Bringing the historic hotel Saranac back to life isn’t easy. Especially if it’s been closed for an extended period. Plus, ensuring the property meets the needs of the current guests while still honoring its legacy is a hearty challenge. Enter Sue Pollio, RSJ Associates, LLC, President and Founder, and an owner tasked with reinventing the Hotel Saranac, which originally debuted in 1927. Now $30 million and three years later, Pollio shares with Samuelson Furniture what the exp

The furniture industry has gained great benefit from the 3D rendering, photo-realistic process. Producing virtual, high quality images digitally provide clear visualization of abstract concepts, unlimited means of customization, and efficient revision of particular elements of a model. The flexibility of this technology accelerates the approval process while enhancing visual communication with precise and accurate renderings. We asked our design team to put together a list o

Technology in hospitality design has become the backbone of the hotel business on many levels. This includes the ways in which properties are operated behind the scenes as well as guest-facing technologies, and of course the latest electronic contraptions hotel customers use when on site. 8383 Custom wall unit showcasing pull out bar cabinet with LED lights, pull out dining table top with 2 ottomans, TV in Mirror, Desk with data ports and closet. Designed with Design Force It

As we all get set to maximize opportunity in 2018, it’s critical to understand the trends which could potentially have the most positive effect regarding your business. To get a sense of areas of opportunity in the New Year and the trends behind them, we tracked down some of the hotel industry’s top designers to see which emerging trends they find the most relevant and those they are personally excited to explore. We spoke with three prominent hospitality designers to underst

Left to Right - Michael Chalfin, Laurie Chalfin, Lawrence Chalfin, Ruth Chalfin Chasolen They say the hotel business is one big happy family. That rings true both figuratively and literally. Here at Samuelson Furniture, we proudly carry a family tradition spanning four generations and 90+ years. While the distinction of being a generational business is uncommon today, we know others in the industry who have accomplished this. Family businesses within the hospitality industr

Keeping ahead of the trends is paramount here at Samuelson Furniture, and to accomplish this we must continually invest in our business. After all, being in a family owned and operated business for more than 80 years means we never rest on our laurels. We must continually invest in our future to provide our clientele with the most exceptional results and ensure our position as industry leaders for many more decades to come. For this reason, Samuelson Furniture has significant

This month we are investigating how those tasked with purchasing furniture approach their role in delivering a long lasting product that pleases both ownership and guests, all while anchoring the in-room experience. We connected with two industry superstars; Joe Motley, Program Manager at Walt Disney World, and Neil Locke, principal at Neil Locke & Associates, and asked them to share their thoughts on the importance of Maximizing ROI with FF&E. How do you think furniture rela

There has been a big shift in hospitality during the last five years. Public spaces in hotels, especially the lobby, are officially the front and center attraction. While they have always been the first thing guests see, there is a new focus. This relates to setting the stage for experience while simultaneously creating engaging spaces where people want to hang out, and importantly, spend money. Ritz Carlton San Juan Puerto Rico - Streetsense Therefore, it is no surprise; th

Purchasing Pro Tips: From P.O. to Delivery We all know what purchasers do, they purchase! But knowing what they do is very different than understanding how they do it. So, we spoke to a couple of purchasing experts to find out exactly how they spend their days. Hint: It’s a lot more involved than shopping for pretty things. Turns out, there’s a lot of management and skill required to ensure projects come in on time, on budget, and feature products that can live up to the rigo

Purchasing FF&E, particularly furniture, can be a complicated task, especially for high end custom products. But it doesn’t have to be. We spoke with two purchasing pros -- who also have extensive design backgrounds -- and talked them into sharing their best practices for buying furniture. Our experts said, in the end, it comes down to purchasers following these simple rules. Focus on quality, reputation, lead time, cost and warranty. Ensuring you’re able to achieve those abo