Whether you are running a café, bar, restaurant, bed and breakfast, or hotel, it is vital to communicate well with your customers and build positive rapport with them. In fact, building good rapport is one of the foundations of any hospitality business, and truly adds to the bottom line, if done well. Of course, running any business is tough, especially if one has little experience in the industry. This is one reason why so many businesses actually fail within the first twelve months of operation. Given how tough and unforgiving the hospitality industry can be, what are some things that a first time business owner in this industry can do to help themselves succeed where others fail?
Advice for Business Owners
It doesn’t matter what business you are in, whether it is a hotel, a restaurant, a bar, or a café, hospitality thrives on a number of essentials. When done right, it can mean the difference between your business doing well and your business going down the drain. Bearing this in mind, here’s some sage advice for all those beginners in the hospitality industry around the country:
- Customer service: Great communication and friendly, helpful customer service are key in running any business in the unforgiving hospitality industry. It is often said that the customer is always right, and this is absolutely true in the world of hospitality. Even if the customer is actually wrong, they need to be given the respect they deserve and serviced well. Even if, as a business owner or manager, you practice good customer service every day, you need to employ proper communication and management skills so that all of your staff is on the same page as you because they need to do the same in order for your business to be successful.
- Uniforms: Have you ever walked into a hospitality establishment, such as a bar, restaurant or hotel, and not seen the staff wearing uniforms? Uniforms not only look neat and clean, but they also communicate authority to the customers. Uniforms let the customers know that yours is a professional and well-run establishment. Hospitality uniforms also provide a sense of style and team morale to all of your staff. In short, not only do they feel more professional, they also feel more like they are in a well-run working environment. All of this translates to better service.
- Cleanliness: You may have been to a hotel or other establishment where cleanliness was not a top priority; perhaps the sheets were dirty, or the cutlery was smudged with dried food. Whatever the case, that is no way to run any business in the hospitality industry! Whether it is a hotel, a bar, or any other customer oriented establishment, cleanliness must be a top priority! Dirty sheets, towels, cutlery, and dishes are surer than anything else to turn customers off for good.
It’s A Tough Old Business
The hospitality industry may be tough on newcomers, but there are things you can do to help yourself succeed. Following these guidelines may not mean that you will become rich, but they will increase your chances of actually succeeding in your business of choice and avoiding the poverty line.
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