NYC awnings offer so much more than weather protection. They’re part of the City’s look and feel, traditional and modern at the same time. They’re decorative and distinctive. There’s no better way to customize your hotel than with an awning.
NYC awnings are an obvious choice for your entrance.
Nothing says “Please come in, we’re glad you’re here” like an attractive entry. An awning gives your hotel definition and makes it easier to pick out from a distance. Awnings can provide a more three-dimensional look for a sidewalk-flush urban entrance, or create a portico that leads to the curbside or your valet station.
Providing full rain and snow protection is appreciated by guests and keeps your doorman looking spiffy even in the most inclement weather.
NYC awnings add style and architectural interest to windows.
Awnings can soften a hard stone or masonry surface. They add color to perk up austere architecture. They make every hotel look fresher and more fashionable.
Use them to shade street-level or upper floor windows. They can follow the line of your exterior, down the street and even around the corner. Your awning can be a continuous run along the hotel’s entire frontage, or you can install awnings over individual windows.
NYC awnings come in all shapes and sizes.
Turn-of-the century stone or steel-and-glass, intricate façade or plain flat exterior – whatever the design of your hotel, you can easily create awnings that suitably complement your property’s “persona.”
Choose a traditional slanted angle, or create a unique curved, arched or dome shape. A horizontal “shelf” type awning over your entrance gives it an extra-sturdy appearance. Use a combination of styles. Entry and window awnings don’t have to be identical as long as they’re coordinated.
Your awnings can be very shallow if they’re purely for decoration. Or they can be deep enough to cover an outdoor café or bar or your poolside seating or snack area. Include translucent or slatted panels along the top to filter bright sunlight while allowing light to shine through.
Consider adding valances with scalloped or cut-out edges that give a flirty flutter in the breeze.
Movement captures the eye, you know.
Your awning could be retractable, but why? For hotels, an important benefit of NYC awnings is the visual impact they provide. Every time you retract your awning you lose that value as well as the ability to consistently underscore your visual brand. Besides, you can achieve the same look with permanent installation, if necessary to meet NYC Landmark status requirements.
And don’t forget the graphics.
Awning fabrics can look staid or snazzy. Whether you choose a solid color, stripes or other patterns, be sure to use your hotel’s thematic colors. You can add graphics to the front or sides. In fact, thanks to digital printing, you can literally put any graphics anywhere. Talk about customization!
You can also dress up your awning with hanging pots or large planter urns that visually anchor the corners. Use bright flowers or handsome evergreens, changing them seasonally for continuous color accents. They’ll add more personality to your property, underscoring your hotel’s attention to detail, like having fresh flowers on tables or in your rooms.
You can even use NYC awnings indoors.
Repeating the outdoor look indoors continues your welcome as people enter and helps draw them in. If you have a spacious lobby, use awnings to define eating areas, bars, shops, a courtyard. It’s not just for looks. The easier it is for visitors and guests to find your amenities the less time your concierge and front desk staff will have to spend giving directions when you’re busy with check-ins and check-outs.
Even if your have only a foyer-size reception area, a narrow awning over the front desk will give it extra charm and definition.
Are you making good use of awnings to customize your hotel?
Photo Credit: Elvert Barnes via Flickr
