Ah, summer! What a wonderful time of year. The sun is warm, the flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, and people are getting away to spend time with family and friends. There always seems to be a lot of activity and energy surrounding summer, no matter what is said about the “lazy days of summer.”  

Is your hotel or restaurant ready for them to choose to spend their season with you?

Your Outdoor Space is Part of the Experience

Most of you likely have some form of outdoor space for guests to enjoy as part of their experience when they stay with you. Regardless of whether your outdoor space is large or small, or more formal or informal, the space is every bit as important as your indoor space in creating a wonderful experience for your guests. It is a full-blown extension of the guest experience you work so tirelessly to provide for the indoor portions of your property.

Here are a few things to think about to make sure you and your outdoor space are ready:

Ensure Furniture is Dialed In

Your furniture should be cleaned up and free from its winter grime. If painted, have you given it a fresh coat of paint?  Also, do you have an abundance of pieces that can be used to create multiple conversation and gathering places for your guests?  

A combination of chairs, side tables, coffee tables, lounge chairs, love seats, and benches offers the ability to create a wide variety of conversational groupings for your guests. Definitely do not forget about having plenty of side tables so there are always plenty of places for guests to sit their drinks and snacks on while lounging and relaxing together. 

Keep your House Clean

Make sure your patio or deck is well swept, free from the winter debris of dead leaves and twigs that seem to always accumulate. A good power washing or scrubbing to make sure it sparkles is in order before guests start arriving in abundance for summer fun.

Stay On-Brand with Fabrics and Colors

Cushions for your chairs and benches, along with throw pillows, should have a fabric with patterns and colors that coordinate with your brand and indoor décor. However, choosing colors that are just a touch brighter for outdoors will help to create a cheery mood. They should be used generously throughout your outdoor areas to help turn them into truly comfortable and cozy areas for guests to gather and relax.  

Anyone who has heard me speak knows I’m big on having commercial-grade fabrics for the upholstery, as it simply is better designed to withstand the wear and tear guests give it and offers a better ROI than residential grade. Your outdoor upholstery is no exception. A Sunbrella® fabric, for example, will stand up to the rigors of the sun, water, sweat, and other abuses the summer season can throw at the cushions and pillows.

Focus on Lighting, Lighting, Lighting

What is your outdoor lighting like?  

The location and placement of your landscape lighting further helps create conversational groupings for your guests. Lighting is also one of the key ways to enhance the guest experience.  

However, this one is also always tricky as we want to create spaces that are inviting and encourage guests to linger and relax, but we don’t want so much lighting that it detracts from the serenity that a summer evening offers. Focus on pathway lights that shine down, so as to not increase light pollution and ruin the guests’ view of the summer night sky. Use Chinese lanterns or small, string lights in seating areas to give off just enough light so guests can see one another while lingering and talking, but do not create too bright of a space. Outdoor spaces should be darker and moodier than those inside.

In addition to the various electric lights, consider adding some torches or other forms of gas lighting to introduce that seductive, vibrant lighting that flames always provides.

Throw in a Fire Pit

Consider offering a fire pit for your guests to sit around when they are enjoying your great outdoors. These are now available in a variety of sizes and price points with both propane tanks or plumbed for natural gas, so there is an option regardless of budget to evaluate and consider.

Lastly, Make it Fun!

Board and yard games also give your guests additional reasons to spend time at your inn. Setting up a bin with a variety of both yard and board games will motivate them to get outside, gather, and have fun.

Summer is a wonderful season; there are so many ways to create captivating outdoor spaces that can keep your guests on property, create great experiences and memories with you rather than wandering into town. The more they enjoy their time spent at your inn, the more likely they will return and tell their friends, which is always good for the bottom line!

About the author

James provides guest experience consulting and interior design for hospitality. Whether that is for an historical inn, boutique hotel, tasting room, or restaurant. His firm, Küster Design, specializes in creating one-of-a-kind interiors and experiences for its clients. James and his team focus on design that reinforces the brand; makes a statement about a property’s style and commitment to excellence. James’ commitment to understanding and shaping emotions within interior spaces has enabled him to create environments that not only captivate customers but also foster long-term loyalty for his clients’ businesses. Through the use of space, light, and textures, Küster Design tailors custom interior designs to each property’s unique needs, crafting interior branding messages that set his clients apart while prioritizing functionality and sustainability. The firm’s virtual design services allow them to design the experience remotely, which enables a quicker reaction time to clients and their needs. James is an active member of Cayuga Hospitality Consultants.

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