Latest Trends In Hospitality

There is no denying the last year has been challenging for hospitality businesses, so getting it right post-lockdown is super important! Find out the simple steps you can take to make your hospitality venue the best place to be in 2021!

Staycation

Hotels, listen up! With international travel still not guaranteed to return for 2021, staycations are the new thing. This means making the most out of your venue to attract people to spend a long weekend with you. Achieving this and making your business the newest trendy place to be is fairly simple. Why not bring the holiday here? Why not add some fun summer cocktails and exclusive summer dishes to your menu? Incorporate seafood and colourful dishes that will make your guests feel like they’re dining on a beach in Spain.

Smart hotels are also becoming increasingly popular with millennials, waiting in queues to check-in at reception is a thing of the past. Smart hotels make use of internet-connected devices to connect all areas of the hotel which benefits its guests and the staff. To run a successful smart hotel a stable and reliable internet connection is necessary so make sure your systems all run smoothly.

Add experiences to your guest’s experience, creating packages that people can purchase including sparkling afternoon teas, spa retreats, or a 3-course meal at your Michelin-style restaurant will attract more customers and will encourage guests to stay longer.

Restaurants are changing

With outdoor dining becoming increasingly popular, optimising your outside space is worth every penny of the investment! There are simple steps to spruce up your patio or terrace:

• Invest in some patio heaters (this is the UK we’re talking about!)
• Add some covered areas in case the weather takes a turn for the worst
• Add some simple decor, some decorative lights, or upgrading your worn-out pub benches to give a more modern look

Keeping your customers connected outside is the key to making them stay, and making you more money.  Providing reliable, strong WiFi for your guests to stay online outside as well as inside your venue is simple. Upgrade to a business-grade connection that will provide coverage to your entire venue by getting in contact with hospitality IT support specialists, find out more about how Astaris provides IT supporthere.

A recent study shows that up to 89% of people want restaurants to keep up home deliveries post-lockdown. With some people not quite on board with eating out, catering to those at home is important, and a great opportunity to boost your revenue.

Clubs are going contactless

With restrictions still in place, table service is the way forward, creating an app. Downloadable menu svia a QR code is the best way to allow your customers to keep topping up their glass. This not only helps to keep your staff and customers safe but means no more queuing at the bar, slow service or customer complaints, which means you will be able to pour the pints faster and maximize your profit. Again, providing a reliable WiFi connection across your entire venue is crucial for the success of mobile ordering.

Bottomless brunch is the new night out

With nightclubs being closed for almost 18 months, many people find it hard to imagine making a return to such a busy environment, and with summer already here boozy bottomless brunches are the newest trend. Bottomless brunch gives people the chance to catch up with their closest friends whilst enjoying the good weather, good food, and more importantly, unlimited prosecco!Â

But how can you elevate your bottomless brunch experience for your customers? Again, QR codes for ordering makes a dining or drinking experience much more seamless, your customers will be waiting less time and can order a top-up whenever they’re ready, and with the hospitality sector facing a staff shortage of approximately 188,000 people in 2021, this means less time taking orders and more time making martinis.

All of this relies on a secure and reliable internet connection, to read about all the benefits of having free guest Wifi in your hospitality venue check out one of our latest articleshere.

It’s time to go digital

Technology alternatives are becoming increasingly popular in the hospitality industry, so keeping up with competitors is key to ensuring you are providing the best experience possible for your customers. Developing apps, upgrading your WiFi, voice control, mobile check-in, biometrics are just a few of the things you can invest in to improve your customer experience.Â

Becoming more tech-savvy can also benefit your business in terms of increasing your profits and giving you better insights to optimise your marketing efforts.

Updating your website regularly is also important for letting customers know what they can expect from you, how have your opening times changed, what Covid-19 procedures do customers need to follow and what procedures have you got in place to keep people safe, what facilities are and aren’t available. All these things are important so people know what they can expect from you this year.

So what are you waiting for? Start making improvements and get ready for summer 2021!