There’s no doubt that restaurants, hotels, delis and casinos experience high customer traffic that can leave their furniture exposed to serious wear and tear — even permanent damage. That’s why taking the time to maintain hospitality furniture will keep it in great shape, extend its life and reduce overall costs. Here are three great tips to ensure hospitality furniture stays in the best possible shape over the long-term.
The Importance of a Written Maintenance Policy
It’s important that staff members are aware of how to treat and maintain hospitality furniture in order to maintain “best practices” at a restaurant or other hospitality business. That’s why a written maintenance policy that sets the right standards should be available to everyone and contain the following:
- Maintain a written manual with information on how to quickly fix common issues
- How to protect hospitality furniture from the elements and accidents
- How to properly setup and store furniture
- How to clean hospitality furniture in the event of a spill and at the end of each day
- What chemicals or cleaning methods to use to avoid damage to furniture
- Special treatments that are infrequently required but still needed, such as polishing or sealants to protect furniture
Ultimately, each type of hospitality furniture, including hospitality seating, has its own special needs. For example, restaurant tables made of wood can peel and crack when exposed to high heat. Marble, which is very rarely used in hospitality furniture, can easily become stained due to food or red wine spills. Maintaining hospitality furniture according to a set written policy, and sufficient training of staff on how to handle furniture, will likely lead to cost savings and increased profits in the long run.
Keeping Track of Parts
From time to time, hospitality furniture needs to be repaired. Restaurant tables and hospitality chairs can experience lost glides, missing screws or broken parts. That’s why it’s important to write down what parts need to be frequently replaced. For example, knobs on table drawers, chair leg cap protectors, specific screw designs, and table tops can go missing or suffer serious damage.
Hospitality business owners should always have some backup parts and easy access to them to ensure your furniture can be quickly repaired. It’s also a good idea to train at least a few members of staff to learn how to make simple repairs to hospitality furniture, especially if the owner or supervisor isn’t always present. This will keep a hospitality business running smoothly no matter what happens.
Durable Furniture Stands the Test of Time
One of the biggest factors in keeping your hospitality furniture in excellent condition is to buy the most durable products in the first place. That doesn’t mean spending a fortune. It means selecting quality products that can stand up to a rough environment. That’s why hospitality business owners should select table tops that are durable and resistant to breakage, and designed for the high traffic use in restaurants. Ultimately, following these tips can help business owners get the most value out of their hospitality furniture, and ensure they keep their guests happy and coming back again and again.
