Hospitality is central to our lives. In recognition of this, a sector-wide workforce commission is being launched in order to promote an understanding of the potential and importance of the industry.
UKHospitality’s Commission plans to produce a report of the challenges and opportunities hospitality faced in June. It will include suggestions to the government as to how the future of the sector’s workforce could be secured.
Awareness of these findings can only benefit your hospitality business. Companies have to constantly evolve in this industry, so we’ve taken a look at two key trends in employment and consumer habits ahead of June’s report.
The rise of agency workers
It’s always been the case that a large proportion of workers in the hospitality sector are part-time or temporary, due to the seasonal nature of the work. Many of them will be agency workers, which is on the rise. A survey commissioned by Resolution Foundation found that 43% of businesses in any sector increased their use of them over the last five years. 41% of HR professionals believe this upsurge has been led by Brexit uncertainty.
Utilising agency workers more if you don’t already do so could be a worthwhile move. 14% of companies within the hospitality sector took a strategic approach to harnessing these workers, incorporating them in their business plan. Rather than thinking of agencies as a last resort to cover other employees’ absences or fill staffing gaps, these workers can present a low-risk way to quickly scale up and scale down.
The importance of going digital
Recent trends include integrating mobile into the service you provide – for hotel check-in, for example. It’s also important to consider millennials, as they have huge buying power. This target market can constantly change their minds, so your business will need to implement strategies to retain them.
The increased use of social media is another direction in which the industry is headed, allowing consumers to keep in touch with your business and give feedback – positive and negative. Feedback can be a valuable source of ideas on how to improve the service your organisation provides, or what could be added to further increase customer satisfaction.
Although these are common trends in the hospitality sector currently, they may not all apply to your business. This is why you should take your own data into account.
Consider whether the trends match your statistics. Has using technology in your business previously succeeded, or do visitors feel that this is taking away from a personable service? You’ll need to think analytically, but this is where an accountant can help.
Our experience of over 10 years in the hospitality industry allows us to identify the choice cuts – the services which help you run your business better, and those that do not. Contact us today to discuss how we can give your hospitality venture a boost.
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