Shade in style: how designer parasols elevate the customer experience

Tahiti parasols

As the heat sweeps through the Northern hemisphere and customers seek the shade, outdoor spaces are a prime asset for cafés, restaurants, hotels, and beach clubs. But with rising global temperatures and an increasing demand for both comfort and aesthetic value, providing shade isn’t just a matter of practicality – it’s a design decision that directly influences customer satisfaction and brand perception. At Symo Parasols, we believe that shade should never be an afterthought. It should be an experience –…

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Custom Parasols turn Outdoor Spaces into Brand Statements

Intro blog brand statement

In today’s competitive hospitality landscape, every detail counts. Outdoor areas are no longer just functional spaces; they are key branding opportunities. And among the most under-rated but highly visible assets in these environments are parasols. Personalised hospitality parasols can serve as powerful brand ambassadors, subtly communicating your identity and values, all while providing essential comfort to guests. Extending brand identity outdoors From logos and colour schemes to typography and tone, successful hospitality brands know that details matter. Custom parasols allow…

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What Il Salone del Mobile 2025 teaches us about the parasol of tomorrow

Il salone del Mobile 2025

Every year the international design world gathers in Milan for Il Salone del Mobile. It is the place where trends are born and where designers, architects and manufacturers show their vision of the future. We from Symo Parasols were also there. Not to admire chairs or tables, but to get inspiration for the professional parasol of tomorrow. New fabrics, new opportunities Eye-catching this year: fabrics with texture, shimmer or even metal threads. Consider Edra’s booth, where textiles took on a…

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Brighten Up Your Business: Use Colourful Parasols to Banish Winter Blues

Kleurrijke oranje Symo parasols

It’s no secret that winters can be a challenging season for businesses in the hospitality industry, particularly for restaurants and hotels with outdoor spaces. Shorter days, cooler temperatures, and grey skies can make terraces a lot less appealing. However, there are options which will transform your outdoor area into a vibrant, inviting haven. And one of the most impactful, yet simple solutions is to use colour. This can be through brights and jewel coloured upholstery on outdoor furniture or, for…

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How parasols drive customer retention and loyalty, whatever the weather

Symo Couture parasols

In the competitive world of hospitality, crafting memorable customer experiences is essential for building loyalty and driving long-term success. One of the most powerful but often overlooked tools in achieving this goal is the humble parasol. Parasols do far more than simply provide shade; they create an inviting environment, help manage the effects of unpredictable weather, and encourage guests to relax, enjoy, and ultimately return. In this blog, we’ll explore how investing in high-quality commercial outdoor umbrellas can transform your…

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The strategic importance of quality parasols

Weerbestendige Symo parasols

In the realm of hospitality, where first impressions and customer satisfaction are paramount, investing in top-quality parasols is a strategic decision that yields numerous benefits over time. While cheaper options may be tempting in a world filled with budget-friendly choices, it’s essential to consider the long-term advantages of opting for higher-quality parasols. Durability Symo parasols are constructed with superior materials and with craftsmanship, making them more durable and resistant to wear and tear. This longevity saves money in the long…

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Winterize your outdoor space and generate revenue all year round

As the northern hemisphere turn its attention to winter, many in the hospitality industry face a seasonal dip in revenue, particularly when it comes to outdoor spaces. However, winterizing an outdoor terrace can transform it into a cozy retreat that caters to guests’ needs throughout the colder months. One effective way to achieve this is by strategically utilizing parasols. In this blog, we explore how to best incorporate parasols into your outdoor terraces to maximize winter revenue. The value of…

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Buy parasols for the hospitality industry: free tips for sturdy parasols that last for years

Buy catering parasols - example from the Grand Place in Bergen

What do you learn in this blog article? • Warning: there are 2 types of parasols • How to choose the right parasol for your business • How to earn more with your parasols • Why do parasols give more profit than other investments in your terrace? • How do you determine the right size? • Stormproof and windproof: request wind guarantee on paper 1. Discover the super parasol that gives wings to your catering terrace There are 2 types…

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Tips for using gas bottles safely

illustratie bij blogtekst Veilig met gasflessen

We have always known that gas bottles are dangerous. Unfortunately, they sometimes lead to serious or even fatal accidents. This became apparent once again last spring when a bottle exploded with tremendous force in Deerlijk, Belgium, resulting in one death and one serious injury. But no matter how risky they are, gas bottles are indispensable in the hospitality industry. So we would like to give you some tips. To minimize the risks as far as possible. Let’s start with the…

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90 years Symo

personeel viert dat Symo 90 jaar is

On Friday 9 December 2022, we celebrated our 90th anniversary. We invited not only current but also all former employees and the vast majority came to celebrate with us. Time to look back at Symo’s long history. Leopold Van Sieleghem, born in 1833, was already skimming the markets with a wheelbarrow as an umbrella vendor. In 1932, son Theo and his sister Rachel started a company producing umbrellas in Oostkamp. Three years later, they moved their activity to Bruges. During…

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Boosting profits with a winter terrace

Couple cozy under blankets on a winter terrace

A well-run terrace can make a major contribution to the profits of a cafe or hotel. Shorter daylight hours and falling temperatures are no reason to panic. With care and thought it’s perfectly possible to extend the terrace season. Put in the effort and you’ll see your terrace performing well right through the winter. And the smokers will be grateful for a cosy spot where smoking is still allowed. Around one in four people around the world are daily smokers(1).…

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33% LESS LAUNDRY in your hotel? That’s the way to do it

Marriott card to promote reuse of towel

As an hotelier, you might recognise this: if all the towels are lying on the floor, they all get washed. If not all the towels are on the floor, some may be neatly hanging on the rail or may even not have been used … then you’re not sure. And you’re not the only one. An increasing number of hoteliers are scratching their heads with regard to an environmentally-friendly policy. And in the meantime, hotel guests no longer expect all…

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22 tips from a parasol expert for an exxxxxtra long life of your parasol

Bidon, Ghent - Classico

A professional Symo Parasol is always a good investment. Your terrace will look much more attractive so more people will choose your terrace. This way, your turnover will increase and the parasols will pay for themselves. Of course, the longer you can do that, the bigger your profit will be. And the good news is: Symo parasols last a long time. Do you take good care of your parasols? Then they’ll last for decades. Season after season you’re set to…

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9 hospitality lessons from the lockdowns

terrrace with MacSymo and Quattro parasols and heating

Restrictions, rules. It’s that time again. We are now talking about a semi-lockdown in Belgium. Fortunately, you’ve been through this before. You now know that this painful situation is temporary. As soon as the hospitals are under less pressure you will be able to work normally again. How do you handle this? We learned this from the previous lockdowns: Take Action If you don’t throw in the towel, you’ll beat this period faster: stay in touch with your customers, spoil…

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Let’s be smarter next time

We seem to be past the worst of Corona. Ordinary life is beckoning. And if everything goes well, we might even be able to bin the face masks soon. This is the ideal time to weigh up the favourable and less favourable effects of the many measures that we have all tried to respect. Time for a post-mortem! Did the measures effectively lead to fewer deaths? What was the impact of total closures, limiting capacity and adapted opening hours? These…

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If you only make one investment this year, be sure to choose your terrace!

Terrace with big MacSymo Parasols

At last! After long months of waiting, the time has come: you can finally open your business again. Your customers will soon be back. You can enjoy that wonderful bustle in your business again. After the first lockdown: busy, busy, busy You may have noticed it in June when the catering industry was allowed to open again: people flocked to the catering terraces to socialize, dine and glow in the sun. Now it will be like that again. Everyone longs…

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