22 Jul 4 Tips for Boosting Your Hospitality Business After a Pandemic
wooden framed we’re open sgin with light around edge within shop window
On the so-called “Freedom Day” in July media outlets were full of images of people flocking back to pubs, clubs and music venues in joyous celebration of the lifting of legal restrictions. So, putting aside the rights and wrongs of 18 months of Government handling of the pandemic, it has been rightly proven that the UK’s hospitality industry is vital to the health, wellbeing and happiness of the nation.
But, as the Government warns, the future is still uncertain, and we may have to learn to live with the virus for the foreseeable future. So how can you help your hospitality business grow and be successful as we go forward while keeping your staff and customers safe? Here are our top tips.
long table being setup to high standard with plates, glass and flower secroations
1. Improve and maintain hygiene standards
Extreme attention towards health and safety quickly became the norm during lockdown, but the removal of restrictions doesn’t mean you should get rid of these practices. On the contrary, maintaining high hygiene standards will help hospitality businesses reduce the virus spread as well as make staff and customers feel safer. Make sure your policies are published on your website and are clearly visible inside and outside your premises. As they say, better safe than sorry.
2. Take advantage of new and emerging technology
Lockdown saw many venues embrace for the first time the apps and online systems available for functions such as table bookings and placing orders, and found their businesses ran much smoother as a result. Contactless terminals not only speed up payments and improve customer satisfaction, they can also be linked to loyalty schemes as well as reduce human-to-human contact. Mobile check-ins improve the customer experience at the point of initial arrival and provide greater flexibility in terms of when they check-in. If you haven’t already explored all the new tech out there, now is a good time to do so.
3. Raise your social media presence
Make openness, honesty and clarity the three essential pillars of communication, especially if the ongoing situation continues to be volatile and you need to vary your business hours or availability at short notice. Social media is often the first place your customers will go to check you out and ask for recommendations or details. This is a great opportunity to post messages, pictures and videos to show that you’re open for business, plus you can use messaging functionality to respond promptly to any queries.
4. Invest in training and development
Make sure that your team will be able to deliver on your promises. There’s a lot of very average service out there. Well-trained individuals who want to enhance the experience for your customers and make them feel valued will make all the difference to whether they choose to buy from you or not. Investing in training and developing your people will ensure that they have the skills and motivation to care for your customers and help you stand out from the crowd.
The hospitality sector has a critical role to play in the wider national recovery. It’s up to the individual business owners and managers to continue to provide safe and enjoyable experiences that will also safeguard jobs, livelihoods and the venues we cherish so much.
About the Author: Helen Say is a freelance copywriter and blogger www.cblservices.co.uk
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