The Future of Hospitality Queue Management

From coffee shops to cafeterias, magnetic stanchions are transforming the way hospitality venues manage their queues. Combining secure placement, flexible design, and a modern aesthetic, they’re raising the bar for customer flow and queue management in the busiest and most discerning spaces.

Magnetic stanchions provide efficiency and aesthetics to elevate queue operations

Like standard stanchions, magnetic stanchions pair with traditional velvet ropes, retractable belts, or branded panels to form queues and barriers. What’s different is the low-profile magnetic base and increased stability.

Magnetic stanchions hold the sweet spot between portable and permanent stanchions. Unlike portable stanchions, magnetic stanchions stay firmly in place and require over 20 pounds of force to move. The magnetic bases are also a practical alternative to permanent stanchions, which require core drilling into floors. Magnetic stanchions attach to wafer-thin magnetic plates that are glued to the floor. When it’s time to clean floors, posts can be easily removed; similarly, should plates ever need to be removed from the floor, they leave no markings or damage.

Magnetic stanchions pull double-duty: advertising and upselling when attached to post and panel barriers. Whether it’s to communicate important event details, promote special offers, or display eye-catching visuals, magnetic stanchions form the foundation for upselling and advertising while keeping lines neat and in place.

Beyond durability and flexibility, when used in an organized grid layout, magnetic stanchions’ slim base increases usable floor space by up to 15%, enabling venues to make the most of every inch. Whether it’s a café, airport terminal concession, or hotel lobby, optimizing space means less crowding for guests and more room for revenue-producing operations.

Magnetic stanchions are also at the core of safety, providing the foundation for solutions such as post & panel egress gates and emergency breakaway belts.

Magnetic stanchion installations in hospitality settings

Here’s a closer look at how venues are using magnetic stanchions to improve customer flow, enhance security, and boost safety.

1. Starbucks Reserve: Keeping long lines clean & controlled

Starbucks Reserve locations, housed in iconic locations like the Empire State Building, feature spacious, multi-floor layouts that demand queuing systems as stylish as they are functional. These aren’t your average coffee shops — they’re immersive destinations where guests explore “the craft, theater and innovation of coffee.” A smooth and efficient flow of customers is central to the elevated Reserve experience.

Before adopting magnetic stanchions, Reserve staff struggled with disruption caused by customers knocking into or shifting the portable barriers. Every night, cleaning crews would have to remove and reposition the stanchions, consuming time and compromising consistent queue layout.

By adopting magnetic stanchions, Starbucks Reserve now has posts that stay firmly in place, neatly directing customer traffic and maintaining a polished aesthetic.

2. Fontainebleau Las Vegas hotel cafeteria: A flexible food service queue solution

The Fontainebleau Hotel prioritizes visual harmony across its property, extending even to staff-only areas. In the employee cafeteria, the hotel uses custom-colored magnetic stanchions to maintain a branded, upscale appearance. Crafted from aluminum — the same material as the hotel’s rigid rails — the magnetic stanchions’ cohesive aesthetic aligns with the property's signature design. Unlike traditional rigid railings, these stanchions follow the natural curve of the buffet, preserving an open and high-end feel while organizing efficient traffic flow, particularly during peak lunch hours.

3. Chick-fil-A in airports: A spacious & smooth experience

Airports are often chaotic, particularly during peak meal times, and Chick-fil-A locations are no exception. Magnetic stanchions efficiently manage long lines, preventing passengers with luggage from bumping into dining tables and eliminating the need for constant adjustments caused by stanchions shifting. Plus, by firmly staying in place, magnetic stanchions maintain a tidy, professional appearance — an absolute must for any food service provider in a busy airport terminal.

A look beyond hospitality: Other industries adopting magnetic stanchions

While hospitality businesses have been eager adopters of magnetic stanchions, this innovative queue management solution is rapidly gaining traction with other industries — anywhere where space optimization and flexibility are valued, from big-box retailers and transportation hubs to stadiums and sports arenas. As businesses increasingly prioritize both functionality and aesthetics, magnetic stanchions are proving to be the perfect solution for efficiently managing large crowds without compromising on style.

Today’s venues need more than just crowd management — they want queue solutions that enhance operational efficiency, boost customer satisfaction, and invite repeat visits. Magnetic stanchions are the innovative solution businesses have long been seeking.