5 HOSPITALITY TRENDS FOR 2023 THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
Discover five of the hottest hospitality trends for 2023 and how your hospitality business can benefit from implementing them. From NOLO beverages and multi-faceted venues, to cooking with fire and localisation, these trends can enhance your customer’s experience and set your business apart. But what do you need to know? And, more importantly, how can you implement and profit from them in your venue?
1: NOLO Beverages
Low and no alcohol beverage popularity shows no signs of slowing down, representing the fastest growing beer segment, and growing 62 percent year on year. Have you noticed demand for this in your venue? This offers new and interesting options for customers so consider extending your no-lo menu and promoting it.
There are so many high quality no-lo products to make it easy to develop your menu and delight customers, with companies like Seedlip and Sobah leading the way. However, employees need to be knowledgeable about the various types available, ingredients, production methods, and more, to be able to recommend and serve them.
In the first instance, look to your suppliers to provide this training – in most cases they will be more than happy to help you sell their product better.
Also front-of-house qualifications such as Certificate III in Hospitality include units on developing and using product knowledge and can be undertaken as a traineeship (that can include financial incentives where eligible).
2: Localisation
While using local ingredients on your menu has been trending for a few years, localisation takes it even further with a focus on community collaboration in all forms – think custom serveware made by a local potter, a wall mural by a local artists (bonus if it’s insta-worthy). This trend not only meets customer desires for sustainability and supporting local artisans, it can also benefit businesses through cost savings, collaborative marketing, and a unique selling point.
To implement this trend, spread the word and initiate conversations with local suppliers. Be open to collaborations and innovative ideas.
Also ensure chefs know how to source and prepare seasonal local ingredients, while front of house staff need to know the stories behind them, to sell them. Again, suppliers are usually more than happy to provide this information and training.
3: Cooking With Fire
Following popularity in the United States, cooking on open flame is building momentum across the Australian hospitality industry. Cooking with fire can add depth and flavour to dishes and provide a unique and exciting experience for customers.
But cooking with fire safely requires employees to have appropriate training. Knowing appropriate cooking techniques, which fuels are suitable, as well as safety precautions and equipment. Make sure your kitchen team perform risk assessments and minimise risks where possible. Such skills and knowledge are also covered in the Apprenticeship in Commercial Cookery.
4: Multi-Concept Venues
Hotels and larger venues are primed to take advantage of this trend involving multiple food and drink experiences within the same venue. While you may already have a sports bar and bistro for example, consider whether you could create other unique spaces such as a private dining room or cocktail terrace. Providing multiple offerings in your venue can help attract a diverse range of customers and provide a unique and memorable experience that customers are willing to pay more for.
However, to effectively serve customers in multiple settings, you’ll need clearly differentiated spaces and offers. Employees will also need training and knowledge about each space, its menu and service, and may need to be able to move between spaces quickly.
5: Retaining Staff
Retaining staff has become more important than ever, and staffing is often the number 1 problem of hospitality businesses. The 2022 AHA Hospo Survey showed the top 3 things that employees desired in a hospitality workplace are;
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- Training Opportunities
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- A Transparent and Inclusive Culture
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- Flexibility
Review your staff retention rates and identify if you could improve in any of these areas. By investing in the training and knowledge of your employees, you can ensure that they are equipped to provide excellent service and help your business succeed.
If you’d like to know about how accredited training, apprenticeships and traineeships might work in your business, get in touch with AVTES. For January and February we are offering a FREE Training Strategy call. Just get in touch at hello@avtes.com.au and we’ll organise a call.