It’s no secret that the hospitality industry has undergone some obstacles during the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel restrictions, lockdown orders, and social distancing regulations have all limited the ability of restaurants, hotels, and other businesses to serve customers as they normally would, leading to hefty financial losses. However, as the vaccination rollout continues and restrictions decline, the hospitality industry is seeing an upturn in business, with more and more Canadians deciding to make travel plans. So how should businesses within the hospitality industry attempt to remain competitive as we enter this post-COVID era?
There are a few different strategies that can be implemented in order to attract customers during this time. If you’re considering entering the hospitality industry, the tips below will help keep your business competitive throughout your career. The moment when you make these strategies a priority, you’ll see your business thrive within the hospitality industry of the post-COVID world.
During Your Hospitality Career, Make an Attempt to Understand the Post-Pandemic Customer
It may come as no surprise that customer preferences have changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As an example, safety and cleanliness are of much greater concern to customers today – whereas before, most guests and customers prioritized the general experience. In a post-COVID-19 world, it’s important that businesses are able to accommodate the changing behaviours of customers in order to develop an approach that’s tailored to their needs.
After completing a hospitality program, you’ll be able to transform the success of the business you’re contributing to by tailoring your customer approach to the post-pandemic customer. This might mean providing more opportunities for customer feedback, updating websites and social media pages with information about protective measures being taken, and ensuring that customer information is accounted for in order to track a potential outbreak. Whatever measures are taken, keeping the persona of the post-pandemic customer in mind will enhance the success of any business in the hospitality industry.
It’s important to take the needs of the post-pandemic customer into account to remain competitive
Implement an Online Marketing Strategy
As many businesses within the hospitality industry compete for the attention of customers as they make their return to the public, having a strong online marketing strategy in place has never been more important. Building an online presence can help businesses to grab the attention of customers, whether that’s via social media, their website, or a simple search of Google Maps. During your hospitality career, consider setting up advertising campaigns on Google Ads to capture leads, and promote any special offers on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. With greater outreach comes more potential customers, which gives any business an edge over other competitors within the hospitality industry.
Invest in Technology
It became clear just how crucial technology was to the survival of businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many companies were forced to close their doors and move their services online or develop a plan to make the customer experience as digital as possible to minimize human contact. For example, more restaurants are using scannable QR codes in place of physical menus, allowing customers to use their phone to view the options offered – while hotels are developing platforms for mobile check-ins and check-outs to reduce the number of people in their lobbies. The more innovative digital solutions you bring to the table in the post-COVID era, the more successful your business is likely to be!
If you’re ready to contribute to a booming industry in the post-COVID era, hospitality management courses could be right for you! Are you ready to build the skills you need to help businesses innovate and meet the needs of customers through the right program?
Begin your training for a career in hospitality with AOLCC today!
