As a hospitality professional, you’ll know that following food and beverage trends in the hotel and resort industry is essential for meeting guest expectations and providing the best guest experience. While keeping up with F&B trends is a challenge, there are many reasons managers should make an effort.
Upselling sales analysis indicates that food and beverage are some of hotels and resorts’ most potent ancillary revenue drivers. Discounted breakfasts bring in, on average, 29 per cent of total upselling revenue. Dinner reservations come second with a 15 per cent share in upselling income.
There are other reasons too. The industry is highly competitive, and it’s easy to lose repeat business to competitors if restaurants don’t reflect new trends. Moreover, simple changes that include fresh and stylish food and beverage options will attract more guests and increase revenue. Indeed, resorts and hotels that offer unique and creative dining experiences may also be able to charge premium prices.
Of course, staying up-to-date on food and beverage trends ensures that hotels meet health and safety standards. For example, offering contactless service and using locally sourced ingredients can help provide food safety and reduce the risk of contamination.
The latest food and beverage trends in 2023:
- Health and Wellness: Guests are looking for healthy options on the menu. Many hotels offer organic, locally sourced, and plant-based food options – and many guests are willing to pay a comparable meat price. Almond milk and vegan cheese are now expected choices. Indeed, research shows that non-dairy cheese is found on menus twice as often as four years ago. Moreover, include a few lighter and healthier options to your menu, such as bread burger buns or lettuce leaves.
- Sustainability: Sustainability has become a significant focus for many hotels. They are adopting environmentally friendly practices such as reducing food waste, using reusable or biodegradable materials, and using locally sourced ingredients. In addition, many consumers are concerned that their food choices impact the environment and expect properties to consider this at every stage.
- Technology: Hotels use technology to enhance the guest experience, such as mobile apps for ordering food and drinks or tablets for guests to place orders. Check out what our IHS Provider GoTab has to offer.
- Authentic and Local: Guests are interested in experiencing local cuisine and culture. Many hotels feature locally sourced, seasonal ingredients and dishes unique to the region.
- All-day dining: Guests are looking for flexible dining options, including all-day dining. Hotels are responding by offering various dining options, including cafes, bars, and restaurants serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- Rethinking the buffet: Once the go-to option for many hotels and resort restaurants, self-service buffets are being replaced. Instead, staff now serve guests on the buffet line, and there is a rise in made-to-order dishes such as live cooking stations. Pre-portioned, packed and sealed items are also popular.
Offer grab-and-go options. - Immersive Dining Experiences: Hotels offer immersive dining experiences like private chef tables or rooftop dining with stunning views. These experiences create a more memorable and unique guest experience.
- Speciality drinks: Hotels offer speciality cocktails and craft beers, including local brews. Guests are interested in unique and creative drinks that reflect the hotel’s brand and location.
- Outdoor dining: The demand for outdoor seating, where possible, is increasing rapidly. It is a safer option, ventilation is guaranteed, and any distancing protocols can be more easily implemented. If your property can’t offer outdoor dining due to the weather, consider greenhouses, transparent tents or covered pergolas.
- Concern for hygiene: Although rules have been much more relaxed since the height of the pandemic, guests still want to know that hotels and resorts are taking hygiene seriously. Keeping hand sanitizer stations, and maintaining the distance between tables, food shields, and air purifiers are just some of the measures you can take to provide reassurance.
- Don’t neglect breakfast: A recent Google survey highlighted that breakfast is the most anticipated experience at a hotel for over 42 per cent of guests. Making a real effort with your breakfast is sure to enhance the guest experience. Offer not just the staples but be inventive with healthy options, offer great coffee, and have grab-and-go options available.
- Simplified menus: As with other areas of the hospitality sector, food and beverage departments are struggling with staff shortages. The result is streamlining and simplifying the menu, specifically over peak times. A smaller, seasonal menu that changes weekly or monthly is a great option. Repeat guests experience new dishes, and the kitchen can focus on a few specialities. As well as saving time and making fewer demands on your staff, it can help reduce costs by cutting food waste.
- Contactless Service: Contactless service has become increasingly popular due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many hotels have implemented contactless ordering and payment systems to reduce physical contact and maintain social distancing.
Offer contactless ordering and payments.
Resorts and hotels are focusing on offering more personalized and unique dining experiences that cater to guests’ preferences and needs. What is your experience? Have you updated your F&B to reflect changing consumer demands? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
Source: Marieke Wisse E-Hotelier
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