Spring break may have given you a taste of the crowds to come, and now is the time to make sure your pool deck is in tip-top shape for the summer rush. Pools can be instrumental in a guest’s buying decision and can be just as important to the overall guest experience as a room. Here are some ways to refresh your pool deck for the summer.

Rethink Your Landscaping

Do you have trees shedding leaves or nearby sand being windswept into the pool? Nothing makes people enjoy a pool less than feeling like it is dirty. Trim back trees to keep debris and bugs out of the water. Use river rocks around shrubs to tamper down the loose soil. River rocks cost more than mulch upfront, but won’t need to be replaced like mulch does. Plus, it provides a cleaner appearance and helps deter weed growth.

Consider planting palm trees around the perimeter of the pool area. If you’re short on plantable ground, you can get them in attractive planters. Palms will provide a low-maintenance way to add some greenery without leaves falling in the pool. They can also add another layer of privacy between pool-goers and traffic while cutting down on road noise.

Restore Worn Furniture

Guests want to feel like they’re being treated at a hotel. They may not have a pool at home, or it may need some of the same TLC that yours does. You want your pool to feel well-designed, fresh, and not a reminder of projects waiting for the guests when they get home.

Even if the patio furniture is in decent shape, the sun will fade any material. Plus, worn out furniture is just uncomfortable to use, like pieces with flaky rust, chipping paint, or sagging chairs. Here are a few DIY projects to clean up your hotel pool deck furniture if you’re not ready to replace everything:

• Refurbish metal patio furniture by sanding off flaking rust and adding a fresh coat of paint: tutorial
• Power wash and seal white plastic chairs, or update with a pop of color (this also helps hide dirt): tutorial
• Replace missing or sagging vinyl straps from worn down lounge chairs: tutorial

Maintain Your Deck

Whether your pool deck is concrete, tile, or pavers, it needs to be regularly cleaned and sealed. By maintaining your deck, you’ll be providing a clean and safe environment for guests. There are different pavement sealers that can help keep cool in the heat, prevent stains, or just to have a more attractive finish. Discuss your options with your pool maintenance professional to find out what would work best for your pool. Properly cleaning and maintaining your deck will help it to last longer and look newer.

Invest in Chair Cushions

Not only will adding lounge chair cushions help your guests relax, but it can also help reduce the number of towels you replace throughout the season. Most pool guests will take two towels – one for drying off, and one to drape over the chair they are about to use. Covered chairs are more comfortable to sit in and discourage guests from overusing towels. Fewer towels used leads to fewer washings, increasing the lifespan of your towel supply.

When the pool is closed for the season, be sure to properly remove and store chair cushions. This will help keep them out of harsh winter elements and help extend their life.

Show it Off

Is your hotel pool deck now photo ready? A new pool area is a great selling point for your hotel. Purchasing a professional hotel photo shoot is a smart investment to help drive bookings.

Be sure to snap lots of pictures on your phone and share them on your social media accounts. Inviting pool pictures are perfect for boosted posts that drive traffic to booking pages. Time to get #SummerReady!