By Henry Brown
A lot needs to go into a successful hospitality business. It’s an extremely competitive industry as more and more people are setting up their own restaurants, B&Bs and hotels. Not sure if your business passes the test? Here are four things you need to check. You’ll probably be able to start improving on each one straight away.
Unique selling point
Why should customers choose you over your rivals? Whatever the main reason is, that’s your unique selling point or USP. A USP can be anything from a close proximity to a famous landmark or attraction, to a themed hotel. If you aren’t sure what your USP could be, it is worth trying to aim for a 5-star rating. Many people are willing to pay a lot of money for an excellent hotel or B&B, no matter its location. If you already have a unique selling point, you need to make sure you are using it in your marketing. If you don’t blow your own trumpet, people might miss what’s so good about your hotel or guest house.
Perfect rooms
Have you had some complaints about the cleanliness of your rooms and bathrooms? These little niggles need to be ironed out straight away. If necessary, change your cleaning staff. There needs to be plenty of amenities in each bedroom. These days, guests expect a lot more than a modestly decorated bedroom and ensuite. Make sure your hotel duvets and other linen are of a premium quality. Place a kettle, cups, tea bags, and coffee sachets in each room. Complimentary toiletries will also go down a treat with all guests.
Start marketing online
Many guest houses and B&Bs tend to be stuck in the 20th century when it comes to marketing. Just because you are located in a popular tourist destination, it doesn’t mean you can be lazy with your advertising. Set up social media accounts online. These can help you get noticed and to spread the word about your business to a much wider audience than traditional ads can. It is also a good idea to start a company blog so that you appear high up in Google searches.
Train your staff
The hospitality business is all about customer service. Everyone who interacts with your guests,, even if in the most minor of ways, needs to be polite and courteous. When you need to hire new employees, it is certainly worth looking for people who already have experience in this industry. Regular training sessions with your employees are very useful and will promote employee development. If your hotel has a kitchen and serves meals, ensure that everyone working in the kitchen has the correct food hygiene certificates. If they don’t, you could risk being closed by your local authority. Make sure you hold regular staff meetings, as communication is key to helping your staff reach their full potential in the workplace.
Running a hospitality business isn’t easy. But a little time and effort reviewing your business can really help! Hopefully, these four pointers will keep you heading in the right direction.
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Henry Brown is an online marketing executive. When he isn’t talking shop he’s roaming the streets of London, uncovering the extra-ordinary in the ordinary.
