3 investments every hospitality business needsBy Angelica Malin
Over the last two years, the pandemic has had a serious effect on the hospitality industry all over the country. Hotel employees, waiters, event planners and travel providers have lost their jobs because hospitality businesses have been forced to close down or shrink their business models.
However, now that the UK has started to allow these businesses to open up again, they have been investing in a range of technology, products and ideas to bring back their customers.
If you own a business in the hospitality industry, it’s time to step up your game by investing in some new business strategies and products. The more you have to offer to your clients, the more likely it is that you’re going to retain them as loyal customers.
Here, then, are three hospitality investments that it is highly recommended your own firm makes.
Restaurant accessibility
When you think about the hospitality industry, you will naturally think about pubs and restaurants. Even if you own a hotel, it’s very likely that you are going to be serving food and drink to your customers. This is why it’s crucial that you make the food you serve as convenient as possible.
Try and be flexible with your restaurant environment, including giving patrons a choice of where to sit. This could mean that you have an al-fresco dining option, private dining booths or bar-focused seating. This way, your establishment will remain well-organised.
You have to remember that as we have just come out of a pandemic, some guests may naturally feel nervous about interacting with other people. Although guests may not need to wear face masks, you can encourage it with your servers.
You can even have an order at table system for restaurants where guests can order and pay through a mobile app. Shy customers will appreciate the privacy that this app will provide, plus it will help with the order process. Waiters will no longer have to approach customers directly. Instead, they can simply direct them to a table and then serve them their food. By giving your customers this freedom, you will allow them to feel comfortable in your restaurant or café.
If you are interested in investing in this type of technology, the simplest way to do it is to use a barcode on the table. Customers can scan the barcode and be taken to an online menu that they can order from. Make sure to check up on your system regularly to look out for any problems and to update your menu. If something is not right, it is likely that you will need to look into barcode scanner repair work.
Online website investments
Let’s face it; nowadays, if you are going to succeed in any form of hospitality, you are going to need a strong website and social media pages to back you up. You can’t just create a website and hope people are going to find you. Instead, you’re going to have to make sure your website stands out compared to your competition.
To do this, you’re going to need to invest in keyword research and other search engine optimisation (SEO) techniques. Let’s say you have a hotel in Durham. In order to have customers find you, you may want to try and rank for important search terms and keywords, including ‘Durham hotel’ and ‘hotels in Durham’.
Also be sure to invest in a strong marketing team. They can enhance the visibility of your website and will be able to actively communicate with your customers. You may even get a boost from any online reviews that are left about your business!
Entertainment investments
Customers naturally want the best of the best when it comes to hospitality. After all, they want to feel like they are spending their money on something worthwhile. That’s why, if you are going to invest in something for your hospitality business, you need to know what your firm’s niche is.
People may want to come to your business because they want to have fun, as well as have somewhere to sleep, eat or drink. This is why it’s crucial that you think outside of the box when it comes to your establishment.
If you have a restaurant, you may want to invest in entertainment to keep your diners excited. This could include singers, dancers, and other performers. Think carefully about the specific niche that you occupy. That way, you can pick performers that will suit your type of business. Your guests will certainly appreciate it, and you will also be supporting the arts industry at the same time!