Tips for Top-Notch Room Service
Along with getting Santa Fe hospitality insurance coverage, room service is an essential component of hotel services. There was a time when only five-star hotels offered in-door dining or room services. For this reason, it was almost synonymous with opulence and exclusivity.
Nowadays, room service is a standard in most hotels. Even smaller businesses such as B&Bs and motels now offer room service too. The reason? Guests love not having to leave their rooms to get something to eat when they can get food brought to their room. Room service dining is a better alternative than dining in the hotel restaurant for guests who value their privacy.
Providing room service also gives your guests a luxury experience while staying at your hotel. They feel pampered and cared for when their food is delivered to their room by well-trained, friendly hotel staff.
Room service is also one of the criteria that helps improve a hotel’s rating. High ratings ensure the continuous influx of guests and good business for the establishment.
Here are some suggestions on improving your room service delivery to keep your guests satisfied and your ratings high.
- Stick to the basic offerings
It would be best to limit your room service options to basic menu items, possibly with fancier ‘special’ offerings. It is generally more inconvenient to provide a wide array of dishes for room service, especially given the current situation when kitchens have limited operational capacity. Instead, consider having three to five classic menu items per category. This will enable you to focus on providing excellent food and service.
This practice will also help you maximize the time, money, and effort you spend on providing room service to the guests. Simple menu items mean less time for preparation and faster delivery to the rooms.
Ensure that these offerings are of the finest quality so that the guests still feel satisfied even with somewhat limited choices. You could include a few special add-ons such as a vintage wine, gourmet cheese, or artisan chocolates so that guests still get a rewarding experience when ordering room service.
- Make ordering easy and convenient for guests
Ordering room service food often involves using a printed menu and the room’s phone. If possible, look into upgrading your menu service with a tablet that guests can use to view the hotel’s offerings. Alternatively, you could also provide an app that guests can download using your Wi-Fi system.
A Q.R. code that directs guests to the hotel’s menu would also be a helpful perk. It might also be worth considering setting up a digital payment system for contactless and convenient payments.
- Assign competent and friendly staff to room service duties
Assigning well-trained staff to handle room service during the pandemic is critical. Keep in mind that room service always involves contact between the guests and the staff bringing and serving their food. Even if the contact is limited, it is vital to ensure that employees who perform room service duties are trained in proper food handling and practice the necessary safety protocols.
Hotel employees should provide room service with as little contact as possible to reduce the risks to guests and staff. However, service doesn’t necessarily have to be cold and mechanical. Polite and friendly personnel who are always ready to cater to guests’ needs will help enhance the hotel’s reputation.
Ensure that the best service is offered to all guests, even if some have somewhat unrealistic standards. Remember that you are working in the food and hospitality services industry, so make every effort to accommodate your guests whenever possible.
- Offer free room service vouchers in exchange for reviews
In many places around the country, hotel bookings have decreased significantly due to the current economic climate. In most cases, struggling hotels have had to come up with creative means to boost their visitor number counts. One strategy that has proven to be particularly effective is offering customers free room service in exchange for reviews of the hotel.
Many hotels that have adopted this strategy have found it to be a ‘win-win’ situation. As the hotel checks in more guests, it receives more feedback. The guests, for their part, get a voucher for a useful and valuable service. Some hotels have even gone further to include non-food offers, such as coupons for hotel amenities that guests can use in conjunction with room service vouchers.
About Daniels Insurance, Inc.
At Daniels Insurance, Inc., we have a unique understanding of the risks that businesses like yours face on a regular basis. With the backing of our comprehensive coverages and our dedication to customer service and quick claims resolution, your business will be fully protected. For more information, contact us today at (855) 565-7616.