Fully Booked: Work Stability in the Hotel Industry

The hospitality management industry thrives. There are a lot of worldwide events that bring in guests, regardless of the season. From business functions to parties, the rooms and services of a hotel are always needed. Hotel management then requires the efforts of employees who are selfless and committed to serving guests. Jobs in this industry also offer a lot of rewards, especially for the faithful workers.

There is always a market for a place to stay. There is always a backpacker, a businessman or a couple on a honeymoon who need accommodations. And there must be a workforce to ensure that these guests feel at home and get VIP treatment. Hotel staff then should cater to the satisfaction of their guests, even in little details like a dish on the buffet or the temperature of the swimming pool.

 

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Employees in hospitality management who want to get promoted must start with serving guests, as this is the core task of the business. There’s always a new way of serving customers better. Especially in the era of social media, it’s easier to get feedback and to devise ways of knowing what patrons want.

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With new information coming in, hotels must capitalize on novelty that people will enjoy. In this results-oriented job, the career growth of employees can be easily tracked. There’s always an area for improvement when it comes to hotel work but the upside of it is that there’s always an opportunity to excel.

Known as one of the most influential hoteliers in the Caribbean, John Jefferis lives to see guests enjoying the luxurious facilities in his hotels and resorts. Get to know more about the hospitality industry on this page.

The New Promotion trend Hoteliers are Encouraging

Instead of promoting a new tagline or spiel, hoteliers are now falling back on what they do best, and that’s being honest. These past few years have brought about a slow but strong change in how hotels manage themselves. Leading hospitality studies have found that a growing number of tourists and travelers appreciate solid information rather than flowery words. These analyses concluded that customers were more likely to be satisfied, give a higher rating, and return to hotels that were very candid about what they can and cannot offer.

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There is a caveat to these researches. Customers still desire to get the most of their money. They do have certain expectations that a hotel will provide for their basic needs and more. There is also an expectation that while hotels should be honest, they also do whatever it is in their power to improve certain conditions. Hotels cannot simply be honest and say, this is all it can offer, and then hope for the best. Financial advisers heavily encourage using customer feedback and market research to enhance operations.

The direction of honesty, therefore, is more on the hotel’s amenities, structures, and food. Customers appreciate hotels that are frank about the limitations of their facilities. Marketing groups can use these constraints – as they were – and use them as a selling aspect. In fact, most hotels already do this: using a challenge and turning it into an advantage. However, the difference is that the angle should be sincere. Clients no longer want to be inundated with fluff. They want to know that they are getting straight up – all the while still getting a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

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John Jefferis is a renowned hotel management expert, with more than 40 years of experience in the industry. Learn more by following this Twitter account.

Bahamian Adventure: From Dolphin Encounters To Underwater Weddings

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The Bahamas has a reputation for having some of the most splendid white sand beaches in the world. It is often included in tourists’ bucket list of which places to go in the Caribbean region. Boasting of crystal clear waters and bountiful marine life, the Bahamas is the perfect place for some of the best aquatic adventures.

Fishing, boating, and sailing. The Bahamas is an impressive fishing spot both for beginners and professional anglers. With a rich marine life and a wide array of fish—blue marlin, tuna, snapper, barracuda and a lot more—vacationers will definitely enjoy and keep on coming back for more catch. Meanwhile, boating and sailing over the clear blue seas of Nassau are also popular activities. People can spend their day aboard chartered boats, yachts, and powerboats.

Diving and snorkeling. While exploring the waters in a chartered boat, people can dive and snorkel in this island’s amazing coral gardens and World War shipwrecks. Swimming along with the beautiful marine creatures (sharks, dolphins, etc.) of the Atlantic is also a must.

Underwater wedding. For a truly unique experience, couples on a special romantic getaway have the chance of getting married under the sea. They can choose from different wedding packages with options like getting married in a legendary shipwreck or exchanging vows while swimming with sharks!

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Underwater Hollywood. For photography and film enthusiasts, the Bahamas is one of the most sought after locations for underwater scenes in movies. Hollywood film outfits and other production companies flock to the islands to shoot some intriguing underwater panorama.

John Jefferis is a Bermuda-based hotelier most recognized as the owner and sole shareholder of a chain of hotels and resorts in the Caribbean. For more information, subscribe to this blog.

Everyone’s a Favorite: Secrets of Efficient and Consistent Customer Service

People who work in the hospitality industry know very well that it is difficult to provide guests with quality service consistently. These people work very hard (and sometimes go out of their way) to make sure a guest feels comfortable during their stay. 

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Customer service is crucial. A simple lapse in judgment or a mistake that hurt a customer can immediately mark a good hotel’s downfall. This is why even if those who work in the hospitality industry feel like they don’t want to entertain guests for personal reasons, they still have to do their job as professionally as possible. 

As a guide, here are two smart practices for efficient and consistent customer service. 

Give guests (extra) special treatment

 

Make an effort to go the extra mile from the usual. Whether they are a frequent customer or a first-timer, let them feel they are valued by attending to their needs. Guests may ask really easy or very complicated requests, but when their need is attended to, they will surely come back. They can even give promotion through word-of-mouth.

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Practice what is preached

 

Hotel staff wants to feel they are favored, too. Company leaders must also take care of their employees. After all, these people are the ones who help grow the business. Managers and department heads must make sure their staff’s needs are being met, and that they are recognized for their hard work. When workers feel appreciated, they go beyond what is expected from them.

John Jefferis is a Bermuda-based hotel industry leader. He has more than 40 years of experience in hotel management. For the latest in the hospitality industry, follow this Twitter account.

Looking At The Stars: Understanding Hotel Standards

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A star rating outlines what guests can generally expect from hotels. In most countries, hotel classifications represent a system of ranking that evaluates the quality of a hotel in terms of amenities, luxury, and overall hospitality.

Typically, such systems are rated on a five star scale, with five indicating the height of luxury. Some of the basic determinants of a hotel’s rating include elements such as the hotel’s room sizes, bed sizes, pool size, restaurant quality, and Internet access.

To date, there is no existing international standard to classify hotels across globe. As an alternative, independent groups in each country such as the American Automobile Association (AAA) or travel websites give star ratings to hotels. In other countries like Portugal, Spain and Hungary, however, a single public standard is applied, with laws defining the hotel rating.

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Other than “star” ratings, the terms “grading” and “classification” are used to refer to the same concept. There is also a wide variety of rating schemes used by different organizations around the world. In some countries like Dubai, for example, some hotels have been advertised as seven star hotels.

Hotel standards are general guidelines and should not override consumer preference. These ratings only prove useful when determining the level of luxury of a hotel. Other factors such location, price, and activities on offer should also inform the choice of guests.

John Jefferis is a veteran hotelier who finds passion for hotel design. Follow this Twitter page for more articles about the hotel industry.

Millennials as The New Power Segment in Today’s Hospitality Industry

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The tech-savvy, travel-hungry, and adventure-seeking millenials are the fastest growing customer segment in the hospitality industry today. It is estimated that more than half of travelers in the world by 2025 will be comprised of tourists born from 1980 onwards. With this spectacular growth, hoteliers and resort owners must develop aggressive and novel strategies to engage this segment of the market and tap into new ideas to establish better services that can satisfy the unique and continuously evolving needs of young travelers.

Technology plays a dominant role for this demographic, driven by social media and Web-based conveniences such as mobile hotel check-in, e-payment, and online shopping. Food blogs and travel-related photography portals are other essential drivers. Online forums and communities such as TripAdvisor could also serve as game changers as they can be easily accessed for either raves or complaints about their travel experiences. 

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Culture buffs, trend influencers, the LGBT community, and multi-generational travelers are looking for unique and original experiences. Millennials are known for their diverse taste and willingness to explore different accommodations in search for both affordability and quality service. Many are not too keen about buying luxury service but would bite should an opportunity arise. The baby boomers who are living longer are now also rethinking how to define retirement, and are placing their energy in more creative pursuits.  

John Jefferis, a world-renowned hotelier, has been actively involved in establishing and developing various hotels, restaurants, and resorts that play key roles in the growth of the tourism industry in the Caribbean region. Follow this Twitter account for more industry updates.

What to Tell Your Hotel When Traveling with Asthma

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Illnesses should not stop people from traveling or from booking themselves a room at a hotel. To make the trip more enjoyable, it is highly advisable that people inform their hotel beforehand of certain issues. One of the more common conditions that should be reported is asthma. This is because reliable hotels may create a plan that will make the client’s stay more comfortable. This works two ways.

First, the client should inform the hotel the triggers of his or her asthma attacks. Hotels already maintain a standard level of cleanliness, so dust or pollen should not be a major concern. However, stimuli such as certain types of fabrics should be considered. There may be throw pillows or rugs made of wool or other exacerbating fibers. If the hotel is notified earlier on, the client’s room can be rid of all these things. Secondly, there is always a standby nurse on call. Nevertheless, knowing that a person with asthma will be staying for a certain amount of days assures that these medical professionals stock up on the necessary medicines and review procedures related to severe asthmatic attack. Other factors that may trigger an asthmatic attack should also be immediately told to the hotel’s concierge.

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Remember that one’s health is of the utmost importance and should never be neglected. These small and simple steps guarantee a smoother and more relaxing visit. It must also be noted that a hotel’s number one priority is the satisfaction of their customers. This includes assuring the stability and welfare of their health.

John Jefferis is known in the hotel industry as an innovator due to his constant attention to excellent hotel management and customer service. For more information on the hotels he manages, view this Facebook page.