FF&E Procurement can be a complicated and logistical endeavor, but it is necessary for large-scale installations for hotels and commercial spaces. An easy way to define FF&E is the service of handling, delivering and installing of furniture, fixtures and equipment. Hotel owners, Project Managers and General Contractors often manage FF&E projects at the location. Unique Deliveries handles the logistics and actual installations. We can also store any items that may come in ahead of schedule or of a project is not quite on schedule or pushed back due to unforeseen circumstances.
Hiring an experienced company to run the FF&E procurement project ensure organization, strict timeline and planning. Plus, employees with know-how help to create an efficient installation are key.
Typically the project will start with setting up a staging area located in the bottom floor of the hotel, like the FF&E procurement grand ballroom, banquet area or large meeting room. In the staging area, furnishings are arranged by piece and by room. For instance, all of the sofas are placed together, then headboards, then mattresses, then lamps – each by item, organized by the different rooms. Each hotel has several different room layouts by floor, so the furnishings are organized accordingly. Each room has its designated pieces for installation. Two or three employees unpack the furnishings while another runs merchandise to the elevators.
Furnishings are handed through a row of employees until each piece reaches the room destination. It’s easiest to install one piece at time, so for instance, a hotel with 500 rooms – all 500 mattresses will be installed first, then the 500 lamps, then the 500 desks, etc. Once all furnishings are in place, the Supervisor manually goes room by room and takes a complete inventory to ensure each furnishing is in the correct location within the room.
The timing of the installation is important. Floors may be installed at odd hours so we make sure to stay out of the way of the General Contractor and their crew who are finishing up details. Coordinating the timing of getting the furnishings up the elevator takes skill and strategy. It’s also critical to develop a schedule that encompasses the entire installation to be completed by the hotel grand opening date. Careful planning and working backwards to ensure accomplish the necessary rooms each day makes for successful FF&E procurement installations.
Unique Deliveries located in Utah and severing the surrounding states we have years of experience with FF&E and we enjoy taking on these complicated projects and making it easy for our customers. We know opening a new hotel or commercial project can be overwhelming. Give us a call with the details and we’ll take care of the rest!
