7 essential items in hospitality that make guests come back
When a hospitality establishment offers just that little bit of extra service, aren’t you more inclined to come back? Of course, you can already expect a basic level of good food, and friendly service too (and hopefully you’re also a friendly guest), but it’s the little things that can really make a restaurant stand out. Small, but not unimportant!
You could even say that these are truly essential things: if a restaurant or café has all of them, your evening can’t go wrong. So, hospitality operators, read on—and who knows, offering these 7 things may bring you lots of new regulars:
Hooks
Hooks, hooks, hooks: we can’t get enough of them. In any case, at or under the bar by every stool (okay, every two stools is fine too, but then it should be a double hook), and on the restroom doors; it’s nice not to have to put your bag or coat on a wet floor. And if the tables are sturdy and heavy, a hook under the tabletop can be very handy for a small handbag: in the hustle and bustle, a bag can easily be snatched from a chair…
Bar stools with backrests
I’d be happy to order a second whiskey sour, but I’m more inclined to linger at the bar if a stool gives me a little more support. Besides, a backrest is absolutely essential in a place without hooks at the bar…
Plates
Sounds logical, but it isn’t—just look at the many examples of ridiculous objects served instead of plates. We really want to be sure that our food is served on something that can go in the dishwasher, so no more hamburgers on wooden boards, thank you very much, and other absurdities like food served in Crocs are definitely out of the question.
Reading glasses
Assume that many people who need reading glasses to read a menu are firmly in denial about it. As a hospitality operator, you can earn karma points by simply keeping them in stock behind the bar, allowing those poor squinting, staring victims to remain convinced for a little longer that it’s really not their eyesight but merely the establishment’s dim lighting. And that there’s no need to go out and buy the damn things themselves first thing the next morning.
Physical menus
This also sounds logical, but more and more places are replacing paper menus with QR codes. In itself, this is a choice that reduces paper and plastic consumption, but it also means that many people who aren’t very quick with smartphones—or simply don’t feel like using one—have a much harder time placing an order. Keeping a few old-school menus on hand is therefore also customer-friendly and helpful in these cases.
Phone chargers
For people who do need their phone constantly, it’s a huge relief to be able to charge it for a while. A charger behind the bar where you can leave your device for a bit, or a discreet power outlet or USB port at tables along the walls: all extremely handy and customer-friendly. It can provide a great sense of security to know that your phone is charged when you’re on your way home at night.
Angel shots
Angel shots are shots or a cocktail that a woman orders without actually receiving a drink in return: it’s an order you can place when you don’t feel safe with your company, for example if a date doesn’t turn out as you’d hoped and makes you feel unsafe. In America, they are becoming increasingly common: bar staff pay extra attention, and a special ‘code’ allows you to indicate that you need help. For example, if you order an angel shot with ice, the staff will call a taxi for you; if you order it with lime, it’s a genuine emergency and the police must be alerted. We’re curious to see whether this is already catching on in the Netherlands: they cost nothing, but their value can be immeasurable.
Source: Food and Wine
Also read:
- These people wish their food had simply been served on a plate
- 17 completely idiotic orders—seriously, it can get even crazier
- Annoying: when your order is served according to gender
