How Should Hotels Choose Outdoor Spa Equipment?

The‍‌‍‍‌ hospitality industry has changed over the last couple of years by emphasizing consumption of high-quality products and services. When travel habits and what consumers expect change, hotels' guest expectations go beyond just clean, comfortable rooms and a decent level of service. They are now turning their attention to the complete guest experience, wellness, and memorable facilities. As a response to the shifting demands, numerous hotels have started redesigning their outdoor areas, seeking to boost their brands and differentiate themselves by adding such facilities.

Catering to the new customer expectations, outdoor spa systems have become a very attractive product of this industry. No matter if they are luxury resorts, boutique hotels, thermal and natural pools, or massive tourist resorts, a good outdoor spa setup can definitely be considered a valuable asset to improve the guest experience.

Outdoor spa systems utilize hotel environments like courtyard, balconies, pool area and the surrounding nature, so that guests can take warm water massages and have a relaxing outdoor spa without being indoors.

Outdoors spas are not merely for hotel guests to relax but are also a strategy for hotel operators to add value and make money through their hotel. An attractive and efficient outdoor spa can definitely set a hotel apart and help attract and keep guests through longer stays, higher room rates, private spa services and memberships.

However, when hotel owners look for an outdoor spa system, they should think much more than just price or looks.

A hotel is not an ordinary home, so the spa equipment should be designed for continuous, heavy use, high hygiene standards and extended operation times.

Thus, the selection, as well, of an outdoor spa system should include not only checking on equipment performance, capacity design, water quality management, energy-efficiency, etc. but also evaluating maintenance costs and supplier service capability factors.

So, how are hotel decision-makers able to correctly pick the right type of outdoor spa equipment? Also, what factors are behind the sustainability of outdoor spa equipment? Our blog post is an in-depth discussion of the two aspects above by presenting them from the operations point of view of hotel.

What is the reason behind hotels' demand for outdoor spa equipment?

Previously, when hotels wanted to expand their entertainment facilities, swimming pools, fitness centers, or dining areas used to be high on the list. On the contrary, with consumers becoming more health- and leisure-oriented, these conventional recreational facilities no longer entirely satisfy high-end clients.

More specifically, in resort and boutique hotels where there is an element of exclusivity, there is an increasing demand from guests who don't just want to rest but have a whole experience of relaxation in one place. For example, guests of resort hotels often expect to get away from the bustle of urban life and to be revitalized, both physically and mentally, in a natural setting. Therefore, it seems reasonable that outdoor spa facilities designed by nature will become a key tool for hotels to deliver something unique and different.

Compared to typical entertainment facilities, outdoor spa facilities do have some great things to offer.

Primarily, the area requirement is less of an issue; you don't have to construct a huge swimming pool. Hotels can make use of their courtyard, balconies, and landscaped areas where the quality of the spa will be the same as a resort-style spa. This will help the space-hungry boutique hotels in particular to optimize their land use.

In the second place, outdoor spa facilities have a very high level of experiential element. The interaction between warm water, different water jets, the gentle music, lighting effect, and the surroundings, the combination of all that, it gives a very unique and relaxing environment. For instance, in mountain hotels, the guest can have their spa treatment as they take in nature through the window while, in beach resorts, the spa with the outside area and sea view are a perfect combination. These will help in building up a better atmosphere of the resort.

The economic point of view, hotels' revenue per guest can be higher with the installation of outdoor spas. The majority of customers, of course, are very willing to pay much more if the experience they get is different and they are the only ones to do it. So, a good strategy is to use the presence of an attractive and effective outdoor spa as a way to attract guests who can afford such a level of luxury and to sell more expensive rooms, spa treatments, memberships, etc.

Wellness tourism is a growing sector and the increasing number of tourists who want their holiday to include wellness-related facilities makes it clear to hotels that integrating wellness elements in their offerings can be a very attractive marketing and sales strategy. On the top of that, the trend of the wellness-related services in recent years has only continued to grow. That also makes it quite possible that at some point in the future, the outdoors spa will no longer be just seen as a luxury facility by a few but may actually be regarded as one of the main components of hotels that allow them to stand out from their ‍‌‍‍‌competitors.

What‍‌‍‍‌ are the needs that hotels should be able to identify before their purchase of outdoor spa equipment?

Hotels need to define their own hotel characteristics before the acquisition of outdoor spa gear instead only comparing different suppliers' equipment prices. Why this happens is because different types of hotels have different customers with different requirements regarding equipment functions and features.

One example is luxury resort hotels that aim to have outdoor spa equipment as a differentiating factor of the hotel which is why they are focused on the design, massaging feel, multi-purpose configuration, and general luxury of the equipment. These kinds of spas may necessitate large-capacity outdoor spa equipment, which, if merged with landscape design, would make the equipment part of the hotel scenery.

Premises such as boutique hostels or small-scale resort hotels may care most about the usage of space and investment return and due to the limited space of installation, the owners will mostly require outdoor spa equipment that is easily changeable by size and maintenance. Although it doesn't have to be the latest model, the piece of equipment has to be steady and pleasant to its users.

It's different with the case of the business hotel and their needs toward outdoor Spa equipment. Business travelers usually make usage of equipment in the late afternoon or early evening and that is when the usage of the equipment gets the most concentrated. Therefore, the hotel might have a preference for high reliability, good operational efficiency, and an easy maintenance system for the equipment and to not have their business operations disturbed at the same time.

Therefore, hotels should think about several fundamental questions prior to purchasing their outdoor Spa equipment. Who are the main users of the equipment? About how many people will come across it daily? How big is the space that is available for the installation? Whether the aim is to create a private luxurious high-end experience or provide leisure services to the masses? Do you plan to add more spa-related business projects in the future?

Unless they really have a deep and clear insight of the questions mentioned above, hotels are likely to be wrong in the choice of their outdoor Spa equipment and hence not match with their hotel operation model.

How to decide the right size of outdoor Spa equipment suitable for the size of the hotel and its usage environment?

Once clarified the hotel's positioning, the next stage will be the determining of dimensions. Many hotel managers, when developing the hotel Spa area, assume that bigger Spa equipment increases the level of quality. However, it is the proper scale that matters most and not just going after 'huge capacity'. The dimensions of the Spa equipment outdoors have many impacts on the buying prices as well they are highly linked to space utilization after installation, how much energy one uses, difficulty in upkeep, and customer satisfaction. As for small-scale boutique hotels, guesthouses, and private resorts of similar scale, efficient use of spaces is one of the top issues. These buildings have restricted outdoor areas; by getting too large an outdoor spa, not only may the other areas for landscaping or leisure be encroached upon, but also their daily maintenance load may be increased. Hence, small projects are usually more suitable for flexible outdoor spa equipment with less strict installation conditions.

A smart layout plan can combine the Spa area and the nearby features such as gardens, terraces, or seating and in this way create a very cozy and private place for the customers.

Larger and medium-sized resort hotels need to size the equipment according the number of guests that will come to enjoy it. Big hotels generally have more space for relaxation and their customers may choose to combine the pool, restaurant, and outdoor landscaped area or all of them at once with the Spa. Hence, hotels should also think about the simultaneous use that each equipment can be offered to guests, daily frequency of usage, peak-hour capacity, and so forth. If the capacity of the equipment is too small, guests will start queuing up during the holidays leading to the guests' dissatisfaction with the hotel's services.

Carefully speaking, when making the choice, hotels should consider the equipment not just from number of people the piece can serve but also how much value in terms of experience is created per square foot of the equipment. For instance, a thought-out and well-designed medium capacity outdoor Spa combined with nice landscaping and a private service can create more profit than a very large piece of equippment.

Also, the surrounding area of the equipment is very worth considering. Once installed, the main factor is the size of the equipment, but the space for people to step on/off the equipment, a maintenance crew to get to the equipment, and necessary safety channels has to be kept free. The lack of planning and design with regard to this area will have a negative effect on the aesthetics and will make the work of operation and maintaining the area after the installation much more difficult and time-consuming.

Therefore, it is common for hotels to contact suppliers to create a bespoke solution for their floor plans, client targeting, and forecasted numbers of users when buying outdoor spa equipment instead of a single model ‍‌‍‍‌piece.

Which‍‌‍‍‌ key functionalities should hotels primarily pay attention to while choosing the outdoor spa equipment?

Hotels' outdoor spa equipment is the final point of contact for their consumers, hence, the way they function should be able to meet the customers' expectations. Besides, hotel guests are known for being very demanding. Therefore, hotels must make sure that the whole use of the spa, not just the presence of the equipment, is the best.

The massage system of outdoor spa equipment is one of the fundamental aspects of the product. In the present, most varieties of spa pools have a mix of different kinds of massage jets. Water pressure is used as a massage element for different body parts. As a case in point, the back usually needs a supporting massage, whereas legs and shoulders prefer a gentler water jet flow.

Hence, good spa equipment is not simply judged on the quantity of jet heads, rather, it is based on a scientific arrangement that different areas get a massage that suits the body best.

Hotel owners should not have the misconception that “the more jets, the better” as a rule of thumb when they buy their equipment. In reality, nozzle quantity is only one factor that determines the massage effectiveness. More important characteristics are water flow pressure, nozzle positioning, and the feature of being able to switch different massage modes. Equipment that has many nozzles would not necessarily improve the real experience a great deal, as the water pump might not give the pump pressure needed to make all the nozzles work effectively.

Other than the massage system, temperature control is one of the decisive factors that hotels will have to think about when they choose their outdoor spa equipment. Water temperature stability is a key element as hotel use is quite heavy so the customer comfort and hotel saving have been affected.

To keep energy consumption as low as possible, high-quality outdoor spa pools usually have a temperature monitoring system to the point where it keeps water within the desired comfort range.

Apart from massage and temperature, the function of intelligent control is something that hotels have started to care more and more about. The present day outdoor spa equipment can enable hotels to change the water temperature, control lighting and change the mode of operation of the equipment through the control board, phone apps or through smart systems. Such features help in improving the enjoyment of the user and make the work of hotel staff easier.

For instance, hotels can regulate their equipment based on the number of people present in the hotel, thus keeping the customer satisfaction at a high level during the busy periods while at the same time cutting costs during leisure times. Especially with large resorts, it is the intelligent management that will help raise productivity and reduce wastage of resources.

Why should the hotel owner pay special attention to the aspect of water quality management in their procurement of outdoor spa?

Hospitality facilities set very high standards for their customers on water quality in the spa equipment, which is the core element of their outdoor spa products, as opposed to the usual domestic settings at households. The reason is quite straightforward: the spa equipment is heavily used by the hotel guests.

The lack of proper spa pool purification system is a very common concern of hotels which, besides, the customer experience gets spoiled, the housekeeping staff end up having to work harder for nothing.

To begin with, good water quality is one of the highlights of the best outdoor jacuzzi.

The system starts off at the filtration unit which basically takes out the impurities (like debris, skin particles and oils) from the water. In terms of hotel standards, filtration efficiency is critical as there are several guest changes per day resulting in different levels of contamination.

The filtration unit has a very important role in keeping the water clean and the maintenance of the pool is quite simple. The main problem is that if filtration is too weak, the quality of the water can become bad after short periods of time and this would mean changing and cleaning of water frequently which is an additional cost and inconvenience.

How effective is the water replacement system depends on the circulation system that controls the water movement. Water of high-quality circulation system mixes disinfectant more uniformly throughout the water and reduces the local degradation of water quality issue.

Besides that, some of the most luxurious outdoor jacuzzis have water quality improvements such as ozone technology and UV light treatment as well as the like. The benefit of ozone is that it not only kills the water microbes but also decomposes the organic matter in the water, thereby enhancing the water quality further and, at the same, minimizing the use of the traditional chemical agents.

Water quality is not only an issue for the hotels equipment efficiency but also a matter influencing their reputation in the long term because nowadays customers are very particular about cleanliness and safety. A hotel's public image may suffer if a guest gives a bad review about the water being dirty or unhealthy through the internet media.

Due to that, it is crucial for hotels to be aware of the filtration system, the water treatment techniques and the cleaning schedule when they purchase the spa ‍‌‍‍‌pool.

How‍‌‍‍‌ can hotels assess the overall strength of their outdoor spa equipment suppliers?

Selecting an outdoor spa equipment supplier is a very critical step for hotel development. The hotel procurement decision at times is not only a one-time cost but is an investment which has long term operational benefits. Even after the equipment has been installed, hotels are still faced with the problems such as regular maintenance, component replacements, technical assistance, and feature upgrades. In case the supplier is not equipped to serve in the long-run, the hotel can be left in difficult situations for management even if the product was working fine in the beginning.

So, when it comes to getting an outside spa equipment supplier, hotels must not merely be guided by the product price but they should also carry out an extensive comparison that factors in the supplier's years in the business, the scale of product output, the quality control measures, the research and development capacity, and the post_sales service level.

The manufacturer's experience in producing spa equipment is one of the main criteria with which to determine whether a supplier is a professional or not. Outdoor spa equipment requires skills in various kinds of technologies including water circulation, electric control, insulated structure, massage, etc, it is definitely, not just injection molding. Manufacturing companies who spent many years producing outdoor spa equipment would have developed a deeper knowledge of different market requirements for this kind of equipment and can be more effective on offering matching configuration solutions to satisfy a hotel project's distinctive attributes.

Take as one example, some countries have their own voltage standards while in others it is not required, in one region a particular product safety certificate may be required while in another it is not. Manufacturers with rich experience have the general ability to provide the customer with product schemes matching to the specific requirements in local markets, for instance electrical layouts, protection level, and so on and also the assistance and supporting certification work.

Moreover, a supplier's production scale is a determining consideration for a hotel when purchasing equipment, because it is most likely that a project of such proportions would require a regular supply without any fluctuations. Suppliers who could not provide sufficient quantities of products because of limited facilities have resulted not only in long waiting times for the products from the supplier but also in hotels delaying their opening times. Thus, the hotel should include in the selection of a spa equipment supplier not merely the product but the factory size, production technologies, quality control system as well as its track record.

Also, research and development capability is not to be overlooked by hotels when selecting an outdoor spa equipment supplier. With the continuing development of the hotel industry and the increasing level of customer's awareness towards their own personal needs, there have been more requests about personalized products. For instance, a hotel may have a request that certain outdoor spa items should blend perfectly into their existing landscape design, another may want a special size while yet another may dream of having their own intelligent control system, water effect, lighting or special massage modes. Suppliers that possess high research and development capabilities are those who are more able to flexibly adjust their products according to different hotel projects.

Furthermore, for major hotel groups or resort projects to meet their needs better and more efficiently through the provision of customized products, capability in OEM and ODM is a major determinant factor. By this, hotels not only get the outdoor spa equipment they want but also have the added advantage of being able to set the look and feel of their outdoor spa space by branding it as opposed to simply having a product off the shelf or one that has been replicated to serve several customers at-a-time!

In order words, what a high-class outdoor spa equipment supplier brings along with them is not only the product but also extensive technical support and cooperation throughout the entire hotel construction work.

How does outdoor spa equipment help hotels to improve their brand value?

A differentiated brand image is increasingly becoming the core of competitiveness of a hotel so a hotel having facilities unique in the form and function can really make it different in a crowd. In comparison with the traditional facility offered by hotels, outdoor spa facilities have more capabilities of creating an ambiance which is really unique for a hotel and can help them differentiate on the brand front.

Take as an example a nature resort hotel in a natural scenic area that has a few rooms only it can use outdoor spa equipment to design their spa products according to the environment that the hotel sits and in this case guests will have an experience as "natural spa therapy." This particular style of relaxing, apart from giving the customers a highly satisfying experience, is an easy way for them to make a good posting on the internet and sharing their experiences with their friends.

Outdoor spa equipment for high-end hotels is a great sales point in order to attract customers especially for the top class suites. For illustration, the hotel that offers guests private gardens, spa on a terrace, couple's exclusive spa room, etc. can definitely enhance room value.

What is more, it is a great way to enhance the hotel's services. Hotels can create additional services related to those kinds of equipment such as:

1. Private spa packages;

2. Double bed couples treatment sessions;

3. Courses for rejuvenation and health improvement;

4. Premium Member Only privileges for example.

It goes to show hotels not only have changed from being accommodation providers but also that they have become experience creators. The more such services are made to exist the easier for the hotel to change its business model of simply providing accommodation to one of offering an all-inclusive lifestyle package.

From a business point of view or marketing point of view, a nice and comfortable outdoor spa tub area that a hotel is able to design and install can give the hotel more reasons for consumers to consider the hotel in their final hotel ‍‌‍‍‌choices!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Hotel Outdoor Spa Equipment Procurement

FAQ 1: Why are outdoor spa equipment suitable for hotels?

Installing outdoor spa equipment can enhance the guest experience and create a unique relaxation area in the outdoor space. For resort hotels, upscale guesthouses, and boutique hotels, outdoor spa equipment can increase product differentiation and improve customer satisfaction.

FAQ 2: What are the differences between hotel outdoor spa equipment and home-use equipment?

Hotels typically use outdoor spa equipment more frequently, thus requiring greater durability, a more stable water circulation system, a more comprehensive filtration system, and a more convenient maintenance design. Ordinary home equipment may not meet the long-term, high-frequency usage needs of a commercial environment.

FAQ 3: What should hotels focus on most when choosing outdoor spa equipment?

Besides price, they should pay more attention to the water quality management system, energy efficiency, pump performance, equipment structure, installation conditions, and the supplier's after-sales service capabilities.

FAQ 4: Does outdoor spa equipment require daily maintenance?

Outdoor spa equipment used in hotels requires regular maintenance, including water quality testing, filtration system checks, equipment cleaning, and functional checks. Maintenance frequency depends on the number of users and equipment configuration.

FAQ 5: Do large hotels necessarily need to choose large outdoor spa equipment?

Not necessarily. The size of the equipment should be determined based on the hotel's positioning, number of customers, installation space, and operating model. A proper match is more important than simply pursuing large equipment.

FAQ 6: Can outdoor spa equipment be OEM customized?

Many professional manufacturers support OEM and ODM services, allowing customization of the size, appearance, and configuration of outdoor spa equipment based on the hotel's brand positioning, space design, and functional requirements.