As the hospitality industry steps into a new year, many venues are using this time to reset, refresh, and rethink, considering how their spaces have performed over the past 12 months. What could be improved? What isn’t working? What needs changing? How to improve revenue? The New Year is the perfect time to formulate a plan of action.
At Burgess, we’ve seen through 60+ New Year’s so to help with your planning, here are fifteen practical New Year’s resolutions that venue owners, GMs and operations teams can use to guide their strategy for the year ahead, from boosting guest satisfaction to improving operational efficiency.
My New Year’s resolutions are to…
“…refresh our spaces without tearing the whole place apart.”
Resolutions don’t have to be big ones. Often it’s the small things that have a big impact. Updating seating, switching to more modern tables, or refreshing soft furnishings can transform first impressions and reenergise spaces without major renovations.
“…make everything more comfortable for our guests.”
From the breakfast area to the lobby, conference rooms and lounges, comfort remains a deciding factor in guest reviews. Ergonomic seating and well-designed lounge pieces help guests relax, linger and enjoy the space for longer.
“…make life easier for our staff with smarter furniture.”
January is the ideal moment to reassess the furniture your team uses every day. Trolleys, folding tables, stackable seating and mobile partitions can reduce setup times, streamline turnaround to minimise staff accidents and fatigue, especially important during peak event seasons.
“…turn our rooms into multi-functional spaces”
Modern venues need spaces that can shift from meetings to events to social occasions with ease. Modular seating and tables allow you to adapt layouts faster and accommodate a wider range of guests throughout the year. For larger spaces, temporary stages and dance floors that your staff can set up, break down and store easily will increase your opportunities.
“…bring more calm and wellness into the venue.”
Guests continue to value calm, balanced environments. Soft curves, warm fabrics, acoustic privacy and biophilic-inspired design elements can all contribute to a wellness-centred experience that sets your venue apart.
“…reduce downtime between events and room changeovers.”
Faster transitions mean more usable space and improved profitability. Reviewing the practicality, portability and storage of your furniture now will pay dividends when business ramps back up.
“…be more sustainable in the way we choose our furniture.”
From sourcing eco-friendly materials to recyclable frames, sustainability is no longer a niche benefit, it’s an expectation. Guests notice when establishments invest in high-quality, responsibly made products designed to stand the test of time.
“…make our spaces naturally Instagrammable.”
Guests love sharing beautiful environments or taking a selfie and sharing their location, and it doesn’t require gimmicks or props. Thoughtful clusters of soft seating, statement chairs or seamless theme can naturally create photo-friendly moments that boost your brand visibility.
“…rethink our event space layouts so guests can move freely.”
Review how guests move through your event spaces. Better flow reduces bottlenecks during coffee breaks and enhances the overall experience, especially during conferences and seminars. Giving guests more space also reduces anxiety and stress.
“…make our spaces more inclusive for everyone.”
Ensuring everyone is comfortable isn’t just good hospitality, it’s good business. Consider seat heights, stability, circulation space and ergonomic options to create an environment that welcomes all guests equally.
“…declutter those storage rooms once and for all.”
A new year is the perfect excuse to tackle overcrowded storage rooms and corners. Replacing bulky furniture with smarter, space-saving designs can make day-to-day operations considerably smoother.
“…get ahead of our busiest seasons this year.”
Whether it’s wedding season, corporate events or summer holidays, planning your furniture requirements early will help you stay flexible and avoid last-minute scrambles.
“…improve the guest arrival experience from the moment they walk in.”
Guests form opinions within seconds of entering your venue. Comfortable, well-arranged lobby seating or breakout space that’s visually pleasing immediately sets the tone for their visit.
“…take better care of our staff, too.”
Comfortable back-of-house areas, easy-to-handle equipment and sensible workflows have a huge impact on staff morale… happier teams, happier guests.
“…keep our design consistent from room to room.”
Create a coherent aesthetic that ties the entire guest journey together. From lounges and bedrooms to meeting rooms and breakout spaces, consistent materials, colours and furniture lines create a stronger brand identity.
Looking ahead to a successful 2026
Entering a new year is always an opportunity to refine, refresh and reimagine your spaces. By focusing on comfort, flexibility, sustainability and operational efficiency, venues can set themselves up for a year of improved guest experience and smoother day-to-day operations. If you’d like to learn how our Burgess team can make these New Year’s resolutions happen, contact them by email hello@burgessfuniture.com or call us on +44 (0)33 0333 9258.