The FF&E Process Revealed

A hotel’s magic lies in its interiors. 

Interiors can captivate the senses, create a sense of home, and turn a space into a sanctuary. 

But, this doesn't happen by chance. It takes many moving parts to create a beautiful interior. As a hotel owner, the furnishings you choose for your guest rooms, lobby, and dining area will speak volumes about your brand. Choosing wisely can mean the difference between making or breaking your hotel's aesthetic. 

What's the secret to getting it right? Let’s talk about the FF&E process. 

What is FF&E?

The term FF&E stands for Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment. These are items that are not physically attached to a building or part of its construction. That being said, building parts such as faucets and toilets are not considered FF&E, but rather part of the construction process. 

Some examples of FF&E are:

  • Furniture: chairs, sofas, tables, beds, dressers, drapes, lamps, artwork, mirrors
  • Fixtures: sconces, bookshelves, vanities
  • Equipment: televisions, safes, mini-refrigerators 

No matter the size and scope, FF&E is a major part of any hospitality development project and should be factored into the budget from day one. 

How does the FF&E process work?

Every project is different. However, one thing remains the same: incorporating FF&E from the very start makes the process more efficient and the cost estimation more accurate.

For the most part, the FF&E process will follow the same steps. Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect:

  1. Preparation of design brief and first sketches

The first step in our process is drafting the initial sketches, drawing up a layout plan, and creating a design brief. At this stage, we’ll look at the overall goals for your project. 

Since it’s still rather early in the process, it’s not necessary to decide on furnishings just yet. Even so, it's a good idea to begin gauging how much space you'll have, what furniture and equipment you'll need, and your budget.

  1. Establishing project specifications 

In this step, we’ll present our sketches, go over the design brief with you, and calculate an estimate of the project cost. Before moving forward, we welcome your feedback and suggestions.

  1. Presentation of first FF&E options

Once we've selected a few options, we'll share and discuss with you the FF&E pieces we've chosen.

Coming to a decision might take a few meetings, particularly if you have a large project. During these meetings, feel free to ask us any questions you have regarding costs, specifications, and timelines.

  1. Manufacturing of FF&E

Once we get the green light from you, we move on to the next steps of drawing up the final designs and then the manufacturing process, which involves creating and reviewing shop drawings and samples, engineering the FF&E, and then custom fabricating the items for your project. 

Our projects team and factory partners specialize specifically in hotel FF&E. That means the engineering, ergonomics, construction, and materials, are all geared towards a beautiful design that will perform well in a commercial setting. We understand and respect brand standards, which is one reason why many of our clients have trusted us with their projects.

If you have chosen items that need to be shipped from outside of the United States, our team can assist you with arrangements for the appropriate paperwork needed to import them.

  1. Delivery of items and quality control 

Here, the items begin to arrive, either at a local warehouse or right to the hotel. Our on-site crew will inspect and check the condition of each and every item before they are installed. 

  1. Installation and final checks

If you don't already have an installer that you want to work with, we can handle this part for you. From the start of production to the final punch-list inspection, your installation will be managed by one of our installation supervisors. 

To make sure your project gets the attention it deserves, the different departments of our team work closely together in this step to meet deadlines and ensure a quality installation. 

  1. Project closeout and handover

The time has come, your project is ready! Before we leave we’ll conduct a thorough punch list to ensure everything is just right. 

Find Out How We Can Help You With FF&E

Remember, FF&E items shouldn’t be an afterthought. As an integral part of your hotel’s identity, they should be taken into consideration from the beginning of your project. 

At Lang & Schwander, we’ve been furnishing hotel interiors in the US, Caribbean, and Latin America for over 15 years. For both branded hotels and independent hotels, we offer a full-service interior design studio, production and shipping services, and an in-house installation crew.

Contact us to schedule a call and discuss your project!









Lang & Schwander Team