Food is a very important part of our life.

You can surely win anybody’s heart by offering delicious food. People are very particular about their food especially when they are traveling. In fact their selection of hotel (to stay) greatly depends on their eating habits. So if you want to attract more visitors to your hotel then offering good food is a good idea.

In fact offering good food can make a guest or casual diner come to your hotel again.

The economic meltdown of 2008 has definitely affected every individual’s economy at the micro level. So, the hotel and travel industry is expected to see a tough time ahead in 2009. In order to sustain this meltdown the hotel and travel industry players need to gear up and come up with new innovative business ideas.

Here are some of the findings based on experts study on food trends for hotels and restaurants expected for the year 2009 that can help you in business decisions.

·         Straight from the farm to the table cuisine is now-a-days getting very popular. A customer might ask, and would be delighted to know about where the food comes from, and can be a great selling point for wait staff when taking orders. If it’s structure properly can be used to up sell.

·          With market ups and downs and changing inflation rates, changing menus is an ideal thing to do.

·         Customization and personalization sometimes can make your customer feel special. Considering a slight change in the menu or taste, to suit your customer needs is worth it. Strong Return Guest programs could record like and dislikes of particular guests.

·         2009 will be a year of cost cuttings, savings and restoring the economic health. Consider things like half glass wine, happy hours, offering several snacks type foods that are a better option for customers as compared to a fixed priced complete dinner. 

·         In today’s fast paced life people are unable to stick to the traditional timings of breakfast, lunch or dinner. You should be ready to serve them food according to their needs anytime.

·         Restaurants that are open late night are very convenient for business travelers. In fact business travelers choose hotels (to stay) that have late night restaurant services.   

·         Dining in different areas of the hotel other than the traditional restaurant, bar can add uniqueness and a lasting memory. Creating a rainforest effect in the ballroom for a couple of sittings or out in the garden is fast getting popular. So, offering this kind of services can give guests and visitors an exciting and fun filled experience.

·          Complimentary restaurant services like serving breakfast or tea/coffee round the clock is an important thing for luring visitors. According to a study 72% of vacation travelers and 71% of business travelers check this kind of services before choosing hotels to stay.

·         With globalization the world has come closer. People travel to different places of the world and enjoy different type of food. So, prepare to serve any all kinds of food i.e. Chinese, African, Japanese etc.

·         Herbs in particular Tarragon was not much used till recent times, is gaining popularity among chefs these days, probably through programs from Gordon Ramsey!  Leading chefs around the world are now recommending including this ingredient in their menus.

·         More and more people are becoming aware of the importance of being eco-friendly.

So, stop supplying those water bottles and offer sparkling filtered tap water. If it tastes nice then less will need to be thrown out at the end of service. These are just a few things that you can concentrate on.

Next newsletter I will expand on some of the other things happening in the Restaurants around the world.

Greg

Think before you speak, type or respond to guest complaints.

The internet has changed. It has the power to put businesses OUT of business.
And before you think I am exaggerating, let me share an example.

This Brisbane restaurant had to shut its doors for over 2 weeks as a result of poor service and the social media that is taking the world by storm. Watch this short video to see what I mean.

Note -- stories were run on both "A Current Affair" and "Today Tonight" as a result -- not to mention the International attention it received from sites like www.consumerist.com and more.

The moral of the story -- treat every customer and guest like they have the power to make you famous -- good and bad!