Hospitality Industry Challenges for the coming decade? Key in Success
Hospitality Challenges for the coming year (decade?)
Six key challenges for the hospitality industry in the coming year.
These are listed in no particular order.
1. Work - Life Balance
Its not just an HR concern anymore. The
younger generation is definitely more attuned to the needs of 'having a
life' and the ones who have spent some years in the industry are
beginning to question openly the so called unwritten rules : working 12
hours a day, odd shifts, etc. Most employees will begin to give up
better salaries for a better life.
The answers also do not lie in creating a gym or game room for your
staff. The annual picnic or staff day is passe. interests are varied
and organizations that cater to those specific interests will win the
loyalty war. People want to work with humans and bosses will have to
behave as such.
2. Customer Sensitivity
Customers just don't have the patience anymore. We are not patient
people as customers and as hoteliers we will not be able to demand
that. Companies, hotels, service firms who can accept and embrace
customer sensitivity and work towards it will emerge winners. the
challenge will not be to ensure all check ins happen under 2 mins, the
challenge will be to ensure all check Ins happen in the time the customer
thinks she deserves. finding that out is what will make your
operations stand out.
Training will be play a key role here in ways not imagined hitherto.
training will have to move from process centric approach to individual
centric approach. you will have to increase the discretionary powers of
your team and give them the lee-way to perform as per individual customer sensitivity.
3. Experience Leaders
The next wave of hoteliers will be experience leaders. most of us are
willing to give up a little of the familiar for a little of the new.
'do the new' within the broad contours of the old and familiar will
win. managers will need to look at each process, each interaction, each
moment-of-truth as a 'moment-of-ecstasy'. If something does not make me
twitter about it, it did not happen, its as simple as that.
4. Austerity
Its the buzz word. the bling will be in creating luxury that does not
scream, but is rather created in the knowledge that only those who truly
know will get it. More and more you will see people wanting to get
luxury rather than being bombed by it.
Products, services will have to be toned down but upgraded in every small detail.
5. Specialists Professionals
More people will work for themselves than ever before. The desire to
fulfill the work-life balance (see pt 1) will see experts currently in
the employ of companies becoming freelance agents. The hospitality
industry will see a plethora of professionals come forward to work on
niche and even super niche areas, secure outstanding results all the
while retaining individuality and freedom. Managers will need to accept
the change from people being company-loyal to task-loyal.
Specialists will add value where they think they can and not participate in areas that neither interest them nor excites them.
Experience leaders (see pt 3) will have learn to manage these individuals.
6. Changing Demographics
Everything changes when your customer changes. The customers are
getting younger, better informed, independent (in thought and in
finance). This will warrant a re-think and a re-draw of processes.
There is no single decision maker in an average household anymore and
the hospitality industry like any other industry will have to appeal,
talk and create goodies for each of those decision makers.
That is where the experience leaders along with the specialist professionals will win!
Prabhjot Bedi is a hospitality consultant, recruiter and trainer.
He works at creating superlative experiences and processes so that your business thrives.
He works with individuals in creating individual paths to glory!
More at www.prabhjotbedi.com
