For the owner of a hotel, guesthouse or holiday let, however, these small items represent a regular expense and affect day-to-day operations. Therefore, the question of how to choose hotel amenities is not simply a matter of finding the lowest price. You need to find products that are of sufficient quality, easy to restock and suited to the guest flow at your specific property.
Supplies that are too cheap can lead to more complaints and extra work. Conversely, it is not sensible to overpay for premium-class products if they do not match the standard of your accommodation or your budget. Practical purchasing begins with a clear understanding of what guests will actually use.
Start with the type of accommodation and guest flow
The needs of a large hotel, a small guesthouse and a short-term flat lettings provider differ. In a large hotel, it is essential to have consistent standards across all rooms, efficient housekeeping and the ability to order the same supplies on a regular basis. In a smaller establishment, you can opt for a wider range of supplies or use different types of amenities depending on the room category.
First, calculate the average occupancy rate. If the property has 20 rooms and an average of two guests stay in each, consumption should be planned not according to the number of rooms, but according to actual occupancy and the length of stay. The quantities of soap, shampoo, toilet paper, slippers and disposable kits will differ for guests staying for one night compared to those staying for a week.
Seasonality must also be taken into account. During the summer season, a seaside accommodation will need more beach towels, water glasses and toiletries. In winter, stocks of extra blankets, slippers or warm drinks may be more relevant. You don’t need to draw up a shopping list just once a year – it’s practical to review it before the peak season and after periods of high demand.
How to choose hotel amenities based on frequency of use
The easiest way is to divide the amenities into three groups: essential items for the room, additional items for guests’ comfort, and spare supplies for housekeeping. This breakdown helps to avoid buying random items simply because they look useful.
The essential set usually includes bed linen, towels, toilet paper, soap or liquid soap, bin bags, glasses or mugs, hangers and basic cleaning supplies. If there is a bathroom, you should also consider shower curtains, bath mats, hairdryers and toiletries. These items must be available every day, so the key criteria are a stable supply and a reasonable unit price.
Additional items enhance the guest experience, but they must be chosen to suit the property. For example, slippers, a sewing kit, a shower cap, a toothbrush set or a tea tray may be a good choice for higher-priced rooms or longer stays. In budget accommodation, these items can be provided on request rather than placed in every room. This reduces unnecessary waste and makes the housekeepers’ work easier.
Stock reserves should include items that must never run out: towels, bed linen, toilet paper, liquid soap, light bulbs, batteries, bin bags and cleaning products. If a delivery is delayed or the workload suddenly increases, this stock protects against having to make urgent and more expensive purchases.
Judge quality by how well it performs in practice
Hotel amenities do not necessarily have to be expensive, but they must be able to withstand their intended use. When it comes to towels, it is not just the colour and size that matter, but also the fabric’s density, absorbency and ability to retain their shape after repeated washing. Very thin towels may seem like good value at first, but they wear out more quickly and leave a poorer impression on guests.
Care should also be taken with bed linen. White linen is classic and easy to coordinate, but it may require more careful stain treatment. Darker or patterned textiles are better at concealing minor stains, but they must be consistent across all rooms. If the linen is washed frequently, it is usually more practical to choose a durable, easy-to-care-for material rather than a decorative but delicate fabric.
For single-use hygiene products, check the quality and size of the packaging. Shampoo sachets that are too small may not be enough for two guests, whilst bottles that are too large increase costs and the amount of waste. In some establishments, dispenser bottles that are regularly refilled are more suitable. This can be more economical in high-traffic areas, but requires meticulous cleanliness and regular monitoring.
Compare not only the price, but also the cost per use
The cheapest pack isn’t always the best value for money. When buying toilet paper, compare the number of rolls, the number of sheets and the quality of the material. For towels, compare the price with the expected number of washes. For liquid soap, check the container size and the dispenser’s consumption rate.
It’s practical to work out the approximate cost per night’s stay. This figure can include toiletries, linen wear and tear, detergents, bin bags and other regularly used items. Once you can see the cost structure, it is easier to understand where it is worth buying larger packs and where a smaller stock is sufficient.
In most cases, it is more cost-effective to order frequently used items in larger quantities. However, you should not fill your stockroom with items that are used infrequently or have a specific design. If the room’s concept changes or the supplier’s range changes, such stock may remain unused.
Create a standardised checklist for each room type
A standardised list of items reduces errors during cleaning. Create separate checklists for standard rooms, family rooms and rooms with additional amenities. The cleaner can immediately see how many towels, glasses, toiletries and other items need to be provided.
The standard kit does not need to be complicated. It is sufficient if it is complete and consistent. A family room may require more towels, extra duvets, child-friendly mugs or small toiletries. In a long-term rental flat, on the other hand, kitchen essentials are often needed as well – washing-up liquid, a sponge, kitchen towels, bin bags and basic crockery.
A standardised system also helps with ordering. If you know that every standard room requires two mugs, four hangers and two large towels, you can quickly calculate what needs to be replenished when opening new rooms or replacing worn-out items.
Check availability and ease of delivery
In the hotel industry, it is not only the product range that matters, but also the ability to reorder. Choose products with a clear item number, visible stock levels and a straightforward packaging quantity. This makes the purchasing manager’s job easier and reduces the risk of the wrong item being selected in the next order.
If you’re buying from several categories at once – textiles, hygiene products, household essentials, seasonal decorations or gifts for guests – it’s convenient to combine them into a single order. Lutini.lv’s wide range of products can be a practical solution for establishments wishing to regularly restock various everyday supplies from a single source.
Before placing a larger order, test one or two samples in real-life use. Wash a towel, try out a dispenser, check the size of the slippers and see how easily the items can be arranged in the room. A small test often prevents an unsuitable bulk purchase.
A good set of hotel amenities raises no unnecessary questions for either guests or staff: everything needed is in place, stocks are replenished, and costs remain under control. Start with the most frequently used items, set a minimum stock level, and only expand the range when you see that a particular item is genuinely needed by guests.
