Case Studies: Transforming Outdoor Spaces Into Revenue-Generating Assets

Spending time outdoors offers benefits such as improved physical health, better sleep and greater emotional well-being. Given these advantages, it’s easy to see why businesses across industries — particularly hospitality — are choosing to incorporate outdoor spaces into their designs. Discover the benefits of outdoor space monetization for hotels, restaurants and other hospitality businesses in our guide, along with helpful case studies that can help you see the full potential of investing in outdoor areas.

Introduction to Outdoor Space Monetization in the Outdoor Hospitality Industry

With today’s rising business costs, hospitality business owners have realized they need to generate income from every inch of their real estate, and outdoor areas are a hotspot for profits. From creating an alfresco menu to complement your outdoor space to commissioning a mural, you can make your space an attraction in several ways.

For example, some popular outdoor spaces that optimize revenue include:

• Rooftop gardens or seating areas
• Private and public balconies
• Recreational vehicle (RV) grounds or “glamping” sites
• Outdoor dining areas
• Poolside villas

How to Increase Revenue With Outdoor Hospitality Spaces

As you assess your exterior areas, you’ll want to look for opportunities to make the most of what you have. Ultimately, increasing revenue from outdoor spaces comes down to trying out different approaches that work for your unique property.

Here are a few ideas to consider as you look into solutions:

1. Add soft furnishings: While seat cushions add an extra layer of comfort for visitors, they can also serve as design elements. Similarly, offering small blankets helps to keep the chill off during cooler months, and you can use them as a brand opportunity for your business.
2. Make your space unique: Incorporating fun, out-of-the-box elements into your outdoor space can attract curious visitors. For example, you might commission an artist to paint a mural that pays homage to the community. Another idea would be to incorporate technology, such as changing light features, to create an artful experience.
3. Offer outdoor dining: If your business serves food, consider extending the dining space outside. When you add extra seating or create a specific outdoor dining experience, you can open your business to a wider audience and boost revenue.
4. Incorporate plants: Greenery helps soften outdoor exteriors. Adding a few floral and greenery options can make your space stand out, especially if the surrounding area lacks trees and plants.
5. Implement lighting: If you plan to keep your outdoor areas open at night, you may want to incorporate soft lighting options. Incorporate lights with dimming abilities to seamlessly transition from day to evening in the outdoor space.
6. Install outdoor cooking areas or firepits: A fun way to keep guests entertained is to build an outdoor kitchen that directly serves the outdoor dining space. Alternatively, you could add firepits around other seating areas to enhance the ambiance.

Understanding the Potential of Shade Structures

Part of making your outdoor area a hit with customers and visitors is prioritizing safety and comfort. Whether your business operates year-round or is limited to seasonal hours, incorporating shade elements into your design can be highly advantageous. This way, guests can make use of the outdoor space rain or shine — and you can generate more earnings.

Here’s a more in-depth look at how shade solutions can help various businesses create welcoming outdoor spaces every month of the year.

1. Sports Fields

Sports fields typically generate income through player membership fees and ticket sales. Providing a more comfortable experience for both parties helps to ensure a constant stream of revenue.

Shade solutions enhance this level of comfort by keeping players and spectators cooler on hot days. In addition, high-quality structures can block out 90% of the sun’s rays, helping to reduce the risks of excess sun exposure. Wet conditions can also impact player and spectator enjoyment, and waterproof shade structures can help keep patrons dry.

Some other benefits of shade structures for sports fields include:

• Promote player health: Spending too much time in the sun can lead to heat stroke and dehydration. Providing shade for players on and off the field reduces health and safety concerns while allowing them to perform at their best.
• Protect sporting equipment: Goals and seating areas become damaged over time when exposed to the elements. Incorporating shade solutions helps to extend the longevity of these items and spaces.
• Enhance the overall experience: Protecting players and spectators from heat and wet conditions makes sporting events more enjoyable. Creating a better overall experience has a positive impact on ticket sales, encouraging visitors to return.

Case Study: US Open Pickleball Championship

After realizing that the courts and stands became uncomfortably warm under the Florida sun, organizers of the US Open Pickleball Championship decided to look for a solution for their event. The courts and seating area spanned over a large space, so they needed a custom shade structure to fit the dimensions.

The assigned architect worked with USA SHADE to develop a unique design that delivered substantial shade for both players and spectators. Now, the courts are home to tournaments throughout the year and the base of the US Open Pickleball Academy.

Case Study: Sheppard AFB Golf Course

Golf is a sport that takes a significant amount of time to perfect. The Sheppard AFB Golf Course realizes this, which is why it invested in a structure that allows golfers to use the range year-round.

By installing an 81-foot-long full hip cantilever structure, the course enables golfers to spend hours at the range with reduced sun exposure. The shade solution also protects turf and equipment, such as golf carts, from warping in the sun.

2. Parks

Many people consider parks free areas that the whole community can enjoy. However, there are multiple ways park managers can generate revenue from these spaces. Some profitable activities include:

• Facility rentals: Renting buildings on the park premises for cultural events, workshops or team-building activities helps provide revenue year-round.
• Hosting special events: Special events like concerts, art classes and food tastings enable local businesses and artists to make a name for themselves., and parks can provide a great space to host these special activities for a fee.
• Sponsorships and advertising: Allowing local businesses to advertise in or near the park can be financially lucrative for parks.

Case Study: Admiral Baker Park

This green space in San Diego, California, offers adults and children an area to exercise, play and enjoy a picnic lunch. However, the hot summer weather can make it hard to enjoy the space in the direct sun.

Park managers chose to install 20′ x 40′ Hip fabric structures from USA SHADE to cover the park’s seating areas. These solutions allow people to have a seat or enjoy a picnic in a more comfortable environment.

3. Waterparks

Successful waterparks go one step beyond providing enjoyable rides — they create an experience. Families arrive in the morning and seek out refreshments to fuel them during the day. Souvenir shops sell branded merchandise, such as towels, waterproof phone sleeves and stickers. These revenue-generating tactics help keep waterparks profitable.

Incorporating shade solutions helps maximize the success of these extra-revenue ventures. For example, shaded picnic areas provide a space for adults and children to comfortably enjoy the beverages and food they purchase. Similarly, souvenir kiosks can enhance the brand with shade solutions that feature the waterpark’s colors. The result is a more relaxing experience that keeps visitors coming back.

Case Study: Bahama Beach Waterpark

The Bahama Beach Waterpark in Dallas stands apart from its competitors with Coolbrella sun covers from USA SHADE. The waterpark selected these products for their superior sun protection and festive colors. From shading picnic areas to independent rest spots, this waterpark achieved the perfect balance between aesthetics and function. Bahama Beach Waterpark further enhanced the visitor experience by installing shade structures ahead of rides so people could wait in cool areas.

Along with the Coolbrella sun covers, the waterpark used Hexagon, Single Post Pyramid and Hip shade solutions to provide a more comfortable environment for families.

Case Study: Rock’N River Waterpark

This Texas waterpark established its brand with custom-colored shade structures. By incorporating a collection of royal blue, Laguna blue, rain forest and yellow fabrics in their structures, they created a blue oasis. Their covered kids’ pools add another reason for families to visit and enjoy a relaxing time at the park.

4. Playgrounds

Physical activity is essential for children of all abilities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that young people between 6 and 17 get at least one hour of physical exercise a day, and playgrounds and outdoor fitness areas enable them to accomplish this goal.

However, as the seasons change, access to playgrounds and outdoor fitness equipment varies. For example, the hot summer temperatures make equipment hot to touch. Wet conditions also present a challenge as they make swings, climbers and slides slippery.

Shade solutions allow community members to access your playground all year round. By customizing the fabric, you can also specify the degrees of translucency, light reflectivity, UV/weather protection, and non-combustibility. All of these factors enable people of different ages to enjoy playgrounds across seasons — and just like parks, you can monetize playgrounds by renting out event spaces.

Case Study: Woodland West Park

Woodland West Park is a recreational area in Arlington, Texas. The park upgraded its space to include quality playground structures, such as climbers, swings and more. However, as this area had limited trees to offer natural shade, a durable shade solution was required to optimize this play area year-round.

USA SHADE suggested a Sahara shade solution because it offers optimal sun protection without obstructing playtime. The structure’s conical shape also adds an aesthetic element to the park, helping it stand out from others in the area.

Case Study: Dry Creek Park

Playgrounds are primarily aimed at children, but designing a playground that caters to people of all ages helps ensure a better overall experience. This way, older kids can partake in play activities with younger siblings and friends, and parents and caregivers can easily keep an eye on their kids.

Dry Creek Park in California achieved this inclusive design by using USA SHADE solutions to cover playground equipment and seating areas. They used a combination of Hip and 4-Point Hypar sail structures, protecting children and caregivers from excessive sun.

5. Retail and Office Spaces

In a world where online shopping has become the norm, retail store managers must do more to ensure a more favorable shopping experience. Shade solutions help to create more welcoming spaces, encouraging patrons to stop by.

For example, a covered seated area provides the perfect spot for weary shoppers to rest their feet. Similarly, restaurants in retail outlets can make use of shade structures to offer guests an alfresco dining experience. Perhaps an even greater benefit is the energy savings shade structures help achieve. Positioning shade solutions near windows helps lower the interior temperature and reduce energy bills. In addition, merchandise will face less wear and tear.

At the same time, office buildings can be turned into comfortable and inviting campuses that attract more employees with the help of shade structures. Providing plenty of areas for employees to have outdoor meetings, eat lunch and take calls in the shade encourages them to spend more time outdoors without compromising on productivity.

Altogether, retail spaces with exterior attached spaces and entries and office campuses can benefit from shade solutions in various ways.

Case Study: Asia Time Square

This outdoor shopping center is a site for Lunar New Year celebrations, weekend markets and other significant cultural events, located in Texas. Even though these events occur regardless of the weather, officials were looking for a way to offer attendees shelter from the elements.

They chose to install an array of 4-Point Hypar sails, which deflect rain and sun from the walkways, encouraging customers to enjoy the space and support vendors.

Case Study: Westlake Park Place

Corporate campuses can be transformed with accessible outdoor spaces, and Westlake Park Place is one example in Southern California. Management installed various seating areas for office workers to enjoy on their lunch break but soon realized these seated areas were in direct sunlight.

They chose to incorporate Solona and custom shade structures to optimize comfort in these spaces. These structures provide shade for workers and help maintain the longevity of the outdoor furniture. The classic beige color also blends seamlessly into the surroundings, creating plenty of visual appeal.

Transform Your Outdoor Space With USA SHADE

Outdoor spaces offer hospitality businesses an extra avenue of revenue. By incorporating durable fabric solutions, they can make these spaces even more comfortable for visitors and guests, encouraging them to become repeat customers and recommend the experience to friends.

USA SHADE has over 25 years of experience designing fabric solutions that enhance outdoor spaces while delivering the benefits of shade. We’ve worked with park managers, architects, business owners and various other customers to help find the best solution for their needs. If you’re considering implementing shade structures to increase revenue from outdoor spaces, our team will be happy to help.

Explore our products today to learn more about our shade solutions for outdoor hospitality. Get in touch with our team to discuss custom designs. We look forward to taking on your project and transforming your business’s outdoor space!