utts in chairs. It’s certainly not the most eloquent visual associated with seating, but it’s pretty much the bottom (no pun intended) line when considering the comfort, aesthetics, and profitability associated with selecting the right chairs for hotel food & beverage.

“Comfort is certainly a key consideration for F&B managers, meeting planners, convention & conference managers, and other event coordinators,” says Greg Jewell, president of AEC Management, a leading event planning and association management firm, based in Louisville, Kentucky. Jewell notes the level of comfort experienced by one’s tush, legs, and back, especially during day-long seminars and breakout sessions, often contribute positively or negatively to an attendee’s evaluation.

THE EXPERIENCE
“I can tell you the first thing a guest notices about a chair is comfort,” adds Adam Kubryk, VP of sales and marketing for Global Allies, LLC. “And if they’re not comfortable during a meeting or seminar, they’re much less likely to pay attention and less likely to enjoy the experience.” Kubryk says many of the features for a chair’s comfort and durability are hidden. “There are several elements that affect the overall performance of a chair,” says Kubryk. “Two chairs that look identical can perform at opposite ends of the spectrum. Is the chair steel or aluminum? Is the seat webbed or just a block of foam? Are the glides high-quality metal or cheaper plastic? Is the seat bottom finished with fabric or staples with cardboard? Using higher-quality materials in production may cost a little more upfront but can add significantly to the lifespan of a chair.”

Dave Flory, director of sales & marketing for Cort Trade Show Events & Furnishings concurs that seating is all about experience—from comfort to style. Flory, whose company provides a diverse selection of hospitality furnishings and service, recently set up and supplied 50 plush executive chairs for a nightclub themed after-hours event. He says chairs must project an image “consistent with the hotel’s branding,” although he notes there’s certainly nothing wrong with a little out-of-the-box fusion if tastefully done, blending contemporary styles with historic hotels, or visa-versa.

DESIGN
Kubryk agrees. “The hotel must also consider the look and design of the chair to make sure it blends well with the décor.”

The look must be sustained over several years to add significant value to the purchase of the chairs. John Menas, VP of sales for MTS Seating, describes a chair’s finish in terms that seem more akin to a quality automobile, which isn’t surprising given the 52-year-old Temperance, Michigan, company’s proximity to Detroit.

“Because of our location,” says Menas, “we have the opportunity to consult with the automobile industry“(regarding technology and innovations). Menas, who asserts MTS has the best powder coating finish in the industry, walks through the process used by several manufacturers in which a dry paint is electrostatically charged so it attracts to the metal chair. The paint is then oven-baked for a durable resilient finish.

Kubryk also attests to uniqueness in stacking chairs. “There has not been much evolution in the design of stacking chairs for the past 50 years or so,” Kubryk says. “Our Ultra chairs are intended to look more like European-style dining chairs than typical stacking chairs. These chairs feature increased scale tubing, rich finishes, and Parsons leg bases—all design elements not typically associated with banquet chairs. The result is something that looks more residential and less commercial, yet still exceeds the most stringent hospitality seating requirements. Also, our products are geared to satisfying the design team as well as the F&B team: our one-half handle is not visible from the front of the chair, though it is still fully functional; our three-wheel transporters are customized for each chair model and reduce the stress on hotel employees when transporting stacks of chairs.”

TOTAL COST
“Think total cost, not first cost.” This should be the philosophy of everyone involved in smart chair purchasing (or any procurement), implores Menas of MTS Seating. He says this includes looking at several factors including what he calls “the genealogy of the chair,” that is, all the raw materials that contribute to the final product as well as the lineage of the company that builds it.

Menas reports that MTS Seating’s manufacturing is vertically integrated in that raw steel goes in one door and the finished product comes out the other. He adds that the finished product is carefully packed in white pristine boxes so the hotel has a visual diary of the chair’s treatment from the time it leaves MTS to its arrival to the customer. If, for example, MTS receives a call from a customer that a box is damaged and upon inspection the white clean package has footprints running all over it, its doesn’t take long to identify the problem.

Chairs often are not treated delicately by either the F&B team or guests. “The chairs must be easy to handle, transport, and set up by the F&B staff,” advises Kubryk, “so they can turn a room quickly. Details like chair handles and easy-to-maneuver transporters can shave hours off the set-up process in a large facility. Last, but most important, is the chair’s durability. Banquet chairs take a lot of abuse, and, if they are not well made, the property (and chair manufacturer) are operating at a huge risk.” Kubryk points out that the underside of a stacking chair is a great place to see how well made it is.

MTS’ Menas agrees that, although aesthetics and comfort are what grab the customer and “end” user’s attention first, the frame, structure, safety, and other performance essentials, etc., are just as important. “For stacking chairs, in particular, a strong structure is paramount since, depending on space and labor, most are stacked ten to twelve chairs high ... Some chairs can only withstand a stack of six to eight or ‘nesting,’ i.e., four to six chairs on top of each other,” Menas says.

All stress that fire code compliance for the entire chair, not just fabric, is paramount. This includes the foam, seat board, and frame as well. It’s important to know what’s necessary for compliance, the most stringent being CAL 133, wherein the entire chair is required for burn-resistant compliance. Everyone concurs that now is an exciting time to be in the (chair) business. Hotels are building their event business and must entice the guest with a superior interior environment. Both hotels and their supplier partners must collaborate to impress the guest. This is one reason Menas says MTS Seating’s philosophy is “first quality, first time, all the time!”

Win Davis is a writer for the hospitality industry and communication consultant. His most recent book, Reach for the Stars Without Losing Your Balance, is available at Amazon.com, Win-Formation.com and select retail outlets.