Furniture market moves on from delays

Postponed Middle East hotel projects, put on hold due to financial issues, have had a sustained and ongoing impact on peripheral industry suppliers.

Commenting on business, Parasol Garden Furniture managing director Mark Sault admitted: “The postponement of hotel building has definitely had a negative impact on sales during 2009 and 2010.

“The planned number of built rooms will fall well short of original projected figures, and as such all ancillary products will suffer a fall in projected sales,” he said.

However Sault noted that the furniture industry had seen a lift in business in the run up to the summer months.

“During late 2009, some of the more established hotels in the region decided to upgrade their outdoor seating to ensure that the status of the property was commensurate with its image,” he explained.

Sault added that the most challenging aspect of providing quality, long-lasting outdoor furniture to Middle East operators remained the regional climate.

“The harsh sun requires products that can withstand the scorching summer temperatures,” he pointed out.

“But the rise in sales of synthetic rattan has ensured that hoteliers can provide a prestige setting with durability and style.

“Today’s customers want comfort, aesthetics, durability and value for money,” he continued.

“The aesthetic values in each product have really become crucial as hotels compete for an increasingly astute and well informed travelling public.

“This area has really made huge advances recently: new materials combined with design-led styles have encouraged operators to make the most of the outdoor settings.”