The hospitality industry is the fastest-growing market in the 21st century. Most people prefer to work in the industry because it offers a lot of opportunities; it’ also a multi-cultural industry employing a diverse group of people. As the industry continues to grow, people working in the industry are given more opportunities to grow.
Airbnb is on the rise nowadays, too. Business Insider discusses that sometimes, people prefer Airbnb rather than a hotel. The reason for this is the low cost and household amenities Airbnb provides.
For this reason, anyone can venture into hospitality. Budget and amenities are just some things people look for when choosing a place to stay for travel or business.
Location
People use hotels and Airbnb because they serve as temporary shelters whenever they leave home and go to another place. They go to a different place for different reasons; it can be for work; it can also be for leisure. Therefore, people want to choose a place to conveniently access the offices, business centers, or attractions they came to visit.
This puts location at the top spot of the most important aspects of a great hotel or accommodation provider.
When choosing a location, it’s best to consider who your target market is. Is your target clientele leisure or business travelers? If you’re planning to target those who come for leisure, you must choose a location near landmarks and tourist sites. If you’re targetting business travelers, choose a location that is near conference centers.
Also, consider your hotel’s proximity to shopping malls, restaurants, and convenience stores. Food is always essential, and people appreciate the convenience of walking to a store outside the hotel to get essentials.
When choosing a location, it’s also important to consider the location of your competitors. It is best to avoid building a hotel next to a competitor.
Cleanliness
Due to the coronavirus, a higher standard of cleanliness is required from hotels. The Business Insider discusses that certain cleaning and hygiene protocols must be planned to ensure guests’ safety.
Disinfection and sanitation must be done regularly on hotel premises. This includes the reception area and outdoor areas such as pools, restaurants, bars, and cafes. Hand sanitizers and disinfectants must be placed in common areas like restrooms, elevators, and spa areas.
Nowadays, hotels must also frequently disinfect buttons and areas that people usually hold on to. This includes handrails, elevator buttons, door handles, and tables. Gym equipment and workout machines must be regularly clean after each guest’s use.
The kitchen must always be clean as this is where food is prepared. Therefore, deep disinfection must always be done in the hotel kitchen. To ensure that everything is kept clean, regularly change your cleaning rags; changing rags regularly can also ensure that they do not collect bacteria and spread them to other surfaces.
Safety
Safety does not always pertain to health; other dangers such as earthquakes, bomb threats, and fire emergencies may also potentially harm guests in the hotel. Therefore, your hotel must be ready in case of these emergencies.
A good hotel must have an emergency plan; during an emergency, the hotel staff must keep guests calm.
To alert people from a fire emergency, well-maintained sprinklers and smoke detectors are necessary. Therefore, regular tests of the fire alarm system must be done. A fire drill is also necessary; this prepares the staff for evacuation and effectively guides hotel guests during emergencies.
Hospitality
Oxford defines hospitality as a word referring to the friendly and generous entertainment of guests. Therefore, a great hotel must exhibit these characteristics. The minute guests enter a hotel, the staff should give them a warm welcome and a smile on their faces.
It should not be pretentious, though. There should be a sense of warmth and authenticity to the staff’s smile; it should look like each staff genuinely cares for each guest. The hotel staff must always be present in times of guest emergency.
For example, let’s consider the case of a guest suffering from a headache in the middle of the night. Just being there for a guest and giving a simple headache medication will be much appreciated.
Great hotel staff needs to be honest, too, when it comes to giving guests information. The intention should not always lead to earning profit; it should be to genuinely help guests. A good hotel must always be generous to guests; a little extra or complimentary stuff will make guests happy. Little things like free Wi-Fi, parking, and toiletries can make a guest’s stay extra special.
