Smart sourcing for summer: GPO benefits for lodging

Every season brings with it a new way for hotels to leverage and optimize their group purchasing organization (GPO) relationship on everything from food to FF&E.

Harnessing the purchasing power of a GPO for hotel procurement happens year-round, but the summer bounty of travelers is especially profitable for hotels.

“Spring and summer breathe fresh energy into your whole operation,” says Phil Hummel, Entegra VP, Client Services, Hospitality and Leisure. “In fact, we just created a new Outdoor Season Supplier guide to give clients quick and easy access to the products and services most-needed at this time of year."

Already an Entegra client? Reach out to us to get your Outdoor Season Supplier Solution guide.

Beyond simply a hotel supply company, Entegra takes great pride in the 2,500+ valued supplier partners who offer preferred pricing and other perks to our lodging clients. Read on for summer trends inspiration and select Entegra suppliers that can help shape your lodging summer checklist!

Business + leisure

So-called "bleisure” travel (the combination of business and leisure) takes guests from co-working spaces to poolside.

Entegra solutions:

• ODP keeps your business center ticking with all the office essentials.
• MityLite manufactures tables, chairs, portable dance floors, and other event furnishings.

Wellness + rejuvenation

Expectations for premium spa and pool services have never been higher. Wellness retreats, fitness programs, and healthy dining are all on the docket all year round, but even more so during the summer months.

Entegra solutions:

• Boca Terry helps guests relax and unwind with bathrobes, towels, slippers, bedding, spa amenities, and more.
• Leslie’s Poolmart is the largest pool and spa care brand in the U.S.

Eco-everything

Savvy lodging operators provide feel-good travel that honors both the guest – and the earth. Share your eco endeavors with your guests, from solar power parking lots to water-saving appliances: Be loud and proud about your sustainability story!

Entegra solutions:

• Entegra energy services As part of Entegra’s commitment to client sustainability goals, Entegra helps clients make smarter energy decisions.
  In partnership with Sodexo, we can help monitor, analyze and optimize energy consumption, incorporate more renewable energy sources into a hotel operation, help find competitive energy providers and more. Check out Controlling rising energy costs: An operator’s guide to learn more.

Gen Alpha & Gen Z

According to the Hilton Trends Report 2025, 70% of parents turn to their Gen Alpha kids (kids up to 13 years old) for family travel decisions. The same study cites that 63% of parents always or often let their kids pick where they dine while traveling. And Gen Z, ages 13-28, expect creative spaces that balance digital and in-person experiences.

Entegra solutions:

• Entegra Culinary Consulting (ECC) and its team of culinarians can reengineer your menu to include on-trend, family-friendly dishes that boost profits and satisfy guests.
• Creative Xchange helps lodging operators easily find and book local and touring live music. It also streamlines scheduling, billing, and marketing to make live music events achievable—in addition to being Instagram-worthy.
• Sweet Street Desserts supplies over 400 gourmet desserts from oversized chocolate chip cookies to gourmet cakes — the perfect "bait” to lure in kids of all ages for a lobby pick-me-up or restaurant dessert stop.

Ready to meet your summer goals?

Contact Entegra and ask for a lodging procurement expert to explore seasonal cost savings with these Entegra valued suppliers and hundreds more!

Don’t just take it from us: Hear directly from Entegra’s satisfied lodging clients, Accor and Heritage Hotels, to hear concrete examples of the Entegra difference.

^{1 New Vacation Trends Reshaping The Stay Hilton, 2024
2 The New Quality of Time Insights Report, Accor}