After a landmark year for all the wrong reasons, the hospitality industry celebrated in May 2021 at the first taste of a ‘return to normal’. Pubs and restaurants could reopen and people, keen to socialise took advantage by carefully engineering social outings that complied with the prevailing guidance.
But for hoteliers there was still a way to go before they could fully welcome back business and leisure guests, conferences and events. There was talk of a Great British getaway, closely followed by news of a crippling shortage of hospitality workers meaning some venues were forced to remain closed, unable to take advantage of the UK population still reluctant to travel abroad.
It’s fair to say times are tough for many UK hoteliers right now.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. In fact, hospitality leaders with a taste for innovation are leading the charge by using technology to deliver incredible guest experiences through personalisation, frictionless service and streamlined processes.
In this article, we take a look at how technology can help you unlock hidden revenue pockets in your hotel.
What is a hidden revenue pocket?
Quite simply, a hidden revenue pocket is an untapped opportunity for you to boost sales.
When short staffed you may close a bar, restaurant or coffee shop funnelling guests into the areas that are adequately staffed. Or maybe you stop offering waiter service in some areas such as the gardens or around the pool.
After all, if your guests want something to eat or drink they’ll go to the bar/restaurant that’s open.
Won’t they?
Unlocking hidden revenue pockets
Unlocking hidden revenue pockets happens when you make it so easy for your guest to buy, they don’t give it a second thought.
Think about your own buying habits for a moment – chances are there’s been a time when you were all set to make a purchase until something got in the way. It could be a queue that was too long, or an online purchase that needed you to go and get your bank card from another room rather than the convenience of Apple or Google pay.
Of course if your guests are really hungry, they’ll move from the poolside to the restaurant to get some lunch or to the bar for snacks for the children. But if they just ‘fancy’ a drink or a snack, the hassle-factor in getting everyone dressed and packing up their valuables will put them off.
When you remove the hassle-factor, or friction point, your guests are instantly more likely to make impulse purchases. Firsti® is the ultimate in frictionless ordering for F&B in your hotel – no app to download, simply scan the QR code, order, pay and relax.
An extra sundowner before getting ready for dinner? Don’t mind if we do!
The guest experience
There is endless research around guest expectations and it all shows one thing.
Guests expect a personalised, hassle free experience that they can recommend to all their friends and share on social media. And with all that free marketing available to you, it makes sense to make sure your venue can deliver!
The innovative use of technology makes it simple, whilst also helping you overcome staffing shortages, delivering a service that is conveniently on-demand and highly personalised.
The Firsti® solution
Firsti® allows you to deliver exceptional guest experiences throughout your venue. The advanced customisation and user interface has been designed to provide an outstanding guest experience. Whether they are ordering room service or table service, are in your coffee shop or using any of the bars and restaurants within your establishment, your guests will always be shown the relevant menus and have access to any active special offers or featured products. They can quickly and easily personalise their orders to take account of personal preferences.
With real time data about guest location, bookings and capacity throughout your establishment, it’s easy for you to optimise staff allocation so, even if you are short staffed, your guests need never know!
Because orders and payments are taken entirely through Firsti®, your staff can concentrate on delivering the service excellence your guests expect, building rapport and creating a luxurious ambience that will maximise every guest’s spend through the sheer ease and simplicity of use.
And did we mention the integration?
Firsti® doesn’t require any specialist IT hardware and integrates with most hospitality EPOS systems.
Book a demo today and start boosting staff efficiency
To find out more about how Firsti® can help you unlock hidden revenue pockets in your venue, get in touch today.
Booking a demo couldn’t be easier. Just click the link above or email damian@wearefirsti.com