices. Browse the company's model rooms online for ideas on what is available. Phoenix International Hotel Articles has a good selection of wholesale furniture for hotel rooms and hotel reception areas.

Get deals on used hotel furnishings

With upscale hotels changing their furnishings often and other hotels liquidating their assets, you'll find it is quite easy to locate used hotel furniture for sale. Used hotel furniture will save you big bucks -- you'll often find used chairs, beds, desks and benches for 50% to 70% less than new furniture. For example, you can find used desks and chairs for $250 and used bedroom sets for $500. Just be sure it is in good condition before you purchase it.

I recommend: Zen Cart's Hotel Furniture Liquidators boasts that it is the nation's largest furniture liquidator. Located in Las Vegas, the company is constantly getting new stock of luxury hotel furnishings. Hotel Surplus Outlet also specializes in hotel furniture liquidation. The company's reps are constantly seeking out high-quality used lodging furnishings.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you are ordering a large amount of furniture for hotels, be sure to ask about a volume discount.
• •  For environmentally friendly hospitality furniture, look to purchase from hotel furniture manufacturers that are a member of a group such as the Sustainable Furniture Council.

Guide to Hotel Furniture Key Terms

Terms you'll need to know when buying hotel room sets

By Lesley Graybeal

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Liquidation

Furniture liquidation happens when companies sell new or used hotel furniture from overstock, or if a hotel is going out of business. Liquidated furniture is usually considered lightly used, and can be bought for much lower rates than new furniture.

I recommend: ADVFN provides a concise definition of liquidation that applies to hotel liquidation.

Engineered wood

Engineered wood is an alternative to sawed lumber for manufacturing furniture products. Many hotels favor products made from engineered wood because it is less expensive than hardwood lumber and can be used to more efficiently produce wholesale items for hotels and other institutions. Engineered wood furniture is also structurally lighter in weight, allowing pieces to be moved more easily for hotel cleaning and redecoration.

I recommend: Read a comprehensive definition of engineered wood from the American Forest & Paper Association.

Antique finish

Antique-or distressed-finish is often used on hotel furniture to obtain an antique or naturally worn appearance for any piece of furniture. This type of faux finish differs from an actual antique in that antique furniture is typically 100 years old or more, while an antique or distressed finish can be found on furniture that is brand new.

I recommend: Get a definition of distressed finish from Amish Loft, or see how an antique finish is achieved from Minwax.

Transitional furniture

Transitional furniture is a style of design between the more traditional or ornate styles of hotel furniture and the most modern and trendy designs. Transitional furniture is known for being simple in style and can be mixed with any other style of furniture, providing a useful and efficient choice for hotel furnishings that can last for many years.

I recommend: Read a concise definition of transitional furniture available from Green Culture.

Armoire

Armoires are tall cabinets traditionally used for hanging clothing, and are also known as wardrobes. The armoire has become a common piece of hotel room furniture, although most hotels have separate closets and use the armoire for storing a television and entertainment media.

I recommend: Casa Sugar gives a short definition of the armoire and its history as a standard furniture piece.

Flame retardancy

A major concern for hotels is often fire safety, and hotel room furnishings are typically listed using standard definitions of levels of flame retardancy. FR, or Fire Retardant, products have been chemically treated to resist burning, while IFR (inherently fire retardant) and PFR (permanently fire retardant) products are made of noncombustible materials.

I recommend: Sew What? offers various industry definitions for flame retardancy for hotel fabrics and furniture.