Page 26 - Designing Ways 280

HOSPITALITY

Hotel & Lodges

by Stienie Greyling

here is a healthy increase in
hospitality and tourism around
Tthe world.
Over the past two years, the industry’s
biggest challenge has not been attracting
customers, but rather finding and
retaining staff. To address this issue,
many hotel groups have begun to make Experiential design can also allow
improvements. customers to taste food in a multi-sensory
Today, many hotels offer their staff free
or low-cost accommodation, increased environment that stimulates all the senses,
not just the taste buds. Some hotels
wages and reduced peak-time working have started to provide experiences on
hours. They also invest in training a smaller and more dynamic scale. They
programmes to motivate staff and allow offer four-hand dinners, organise kitchen
mobility up the corporate ladder. parties or have a front-cooking area.
Empowered employees not only have
a positive impact on how guests feel and Bars and drinks redefined.
their decision to become repeat guests, Today’s bars need to stand out by
but also help attract other employees to offering unique drinks with a special
build a cohesive, high-quality workforce.
great atmosphere to create an enjoyable
experience for their customers.
Culinary experiences. Gone are the days of a simple wine list
The desire to experience rather than and international beer and spirit brands.
simply consume means that experiential Bars and restaurants need to specialise
dining has today evolved in new ways. and cater to an international clientèle with
Hotels are now required to offer a range evolving tastes. A dedicated beer menu
of dining options to cater to different with local craft beers, wines from specific
customer tastes and when correctly vintages and special character with a
done, can become a culinary destination narrative, wide-ranging spirits collections
where the restaurant is at the heart of the and fresh locally sourced juices are what
experience and not just an extension of customer want.
the hotel.

26 Issue 280 • dw