In July, an order arrived at our workshop that made us especially happy: the Romantik Hotel Erasmus on the Saar ordered from us for the second time – this time ten made-to-measure outdoor mattresses for its sun lawn. In hospitality, repeat orders are the most honest compliment there is: a hotelier only reorders what has survived constant use by hundreds of guests. In this article we look at four real projects from our workshop to show what really matters for cushions in hotels and hospitality – and why made-to-measure is often the only solution there. Businesses we name have explicitly agreed to be mentioned – the others we introduce anonymously.
Project 1: an organic mountain hotel in the Allgäu – when the weather changes three times a day
High up in the Oberallgäu is an organic mountain hotel whose panoramic terrace is among the most beautiful in the region – and among the most meteorologically demanding. Morning mountain fog, blazing high-altitude sun at midday, a warm thunderstorm in the afternoon: cushions that have to withstand that daily rhythm can't be bought off a DIY-store shelf.
The hotel ordered Marocco outdoor mattresses from us in the 200 × 160 cm size with 12 centimetres of thickness – in a blue-and-white zigzag pattern to suit the alpine surroundings. The decisive factor was the combination of two properties: the olefin cover absorbs practically no water and dries fast enough after a mountain shower for guests to lie down again by the afternoon. And the 12 centimetres of foam still feel comfortable even when the mattress is used daily throughout the summer.
Here too, it didn't stop at one order. When the hotel reordered this spring, we knew: the first winter and the first season had been passed.
Project 2: Sonnentherme Lutzmannsburg – 260 centimetres you won't find anywhere for sale
The Sonnentherme Lutzmannsburg in Burgenland, one of Austria's best-known family thermal spas, faced a problem every spa operator knows: its generous outdoor lounging islands have non-standard dimensions for which no catalogue in the world carries a cushion. Specifically: 260 × 200 centimetres – an area larger than a double bed.
This is exactly where made-to-measure shows its biggest advantage. In our configurator, 260 centimetres of length isn't a special case, it's just a field to fill in. The spa ordered its mattresses in a sand-coloured tone for the lounging islands at the Baby Beach, the outdoor area for its youngest guests – in 10 centimetres of thickness, so the cushions are easy to lift and clean.
Thermal spas and pool areas are about the toughest environment there is for cushions: wet bathers, chlorinated water, full sun, daily cleaning. Our guide Custom pool cushions: waterproof and chlorine-resistant explains in detail why olefin excels precisely in that setting.
Project 3: an adults-only hotel in the Mühlviertel – 15 loungers and a special request
An adults-only hotel in Austria's Mühlviertel region ordered 15 Miami lounger cushions for its sun loungers – with a foldable headrest section in the 70+130 × 60 cm size, plus a detail that shows what "made in a workshop" really means: double-stitched securing straps at the headrest, because hotel loungers are adjusted daily and the straps there need to withstand far more than in a private garden.
A special request like that isn't a drama with a surcharge for us – it's a line added to the order for the sewing room. Our seamstresses – many with decades of experience – reinforce the straps without it affecting the look. Standard goods can't do that, because they arrive ready-made in a container; a workshop only sews each cushion once the order has actually come in.
Project 4: a château in France – from an Instagram collaboration to a repeat customer
Our southernmost project is in western France: a historic château with sprawling grounds. We first connected in 2024 through an Instagram collaboration – we're happy to say so openly. The nicest twist came afterwards: the château was so convinced by the made-to-measure outdoor mattresses that the collaboration turned into a genuine customer relationship, with further orders following.
For us, this is the most exciting stress test in our portfolio: a listed heritage property, where every cushion has to visually match the historic setting – and still hold up functionally through a full-sun French summer.
What these projects have in common
Beyond the mountains, the spa, the Romantik hotel and the château, we also supply Landhaus Alwine on the Spreewiesen in Brandenburg – where the made-to-measure daybeds sit on the roof terrace right next to the hot tub – and the Romantik Hotel Erasmus from the introduction. Interior design studios are also increasingly ordering directly for their hotel projects. Across all these cases, four patterns keep repeating:
1. Thick cushions instead of thin standard goods. Hospitality businesses order from us almost exclusively in 10 to 20 centimetres of foam thickness. The reason is simple economics: a thin 4-centimetre cushion sags flat within a single season of constant use – and looks exactly like that: sagged. Guests factor terraces into their reviews.
2. It has to be wipeable. Suncream, iced coffee, chip-covered fingers: in a hospitality setting, everything ends up on the cushion. Olefin can be wiped clean with a damp cloth because dirt sits on the fibre rather than inside it – for housekeeping, that's the difference between two minutes and a full machine wash.
3. Non-standard sizes are the rule, not the exception. Built-in pool loungers, inherited wooden benches, designer lounge furniture: hardly any business has furniture in catalogue sizes. We make every size from 30 to 300 centimetres in length – with no surcharge for "awkward" numbers.
4. It has to be quick and uncomplicated. A terrace that isn't ready by May costs revenue. Our production takes 2–3 weeks, and we usually answer questions within a few hours – and with a valid VAT ID, orders in our shop are automatically processed net as an intra-community supply. Reordering individual cushions later is no problem either: your measurements stay on file with us.
The next step: ski lodges and winter hospitality
The first businesses are already planning for the winter season – and one question keeps coming up: do the cushions also work on a ski lodge terrace? The answer is yes, for the same reasons as at the pool.
In winter, moisture is a constant: leftover snow on the bench, wet ski trousers, condensation in the midday sun. Because olefin absorbs under 0.1 percent moisture, nothing inside the material can soak through or freeze – the cushion stays functional where a cotton or polyester cushion turns into a damp, heavy rag. There's also an effect anyone who's ever sat on a bare wooden bench in January will recognise: the foam layer noticeably insulates against the cold from below. An 8 to 10 centimetre thick cushion turns a freezing lodge bench into a spot where guests happily order a second round of dumplings.
One honest note belongs here too: even the toughest cushion should be stored dry overnight in winter – not because of the fabric, but to spare the overall system snow load and constant frost. For housekeeping, that means: in the box in the evening, out again in the morning – with olefin, without any drying pause in between.
How a hospitality order works with us
The process is the same as for private customers, just at larger volumes: take your measurements (if you're unsure, our guide How to measure sun lounger cushions helps), choose length, width, thickness and fabric in the configurator, and the price appears instantly – no back-and-forth over quotes. If you want to check fabric and colour in your own setting first, order free fabric samples; for special requests such as reinforced straps or unusual shapes, a short email to support@lulu-belle.de is all it takes. For a full overview of all cushion types, see our complete guide Custom outdoor cushions.
Frequently asked questions from hotels and hospitality businesses
Are made-to-measure cushions suitable for daily hospitality use?
Yes – provided the fabric and thickness are right. Olefin covers (wipeable, water-repellent, colourfast) with 10 to 20 centimetres of foam have proven themselves in practice. Several hotels and a thermal spa are already on their second order with us.
Can individual cushions be reordered later?
Yes. Since every cushion is made to measure, any size can be reproduced identically at any time – handy if a terrace is extended or individual pieces need replacing.
How long does a larger order take for a business?
Production takes 2–3 weeks for all orders, and up to 4 weeks in high summer. If you want to be ready for the season start in May, it's best to order by March – that also leaves enough buffer for any questions about measurements.
Is an order with a VAT ID (net) possible?
Yes. EU businesses enter their valid VAT ID at checkout; the order is then automatically processed as a net intra-community supply (reverse charge) without VAT.
Do the cushions also work in winter on ski lodge terraces?
Yes. Olefin absorbs under 0.1 percent moisture – snow and damp don't penetrate the material, and the foam layer insulates against cold benches. Cushions should be stored dry overnight.
Sarah Engleman
Product development at Lulu-Belle. Since 2020 we've been developing made-to-measure outdoor cushions and furniture, hand-sewn in our workshop in Hungary – with over 730 customer reviews speaking for themselves.
