What Hotel Supplies Do You Need for Winter?

by | Nov 12, 2024 | Business Tips

what hotel supplies do you need for winter

What Hotel Supplies Do You Need for Winter?

Now that we’re entering the holiday season, it’s the perfect time to re-supply your hotel for winter, which begs the question: what hotel supplies do you need for winter?

Winter brings seasonal charm, festive gatherings, and — less exciting — the flu season, so there are certain types of hotel supplies you should consider bulking up on.

 

Winter Hotel Supplies: Seasonal Cheer

First, let’s review a few types of hotel supplies that will help you capitalize on the charm and festivities of the winter season.

 

Seasonal Stylings for Your Key Cards

If you need to re-supply your key cards and key card holders for winter, then you might consider adding seasonal imagery to their design. These might include:

  • Snowflakes
  • Silver and gold streamers
  • “Happy Holidays” messages
  • Wreaths

Every hotel wants their key cards to last as long as possible. With that in mind, you may feel hesitant to order winter-themed key cards — you wouldn’t want them to look outdated when spring arrives.

Luxury Custom Hotel Key Card Sleeves for Viceroy

 

Consider the following options:

  • Some hotels order VIP key cards that are only used by special guests or loyalty program members. VIP key cards are typically ordered in smaller batches, so they might be more suitable for customizing with winter theming.
  • Most key card holders are discarded after a single use, so they need to be replaced on a regular basis. For that reason, it might be better to customize your key card holders instead of the actual key cards.

Don’t have the time or resources to design custom-branded supplies? Front Desk Supply offers a complimentary graphic design service to help you create stunning branded products. Our team can work with your existing brand assets or create a new design from scratch, ensuring your hotel’s unique identity shines through. Even if you don’t have access to digital files, we can still customize your supplies with your logo, colors, and fonts. Simply provide us with your brand guidelines, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Related Blog: Why Your Hotel VIPs Need Custom Key Cards

 

Wristbands

Some hotels that we work with host New Year’s Eve celebrations on property. It might be helpful to provide each guest with an RFID wristband instead of / in addition to room keys, especially if you’re throwing a “private party” that’s exclusive to hotel guests or those who buy event tickets.

 

There are two benefits:

  1. Your hotel guests may get a little tipsy on New Year’s, which usually leads to key cards getting lost. That creates inconvenience for both your guests and your front desk staff, but it also creates security issues. Wristbands don’t get lost quite as easily, and, if you’re using an RFID key access system, you can easily program the wristbands to provide room access for each guest.
  2. Everyone attending your New Year’s Eve celebration would be wearing a wristband, making it easier for your staff to identify party crashers or trespassers at the event (they will not be wearing a wristband).

Related Blog: RFID Key Card System Upgrade: Accompanying Cards You’ll Need

 

Season’s Greetings

A simple way to pass along holiday cheer in winter is to leave personalized messages for your guests. You could have your desk staff give personalized notes or letterheads to each guest when they check in, or you could have your housekeeping staff leave them in the guest rooms.

Each message could be tailored for a different holiday: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s Eve, etc.

Make sure that your hotel is well-stocked with stationery so you can give seasonal greetings for each guest.

 

fds-cups-collection

 

For Your Feasts

Many hotel restaurants add holiday-themed drinks and dishes to their menu, especially for Thanksgiving and the Christmas season.

Make sure that you’re well-stocked with food and beverage items, including:

  • Disposable cups and silverware
  • Branded wine and cocktail glasses
  • Restaurant menus
  • Paper and/or cloth napkins, tissues

It’s easy to add winter theming to your disposable cups, napkins, and menus.

 

Winter Hotel Supplies: Flu Season

The only downside to winter: the sick season. The flu is a common illness in the winter months and spreads quickly due to holiday gatherings. It’s important to increase your stock of cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) to limit the spread of illness among your guests and your staff.

The hotels we work with commonly order:

  • PPE kits
  • Hand sanitizer bottles
  • Reusable face masks

 

It’s safe to assume that a sick guest will not get the most enjoyment out of their stay, and your hotel operations may get strained when illnesses are spreading throughout the workplace. PPE can help you limit the damage, which makes it one of the most important winter hotel supplies.

 

How Large Should My Winter Shipments Be?

It can be challenging to determine how much stock you need to order because your occupancy rates may vary significantly throughout the winter, peaking during holidays and flatlining in the later winter months.

The amount of stock you need really depends on your budget, your expected occupancy rates, and the size of your property. Our mission at Front Desk Supply is to help you get the most value out of each and every order. We’re happy to provide you with guidance on order size and product customization.

To get started, fill out a quick form and tell us about your property and supply needs, or contact us by giving us a call or email.