Hotel FF&E - Where to Begin
Credit: Dexter Moran Architects
The hotel industry is huge and expansive, and it can be a very foreboding place to step into. When it comes to upgrading your hotel FF&E we understand the complexities that can come with that requirement. Our experience means we can definitely support you with giving you the information and services to succeed. You're doing exactly the right thing and starting by gathering all the information you can, and we've assembled a few key pieces of information and recommendations to set you up in the best possible way. This is an ideal starting point for your hotel FF&E!
What is FF&E? (Furniture, Fixtures and Fittings)
Furniture refers to the moveable articles used to make a space more comfortable or more appropriate for working in; fixtures are the pieces that require securing into place; fittings are the small parts attached to furniture or in the room that elevate or enhance the piece.
Put it all together, and you get a subsection of the industry that is largely responsible for the interior and the aesthetic outcome. To put it simply, for the most part, FF&E is responsible for anything that would fall out if you were to shake the room or building upside down.
As an industry, the job of an FF&E Specialist also entails a large quantity of wider skills and tasks, from collaborating with the designer, project management, sourcing, scheduling and installing the relevant goods.
What is Hotel FF&E?
The concept of Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment, but applied to the hotel industry. By virtue of the service a hotel provides, that means Hotel FF&E deals with the elements in the rooms, public spaces and private spaces for the hotel, and is a key component in realising the final aesthetic of the project.
What's the difference between FF&E and Hotel FF&E?
You can see by the title that one is specifically for hotels, but what does that mean? Given that FF&E is a necessary service in a very wide range of fields and industries, considering the specific needs of a hotel is how to establish the difference.
By nature of the service and experience that hotels provide, Hotel FF&E has much more to consider in some respects. For example, there's the difference between different hotels in their briefs and their intended clientele, which can significantly impact the budget, style, design, and layout of their spaces. There's also the transience of ever-changing guests compared to a more personal and long-term residential project. There are many factors that make Hotel FF&E specifically its own area of expertise.
What about OS&E? (Operating Supplies and Equipment)
Operating supplies are cutlery and linens, as well as goods like cleaning supplies and paper goods; equipment means the tools or machinery used to fulfil a certain purpose, the things used in any process.
Together, this is the field that is responsible for the things that make a hotel run, like the goods behind the bar and in the restaurant as well as in the rooms and bathrooms: glassware and dishes, linens and towels, hairdryers and irons.
Is OS&E the same as Hotel FF&E?
No, they aren't the same, although they do perform similarly vital roles in hotel service. You can't get by without either OS&E or FF&E, they're the necessary imperatives, but you can see by their definitions that the fields for which they are responsible cover different sectors.
In some instances, it's possible for there to be some overlap, which is why the most impeccable communication between the specialists and the designers is of the utmost importance. Ensuring everybody is well aware of who is responsible for what will avoid any duplicates or gaps as a result.
What are the benefits of using an FF&E Consultant?
Using an FF&E consultant like SP3 London has an enormous wealth of benefits to any project. Fundamentally, on the surface, the job looks like making things look nice, and whilst that's very true, it's just the most visible part of the job. An FF&E Consultant is a much more impactful hire than you might first have thought...
Choosing - as part of the development process, the FF&E Consultant helps to generate the most appropriate, engaging and aesthetic design for the client and the space, using their experience and industry knowledge.
Sourcing - the FF&E Consultant goes away to work their magic and comes back with relevant pieces, but in actual fact, they use their wealth of contacts, expansive experience, industry knowledge and dedicated research to find the right pieces for the project.
Scheduling - in any project, it's important to have a timeline, and the FF&E Consultant plays an imperative role in making sure the timing is right for the deliveries, that nothing is missing or doubled, and it won't interfere with any work that's necessary before or after the installation of each specific item.
Managing - anything that requires such a volume of different skills requires that same volume of different specialist trades as a result, and the FF&E Consultant is an exceptional project manager, keeping the communication open and making sure everyone is heard and has their instructions.
These skills involve exceptional organisation and using an FF&E Consultant also means handing the responsibility for every problem, issue and outcome over to someone else. Not only does it enable you to maintain your life without the responsibility of a whole project on your shoulders, but it also places the organisation and resolutions in the hands of a trusted professional, leaving you with a finished product and no negative memories.
Get in contact with SP3 London today if you’re interested in Hotel FF&E Services.