Today, there are many challenges facing the hospitality industry. With the ups and downs of recent global events, revenue has been lost over the past few years. Many restaurants and hotels have closed for good due to the decrease in business. However, savvy business owners can put together a plan to help alleviate those challenges and improve the hospitality experience for customers. Let’s take a look at these ways to boost those experiences.
Are you looking to boost the hospitality experience? Our Smart Call system can help you provide an exceptional customer experience to all of your clients.
Challenges in the Hospitality Industry
One of the main challenges of the hospitality industry and food sectors is keeping those current customers happy and coming back. As you already know, customers are vital to your bottom line. You need them to continue to be satisfied so that they spend their money at your property/ Plus, happy customers tell their friends about your establishment, bringing in more clientele. You already know that word-of-mouth does wonders for a business. Take time to improve your hospitality experience.
Related: How to Improve the In-Store Experience for Your Customers
1 – Make Contact Before Arrival
Diners and guests can make the check-in process smoother with a detailed pre-arrival email. Remember that not all guests will read an email. You can always adapt these emails to cater to different guests. For example, send an email to new visitors of the hotel or diners who want to celebrate a special occasion. Even repeat diners and guests might want to know what’s new, but they don’t need to receive the same email for every visit.
2 – Always Be Pleasant
First impressions mean a lot in the food and hospitality business. You want to kick off your guests’ experiences on the right foot. With that, guests and diners will feel appreciated, and it will set the tone for the rest of their meal and stay. When guests arrive, always review the reservation details and name. Make sure that the guests greet everyone with a welcoming smile. Guests will remember those pleasant encounters.
3 – Provide Easy Ways to Stay in Touch
How do your guests book a dining reservation or hotel stay with your business? You have to look at the clientele of your business. Are they more traditional and want to speak to a person, or are they tech-savvy and enjoy an online booking? You should think about investing in a communication service for your property. With that, everyone stays in touch with each other and the guests. Efficient communications will always impress your customers.
4 – Give Insider Knowledge of Your Local Area
When guests arrive at your hotel, provide them with a pamphlet containing all of the local information about the city or even the hotel. Remember to cover all of the information about your hotel and services. For restaurants, you can always provide details about the menu items, pointing out local favorites or locally sourced products.
5 – Build Partnerships with Local Vendors
When you build partnerships with local vendors, it is a win for you and the local community. With that, you can provide products only available in your area. In some cases, if the guests and diners love a product, you can give them a special discount to enjoy it again when they visit.
Related: 2022 Shopping Experience Tips and Tricks For Better Sales
6 – Provide Free Wi-Fi
In the past, it was common to charge for Wi-Fi. However, if you want to boost your hospitality, consider providing free Wi-Fi access in the hotel and restaurant. Having great Wi-Fi is critical for diners and guests. All guests will appreciate the ability to connect in the dining or hotel room.
7 – Make Notes of Those Special Occasions
Are your guests celebrating a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary? You want to make sure that those special occasions are marked for your guests. Surprising your diners or guests is a great way to connect with them. Think about giving away small cakes, bottles of bubbly, balloons, chocolates, or flowers. Vouchers for spa services or the restaurant are other ways to help celebrate those special events for your diners or guests. Don’t forget to give handwritten notes with the gift, giving best wishes from your staff.
8 – Track Their Preferences
Do your guests have a favorite part of the dining room? Make sure the reservation staff reads all of the emails to note any special requests or allergies. You want to ensure that all the guests feel that the experience is catered to them.
9 – Allow Them To Decline Services
In some cases, guests don’t want to have housekeeping in their rooms for environmentally conscious reasons. You can always leave a note explaining their options for the stay. If the guests do decline housekeeping, make sure that they still feel special. Have housekeeping leave a small treat outside the door or offer a discount on the bill. You could even offer a free drink from the minibar or a free treat at the in-house restaurant.
10 – Offer Directions Around the Property
Take a few minutes to evaluate the signage around the property. New guests and diners could feel confused at some of the signs. You want to ensure that getting around the restaurant and hotel is simple for your guests. Your guest will appreciate finding the right location in a few easy steps.
When you want to woo your guests, think about implementing these steps. You want your guests and diners to feel satisfied when they leave your establishment. As you already know, happy customers mean more revenue for you.
Related: Smart Call Solutions for Bars, Restaurants, and Coffee Shops
Boost Your Sales With Smart Call
Communication is key to boosting the hospitality experience. With Smart Call, you have an efficient means of communication. If your staff needs to answer a question or a customer requires some help, Smart Call can direct them to the right individuals. To boost your customers’ experience, you need to implement Smart Call into your restaurant or hotel.
Are you ready to improve your customers’ experience in your restaurant or hotel? Make sure to schedule a demo of Smart Call so that you can see how it can boost your customers’ experiences.
