Design, Durability and Safety
In the world of hospitality the need for products which are appealing, practical and that have been designed for durability continues to develop.
Sourcing products to satisfy and fulfil this growing requirement can be challenging for hotel suppliers aspiring to push boundaries and set new standards.
As a hotel supplier we know only too well the demands put upon products used in hotels. We have seen at first- hand what happens when, for example, a retail kettle has been used over time in a hotel bedroom. Examples are on/off switches become unusable, there is excess steam emission from the handle which can scald, jug kettles taking too long to boil and boiling water escaping from the lid. This is not just confined to kettles though as faults also occur with other electrical appliances not designed for hotel use. Consumer products such as hairdryers, coffee machines, irons and ironing boards could be considered dysfunctional if adequate instruction for use is lacking, for example the on/off switch is not obvious which can be frustrating for the guest
Hospitality designated amenity products are created with clear instructions and are designed specifically to cope with hotel life. All amenity products should be easy and obvious to use and in certain cases, for the safety of the guest, should have over-rides to ensure they switch off. For example, irons with safety cut-off switches and kettles with a safety lid-opening button – all hotel electrical products need extra safety features built-in, which is also an assurance for the hotel owner.
It is vitally important that electrical and electronic products are CE marked by the manufacturer to confirm compliance to EU regulations which must be supported by relevant test certificates to verify the validity of the CE mark.
In conclusion, even though all of the above may have been adhered to with products from a well-known brand or supplier, it is still incumbent upon the proprietor to ensure that regular visual safety checks, on switches and power cords, plus annual PAT testing of higher wattage electrical products – such as hairdryers, irons and kettles – are carried out as a safety precaution for ultimate peace of mind.
Safety first is safety always.
In the world of hospitality the need for products which are appealing, practical and that have been designed for durability continues to develop.
Sourcing products to satisfy and fulfil this growing requirement can be challenging for hotel suppliers aspiring to push boundaries and set new standards.
