Welcome to the fourth bi-monthly edition of Inside thinKitchen for 2024.
With the just concluded Paris Olympics 2024 captivating global attention, it may be worth a moment to reflect on the values we find in sport, the Olympics and the Paralympics – humanism, fraternity, generosity and sharing. To our mind these values also embody the spirit of the hospitality business. Connecting with people, generously sharing home and hearth with them is what hospitality practitioners do on an ongoing basis.
Our endeavour is to embody and support this spirit of hospitality through everything that we do, including this newsletter. Amid the calendar year 2024 and with the key guest season soon to start, we hence look at growth drivers that can help boost performance for the rest of the year. Following our last deep dive on food safety we now look at fire safety, which is a critical aspect of ensuring smooth operations.
As always we are keen to hear your thoughts and suggestions so do connect with us at contact@seebagroup.com, visit our website www.thinkitchen.in or drop us a line on our social media pages under the handle @thinKitchen.
Reviewing drowth drivers mid- year
McKinsey points out that the bulk of travel is close to home. Although international travel might draw headlines, the big opportunities in the backyard should not be neglected. Domestic travel still represents the bulk of travel spending, and intraregional tourism is on the rise.
According to reports from Booking.com and McKinsey, Indian travellers are predicted to become the world’s fourth-largest spenders on tourism by 2030, with an estimated $410 billion USD in expenditure. It is estimated that by 2030, Indian travellers will undertake over 5 billion trips (on domestic and international travel), leading to an increase in tourism expenditure to $410 billion USD; almost 170 percent up from 2019.
Some of the key drivers that McKinsey advises to grab a larger share of wallet include defining target customer segments and adapting offerings accordingly is important to hit the bulls eye customer. Using data-driven segmentation and hypothesis-driven testing is a way to improve the value proposition for the customer
Offering guests a blend of convenience, excitement, and luxury, is important to lure the Indian travellers seeking both leisure and shopping experiences, or business travellers seeking to unwind. Consumers are increasingly prioritizing travel—when it’s on their own terms. Interest in travel is booming, but travellers are no longer content with a one-size-fits-all experience.
Personalized recommendations based on past guest history and their preferences, to customized room amenities and tailored dining options, can help create memorable and unique experiences. Personalised offerings can also be at a premium to the consumer. They can also help build loyalty.
Additionally, personalisation can help to accommodate different budgets. Guests can choose from rooms with specific views, personalized amenities, or even themed suites to reflect their interest and their budgets. Similarly personalised options can be crafted in dining and entertainment.
Demand for luxury tourism and hospitality is expected to grow faster than any other travel segment today—particularly in Asia. Segmenting luxury consumers by age, nationality, and net worth can reveal varied and evolving preferences and behaviour, which can help personalise hospitality offerings better.
Luxury travellers want their trip to be an experience that they will remember for a lifetime. They are usually willing to pay a premium for accommodation and services that offer exceptional quality. However, they also expect value for money, and which means finding the perfect balance between offering unique experiences and providing excellent service at a fair price.
Prioritizing sustainability makes business sense. According to Booking.com’s Sustainability Travel Report released in April 2024. found that 62% of travellers recognize that they are the best version of themselves when they travel more sustainably and consequently take home this positivity, just as 67% feel that witnessing sustainable practices while traveling inspires them to be more sustainable in their everyday life.
With the festive and holiday season almost upon us, tweaking guest offerings keeping in mind these tips might go a long way in boosting growth and driving larger share of waalet.
Fire Safety in Hospitality
Fire safety is a critical part of ensuring the safety and well-being of guests, staff members, and visitors. It minimises the risk of property damage, business interruption, and financial losses. It is important to have comprehensive fire safety procedures in place and to ensure that all staff are fully trained in fire safety protocols. By taking fire safety seriously, hospitality practitioners can ensure that their guests always enjoy a safe and enjoyable experience.
It is important to conduct regular fire risk assessments to identify potential hazards, assess fire risks, and implement control measures such as fire doors, smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, sprinkler systems, smoke detectors, fire escapes, and fire suppression systems. Conducting regular fire drills and giving firefighters access to keys and security systems is also a must. Fire escape routes must be always kept clear in case of fire and should be clearly marked fire exits and evacuation routes.
It is necessary to establish clear protocols for reporting fires, activating alarms, contacting emergency services, evacuating guests, assisting persons with disabilities, and coordinating with local fire authorities. Additionally taking an educational approach by providing guests with fire safety information in their rooms empowers guests about evacuation routes, fire extinguisher locations, and general fire safety practices.
Hotel staff need to be trained to spot the signs of potential fires, and they should also have a good understanding of the fire safety procedures that need to be followed in the event of a fire. It is imperative to ensure staff awareness of fire safety protocols, emergency procedures, alarm systems, and evacuation drills.
Kitchens and cooking equipment are the most common source of fires. Fire hazards in a kitchen include the presence of flammable materials like cooking oil, heat-producing appliances, and the fast-paced nature of work. These risks can be mitigated by ensuring such materials are properly stored and disposed of, having working fire extinguishers handy and kitchen staff trained to use them.
Waste generated across the property can also be a potential fire hazard. It is important to dispose this waste properly, empty garbage bins regularly and store packaging waste safely.
Electrical equipment is another fire hazard and at times a fire may be started by incorrect use of the equipment. It is prudent to ensure that all electrical equipment is regularly PAT tested. This involves testing the equipment to ensure it meets safety standards and is not likely to cause a fire. Identifying and mitigating the risks of fire caused by flammable materials, electrical hazards, and other ignition sources. For example, hotels should store flammable materials in approved containers and keep them away from heat sources.
in the hospitality industry, smoking is often seen as a courtesy to guests. However, it’s important to remember that smoking in any indoor space creates a fire risk and there must be designated smoking areas, smoke alarms, and no smoking signs.
For new hotels properties it may be prudent to design the property keeping in mind fire safety norms and ways to minimize the spread of fire and smoke and reduces the toxicity of the combustion products. For example, hotels should have adequate ventilation to help remove smoke and fumes, and they should install fire barriers to prevent the spread of fire. Similarly, considerations can be kept in mind while selecting materials for the interiors, making choices that are less flammable and have a slower flame spread rate. For example, hotels could consider using fire-resistant materials for walls, ceilings, and furnishings.
In conclusion fire safety is an essential aspect of hospitality management and hospitality operations, requiring proactive measures, rigorous training, and continuous vigilance to prevent fire hazards and ensuring guest and employee well-being.