Courtesy: Lillian Connors (Seniior Digital Marketing Strategist at Bizzmark) | News Source: hospitalitynet.org

Sourcing outdoor furniture that is both stylish and weather-resistant is often the biggest issue designers and decorators experience when furnishing hotel outdoor areas. Sun is often the biggest concern, as UV rays take a heavy toll on fabric colouring and wooden finishes. You can either trust what furniture suppliers tell you or you can become your own expert in the field. Here's what you should know when procuring luxury outdoor furniture for your hotel outdoor facilities.

Decide on frame material

The frame is an essential part of any furniture piece, as it basically indicatesitsbuild quality and durability, which then translates to conditioningandservice life. Although these days you can find furniture frames made of all sorts of materials, the most popular choices still remain aluminium and rattan frames.

Aluminium pros

Known for its durability, weather resistance, and endurance, aluminium-framed outdoor furniture requires little maintenance and is easily shaped to the designer's ideas. It doesn't corrode, so the cleaning process is as simple as light scrubbing with a mild soap and water solution. Since it's 100% recyclable, aluminium is considered one of the most sustainable furniture materials today.

Rattan pros

Also knowns as wicker, rattan outdoor furniture is made by weaving fibres into a rigid material. Furniture made this way offers a wide variety of texture choices, such as coals, mink, seashell, black mushroom, and many others. Wicker fibres are made of non-toxic polyethylene, which is 100% recyclable. Such premium synthetic weaving materials are specially valued since they're long lasting, UV and weather resistant, and fully washable.

Consider fabrics

Outdoor furniture manufacturers need to specify fabrics that endure the elements, among the most popular being Sunbrella and Batyline. Made of recycled and virgin fibres, Sunbrella doesn't contain polyvinyl chloride, known as the poison plastic, which is harmful for the environment, producing toxic chemicals and causing cancer. What is more, Sunbrella has been certified by Greengurad Environmental Institute as a safe, eco-friendly material. With an ideal combination of fashionable look, durability, and weather resistance, Sunbrella provides all the comfort and convenience wanted in outdoor furniture fabrics.

Lifestyle collections

Inspired by Hollywood sets and gentrified seaside resorts, timeless outdoor furniture pieces such as the famed director chair is a perfect accessory to a dining table that mixes detail and quality with everyday functionality. The popularity of these classic pieces has no boundaries, as current outdoor furniture collections in Sydney, for example, show that an ingenious design can breed many iterations, as these chairs are now available with a solid aluminium frame, and teak accents, while for the fabric you can use Sunbrella or Rehau Weave.

Sustainable materials

Batyline is a family of composite fabrics that are ideal for both indoor and outdoor hotel furniture, like soda sets, bar stools, and dining chairs, with a whole range of furnishings. Produced by an ISO 14000-certified French-based Ferrari Group, these 100% recyclable materials provide many years of use, with an added environmental awareness. Such composite materials don't only provide ultimate comfort, but also make for easier maintenance.

Space saving designs

Rectangular tables with cushioned two-seater benches allow you to maximise your hotel's patio space. While tables can quickly be brought together for parties and larger companies of guests, they can still provide private dining experience. Benches or armless stackable wicker chairs are ideal for massive dining events. Being both durable and flexible, they allow the in-between table flow, but also provide the needed comfort.

Choice of cushions

The last aspect of modern and quality outdoor furniture is the cushions. Daybeds, loungers, sofa sets, and hanging chairs usually have cushions made from strong fibres that make them withstand years of regular use. As the filler, most reputable manufacturers use Quick Dry Foam. Produced in a special process called reticulation, Quick Dry Foam provides great air circulation, drainage, and comfort. After a sudden summershower or a splash of sea spray, these cushions are guaranteed to dry quickly in the sun, while their filler is known for anti-microbial properties.

These eight steps should make you more experienced in spotting quality outdoor furniture suitable for hotels and resorts. By offering your guests top quality, you're investing in a great experience and positive reviews, while going with engineered with recyclable materials will save you time and effort for maintenance.