Fireplaces for Hotels: Electric, Bioethanol and Lobby Planning

An electric fireplace for a hotel lobby is often the first thing an arriving guest notices: a calm band of flame on the wall, a seating group in front of it, and suddenly the room has a centre. In the lobby, the bar, the suite, the restaurant or a private villa, a fireplace creates the kind of atmosphere guests remember. Casa Padrino supplies electric fireplaces as slim wall units and with classic surrounds, bioethanol fireplaces for walls, terraces and dining tables, and fireplace accessories.

For hoteliers, architects, interior designers and developers, this page explains which type of fireplace suits which area, what to consider when building in an electric fireplace, where bioethanol reaches its limits and how a fireplace fits safely into daily hotel operation. We supply the same piece in the quantity your project needs, made to measure on request and delivered worldwide.

Electric fireplace for a hotel lobby: modern black LED wall fireplace, 241.5 cm wide, by Casa Padrino

At 241.5 cm wide and only 13 cm deep, this LED wall fireplace draws a long line of flame across a lobby or bar. Pictured: Casa Padrino Luxury LED Electric Fireplace Black 241.5 x 13 x H. 46.5 cm

Why a fireplace does more for a hotel than decoration

Large rooms need an anchor. In a high lobby, guests drift and seating groups look accidental. A fireplace organises the space: furniture faces it, circulation passes by it, and an area forms where people settle instead of simply waiting.

Building services keep the temperature, the fireplace provides atmosphere. That is why electric fireplaces are so common in hospitality: no chimney, with or without heat.

Electric fireplaces: built-in, wall-mounted and the flame effect

It needs a power supply, no flue and no fuel storage. The flame effect is produced by LED technology, on some models also by water mist lit from within. Casa Padrino offers three formats that differ clearly in planning and effect.

Modern wall fireplace: slim units 127, 183 or 241.5 cm wide, only 13 to 14 cm deep and 46.5 cm high. They hang on the wall or are built into a recess, and the product data confirms they are suitable for built-in installation. The LED unit draws 25 watts, the heater can be set to 0, 700 or 1,400 watts. Touchscreen, remote and timer are included.
Fireplace with surround: an LED insert set in a Baroque or Art Nouveau surround, for example 114 x 34 x H. 90.3 cm, 128 x 38 x H. 110.5 cm or in marble at 140 x 30 x H. 110 cm. It stands in front of the wall and needs nothing more than a socket. For corners there is a Baroque corner fireplace at 111 x 99.7 x H. 97.5 cm.
Water mist fireplace: an ultrasonic unit produces fine mist which built-in lamps illuminate. Together with glowing LED logs, the picture comes very close to a wood fire. The water tank is refilled after about 6 to 7 hours.

TV cabinets with a built-in LED electric fireplace, for instance 180 cm wide in gold, silver or black, solve a common question in suites: where the television and the fireplace both belong. The full range is in the category Electric Fireplaces, and our guide to electric fireplaces, inserts and bioethanol covers the technology in more depth.

Running an electric fireplace in a hotel

In a hotel a fireplace often runs ten hours a day or more, so details matter that are irrelevant at home. On the wall units the flame can run without heat, because heat level 0 is selectable. The lobby keeps its atmosphere in summer without the air conditioning working against the fireplace. The timer follows the opening hours of the bar.

For electrical planning: if the heater is used, allow up to 1,400 or 1,500 watts per unit, which your electrician takes into account when assigning circuits. The socket or connection is ideally hidden behind the unit or inside the recess. Remote controls belong at reception or behind the bar, not in guests' hands. With a water mist fireplace, decide who fills the tank and when.

Bioethanol fireplaces: a real flame with clear rules

Bioethanol fireplaces burn a real flame without a chimney. A stone-effect bioethanol wall fireplace measuring 97 x 19 x H. 65 cm holds about 1 litre according to the product data, uses about 0.3 litres per hour, burns for about 3 hours and gives off about 2 kW of heat. Both the heat and the combustion products go straight into the room.

Room size: the room must match the output. Small rooms and suites are usually ruled out, and the operating instructions are decisive.
Ventilation: a fresh air supply must be ensured, and regular airing is part of operation.
Supervision: a bioethanol fire burns only under staff supervision. Refuelling happens only when the burner has cooled down, and fuel is stored closed and away from guest areas.

In a hotel, the natural place for bioethanol is therefore outdoors: terraces, rooftops and gardens. For these Casa Padrino offers a freestanding steel bioethanol fireplace, 140 cm high, which develops a rust patina, and dining tables with an integrated bioethanol burner, such as 300 x 115 x H. 75 cm, for indoor and outdoor use. See the category Bio-Ethanol Fireplaces.

Wood-burning fires: planned by a specialist

A real wood fire is a construction project. The firebox, chimney, clearances to combustible materials, fire protection and combustion air are planned by a specialist contractor, and the installation must be inspected and approved by the competent authority before first use. Casa Padrino does not supply fireboxes or stoves. We supply what turns a fireplace into a focal point: marble surrounds and matching fireplace accessories such as firedogs.

Lobby, bar, suite, restaurant, villa: which fireplace goes where

Lobby and foyer: a wide wall fireplace of 183 or 241.5 cm in a recess, or a large surround with an electric insert as a classic centrepiece.
Bar and lounge: the long wall unit behind a banquette or along a wall, dimmed and without heat, as a band of light for the evening.
Suite: a fireplace with a surround in the style of the house, or a TV cabinet with an electric fireplace. A bioethanol fire does not belong in an unsupervised guest room.
Restaurant: a fireplace on the end wall divides a large dining room into quieter zones. On the terrace, the table with a bioethanol burner plays this role, supervised by service staff.
Villa and apartment: an Art Nouveau or Baroque surround with a water mist insert for the look of a wood fire without a chimney.

How fireplace, sofas and lighting work together in a hotel hall is shown in our article on furnishing lobbies and foyers.

Surrounds and the effect in the room

A fireplace is defined by its frame. A slim wall unit in a recess lined with natural stone or dark plaster looks modern and calm; the same technology in a Baroque marble surround looks stately. Three measurements govern the effect. The width should suit the wall, and as a rule of thumb the fireplace takes up a third to a half of it. With seating, the flame works best at the eye level of seated guests, so the lower edge of the flame picture sits roughly 40 to 90 cm above the floor.

Marble surrounds in Baroque style, also made to measure, are covered on our page on the marble fireplace mantel, with dimensions, stone types and planning in detail.

Electric fireplace for a hotel suite: cream white Art Nouveau fireplace with LED steam insert, 118 x 43 x H. 111 cm, by Casa Padrino

The cream white Art Nouveau fireplace combines a classic surround with a water mist insert that reads like a wood fire. Pictured: Casa Padrino Luxury Art Nouveau Fireplace Cream White with LED Steam Fireplace Insert 118 x 43 x H. 111 cm

Seating around the fireplace and safety with guests

The classic layout is a U: a sofa facing the fireplace, two armchairs or two smaller sofas at the sides, a coffee table in the middle. In a lobby the distance from fireplace to sofa is usually 2.5 to 3.5 m, so that guests can walk past the fireplace without crossing the group. With a heated electric fireplace, upholstery and curtains keep the distance from the warm air outlet stated in the instructions.

For safety in a hotel: escape routes and walkways stay clear, cables are concealed and heated units are never covered. Freestanding fireplaces with surrounds are heavy, the water mist model weighs around 90 kg, and they stand firmly. In family hotels, bioethanol stays in areas with staff present.

For architects and planners

On projects with several fireplaces or a fireplace wall as a design feature, we work directly with architects and interior designers. You receive dimensions and data sheets with installation sizes, weights and power ratings for the electrical design, drawings of the surrounds on request, and finish samples for approval. Surrounds can be made to measure on request, for example to fit an existing recess or ceiling height.

Quantities for several suites or locations go into one quotation, and the delivery date is aligned with the construction schedule so that units arrive neither before the electrician nor after the opening. You have one contact for the whole project. More on our page for architects and dealers, and examples from hotels on our hotel references page.

How your fireplace project works

Enquiry with dimensions and plans: send floor plans, wall elevations, recess sizes and the areas concerned.
Selection and samples: we propose suitable fireplaces and surrounds, with samples on request.
Quotation: you receive a quotation based on your project, with quantities, sizes and delivery date.
Production: stock items are prepared, made-to-measure pieces go into production once the drawing is approved.
Delivery: by freight forwarder, worldwide, on the agreed date to the site or the property.

Frequently asked questions about hotel fireplaces

Does an electric fireplace need a chimney?

No. An electric fireplace only needs a power supply. The flame effect comes from LEDs or illuminated water mist, and there are no flue gases.

Can the electric fireplace run without heat?

On the modern wall fireplaces heat level 0 is selectable, so the flame runs on its own. In summer and in air-conditioned rooms this is the usual setting.

Is a bioethanol fireplace suitable for a hotel room?

Usually not. A bioethanol fire needs enough space, ventilation and supervision. In a hotel it belongs on the terrace, in the garden or in areas permanently attended by staff.

Does Casa Padrino supply wood-burning fireplaces?

No. Wood-burning fireboxes are planned and installed by a specialist. Casa Padrino supplies marble surrounds and fireplace accessories to go with them.

Can you supply the same fireplace for every suite?

Yes. We supply the same model in the quantity required and schedule delivery around your construction programme. Surrounds can also be made to measure on request.

Does Casa Padrino deliver internationally?

Yes, Casa Padrino delivers worldwide by freight forwarder. Since 2007 we have furnished hotels, restaurants, villas and apartments from our base in Essen, Germany.

Your fireplace project with Casa Padrino

Send us dimensions, plans and the areas of your property. You will receive a selection of suitable fireplaces and a quotation based on your project.

Send a project enquiry

Email: info@casa-padrino.de · Phone: +49 212 14912917