Welcome to Hotel Supply Makeover, where the experts at Front Desk Supply show you how simple design changes transform your hotel supplies — and your guest experience. This time on Hotel Supply Makeover: Do Not Disturb Signs.
Like key cards and key holders, the Do Not Disturb sign is one of your most important hotel supplies because it’s frequently handled by your guests. Let’s explore how the DND sign can improve or diminish your guest experience.
An example of a common Do Not Disturb Sign.
The Original Do Not Disturb Sign
Many hotels use paper or plastic DND signs because they’re the most budget-friendly option, especially for hotels that have hundreds of rooms.
However, these signs can have some big drawbacks that are often overlooked.
The Sign Needs Cleaning, Too
DND signs are frequently touched by guests, so they’re prone to getting dirty or stained. Signs that are made from paper or lower-end plastic can also get bent out of shape very easily.
DND signs that are dirty or damaged can make your hotel look a little out of shape, which might not be the vibe that you want your property to exude.
Hotel Guest: Daisy
Daisy wants to spend the afternoon lounging in her room, and she doesn’t need any servicing. So, she places the DND sign on the door of her room. It’s got a few stains and accumulated grime, so she picks it up with two fingers.
She laughs to herself:
“I don’t need my room cleaned today, but I wonder if housekeeping could give this sign a wipedown!”
More Replacements, Higher Costs
Hotels often choose to order the lowest-quality paper or plastic signs because they seem like a budget-friendly option. However, these signs can get damaged much more easily, so hotels can end up paying more money by having to order frequent replacements.
Hotel Manager: Frederick
Frederick is the manager of a boutique hotel. He’s ordering more supplies for the upcoming peak season and realizes that the hotel is running low on DND signs.
“I didn’t think I’d have to order an extra shipment of signs this quarter. I wasn’t really budgeting for that.”
The New Do Not Disturb Sign
These types of issues could be avoided by customizing the right type of DND sign. For this hotel, Front Desk Supply would recommend the following changes.
An example of a sleek, over-laminate DND sign by Front Desk Supply.
Beautiful and Bendable
Front Desk Supply would create new DND signs that are made from over-laminate instead of extruded plastic, which is commonly used in hotel signage.
Over-laminate is a better material because it’s more bendable—it doesn’t snap when bent, like extruded plastic does.
There are a variety of thickness options to choose from: 0.020, 0.030, 0.040, and 0.02. With guidance from Front Desk Supply, the hotel chooses 0.040 to balance durability with cost.
They also choose to have their signs made using a custom die cut.
A diamond is the hotel’s key branding element, so for a one time die charge, the graphic design team at Front Desk Supply helps them create a diamond-shaped DND sign.
An example of a wooden DND sign by Front Desk Supply. With Front Desk Supply, you can also make luxury signage from materials such as fabric.
Higher-Quality and Better for Your Budget
Wooden DND signs have become one of the most popular trends at boutique hotels.
Wooden signs are lovely to see and touch and are excellent in fostering a boutique atmosphere at your property. They’re also more durable than paper or plastic signs (the material is strong, and guests also tend to be more careful with them), so the hotel can actually save money in the long run because they don’t have to order them as frequently.
Does Your Signage Need Servicing?
If your Do Not Disturb signs need a little housekeeping, contact Front Desk Supply to get a quote or check out the different types of hotel signage that we offer.
Our team can help you brand your signage with a beautiful custom design that suits your needs and budget, and we can make sure that it complements the rest of your hotel supplies, including your key cards, stationery, and more. There’s no easier way to upgrade your guest experience!
Thanks for reading Hotel Supply Makeover: Do Not Disturb Signs. Have a hotel product that you want to makeover? Reach out to us for tips and advice!
