The hospitality industry is no stranger to turbulence. From economic downturns to unexpected events like pandemics, the challenges that hoteliers are tasked with managing are diverse and require core skills. However, within the chaos lies opportunity. By embracing adaptability, fostering strong communication and proactively planning for the future, hoteliers can not only weather the storm, but emerge as stronger leaders on the other side.
1- Adaptability in the Hospitality Industry
The ability to adapt quickly has always been of paramount importance in a dynamic hospitality landscape, especially with new technology speeding up every aspect of our lives. Shifts in guest preferences, technological advancements and unforeseen disruptions require constant reevaluation of strategies. Learning to adapt undoubtedly comes with experience, but this skill also benefits from a systematic approach, implementing measures like the following:
• Embrace data-driven decision making – I will never tire of repeating this advice. Great leaders need to leverage technology to gather guest feedback, analyze market trends and optimize pricing strategies. Data empowers informed decisions that cater to evolving guest needs and a changing market.
• Be flexible – cross-train team members to handle diverse situations and create a workforce that can seamlessly shift gears when needed. Consider offering flexible schedules or part-time positions to attract talent in a competitive market.
• Reimagine guest experiences – don’t be afraid to experiment with new offerings and identify every opportunity to generate revenue from your property. Consider contactless check-in, curated local experiences or innovative F&B concepts to cater to changing demographics and travel styles.
2- Effective Communication in Hospitality Management
Clear and consistent communication is the bedrock of a strong team, especially during turbulent times. Ways in which you can achieve this include:
• Ensuring transparency with your team – keeping your team informed about challenges and opportunities will provide better understanding, as well as potential opportunities to generate solutions together.
• Having open communication with guests – we all know that sometimes, unfortunately, mistakes are made. However, any guest concerns need to be addressed promptly and proactively. Utilize all the tools in your toolbox to drive total quality assurance, gauge sentiment and address problems.
• Strengthen partnerships – it takes a village to deliver a hotel stay, so, when challenges occur, this village needs to come together. Maintaining strong relationships with vendors, local businesses and tourism authorities is hugely beneficial. Collaboration can unlock solutions to a crisis, open up new revenue streams and enhance the guest experience.
3- Strategic Planning for the Hospitality Industry
One of my favorite quotes is a comment made by Antoine de Saint Exupery, who said: ‘A goal without a plan is just a wish.’ It’s important to never lose sight of long-term goals while navigating the more immediate challenges. I like to use these guiding principles to help keep my plans on track:• Invest in team development – empowering your team with training programs not only improves service delivery, but also boosts morale and improves retention.
• Focus on sustainability – eco-conscious practices, like energy efficiency and water conservation, are not only good for the environment, but also resonate with an increasingly sustainability-focused clientele.
• Embrace technology – invest in innovative solutions like contactless check-in, self service kiosks and mobile room keys to streamline operations and enhance guest convenience.
• Develop a strong digital presence – by maintaining an engaging website and actively participating on social media platforms.
The hospitality industry is known for its ability to dig deep and find the resilience needed to navigate turbulent times. Always remember, successful hotel management is not just about navigating a difficult journey, but also drawing on the experience and recognizing it as an opportunity to chart a course for long-term success.
3 key takeaways for hoteliers eyeing long-term success
Resilient to the core, the hospitality industry has a great ability to weather challenging economic times, identify opportunities and emerge stronger on the other side. Bastien Blanc, CEO and board member at TroKadero Hospitality Global, shares his three-fold approach for hoteliers looking to check these boxes.
The hospitality industry is no stranger to turbulence. From economic downturns to unexpected events like pandemics, the challenges that hoteliers are tasked with managing are diverse and require core skills. However, within the chaos lies opportunity. By embracing adaptability, fostering strong communication and proactively planning for the future, hoteliers can not only weather the storm, but emerge as stronger leaders on the other side.
1- Adaptability in the Hospitality Industry
The ability to adapt quickly has always been of paramount importance in a dynamic hospitality landscape, especially with new technology speeding up every aspect of our lives. Shifts in guest preferences, technological advancements and unforeseen disruptions require constant reevaluation of strategies. Learning to adapt undoubtedly comes with experience, but this skill also benefits from a systematic approach, implementing measures like the following:
• Embrace data-driven decision making – I will never tire of repeating this advice. Great leaders need to leverage technology to gather guest feedback, analyze market trends and optimize pricing strategies. Data empowers informed decisions that cater to evolving guest needs and a changing market.
• Be flexible – cross-train team members to handle diverse situations and create a workforce that can seamlessly shift gears when needed. Consider offering flexible schedules or part-time positions to attract talent in a competitive market.
• Reimagine guest experiences – don’t be afraid to experiment with new offerings and identify every opportunity to generate revenue from your property. Consider contactless check-in, curated local experiences or innovative F&B concepts to cater to changing demographics and travel styles.
2- Effective Communication in Hospitality Management
Clear and consistent communication is the bedrock of a strong team, especially during turbulent times. Ways in which you can achieve this include:
• Ensuring transparency with your team – keeping your team informed about challenges and opportunities will provide better understanding, as well as potential opportunities to generate solutions together.
• Having open communication with guests – we all know that sometimes, unfortunately, mistakes are made. However, any guest concerns need to be addressed promptly and proactively. Utilize all the tools in your toolbox to drive total quality assurance, gauge sentiment and address problems.
• Strengthen partnerships – it takes a village to deliver a hotel stay, so, when challenges occur, this village needs to come together. Maintaining strong relationships with vendors, local businesses and tourism authorities is hugely beneficial. Collaboration can unlock solutions to a crisis, open up new revenue streams and enhance the guest experience.
3- Strategic Planning for the Hospitality Industry
One of my favorite quotes is a comment made by Antoine de Saint Exupery, who said: ‘A goal without a plan is just a wish.’ It’s important to never lose sight of long-term goals while navigating the more immediate challenges. I like to use these guiding principles to help keep my plans on track:• Invest in team development – empowering your team with training programs not only improves service delivery, but also boosts morale and improves retention.
• Focus on sustainability – eco-conscious practices, like energy efficiency and water conservation, are not only good for the environment, but also resonate with an increasingly sustainability-focused clientele.
• Embrace technology – invest in innovative solutions like contactless check-in, self service kiosks and mobile room keys to streamline operations and enhance guest convenience.
• Develop a strong digital presence – by maintaining an engaging website and actively participating on social media platforms.
The hospitality industry is known for its ability to dig deep and find the resilience needed to navigate turbulent times. Always remember, successful hotel management is not just about navigating a difficult journey, but also drawing on the experience and recognizing it as an opportunity to chart a course for long-term success.
Bastien Blanc,
CEO and board member
TroKadero Hospitality Global
tkh.global
@blancbpe
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