Have you considered a career in the hospitality industry but are not sure what it takes?
Here are some tips for finding success in service.
Welcome to another edition of Hospitality Property School.
I am your instructor, Gerry MacPherson.
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Today’s episode, Finding Success in Service: How To Thrive In The Hospitality Sector, is a guest post written by Courtney Rosenfeld.
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As we emerge from the pandemic, millions of people are flocking to bars, restaurants, hotels, theme parks, and local landmarks in search of entertainment. Put simply, the hospitality industry is on a comeback and, if you’ve ever wanted to get professionally involved, now could be a perfect time — here are a few basic tips for finding success in service.
Values
As anyone who has worked in the industry will attest, there are a couple of key values that will serve you well in almost any hospitality context. The first of these is the most crucial: the ability to work without complaining can make you an invaluable teammate and set you apart from the thousands of others who protest, grumble, or gossip as soon as the going gets tough. Learning to bite your tongue will keep you out of trouble and give your voice more authority in extreme situations or if someone’s behaviour has crossed the boundaries of reasonable expectation.
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The ability to not-speak should also be offset with plenty of confidence when you do speak. If you’re in a customer-facing role, you should aim to interact with plenty of enthusiasm, ask questions, maintain eye contact, and communicate with clarity. If this is not your strong suit, don’t worry — extroversion can be learned on the job and, with enough experience, you’re bound to develop the ability to comfortably chat with customers and team members alike.
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Physicality
Most jobs in hospitality involve being on your feet and moving quickly from A to B. For this reason, good fitness can be invaluable, helping you to cope with the physical requirements of the job and even improving your efficiency when it comes to waiting tables, working as a tour guide or carrying out manual labour tasks. If you’re not used to working out, try focusing on your leg strength – squats, aerobics or weight-based exercises are all great for building lower muscles and this will help you to conserve energy throughout the week.
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Often, in hospitality, appearances are a part of the job. This doesn’t mean you have to try to look attractive, instead place your emphasis on hygiene, neatness, professionalism, and good posture. Pay close attention to those in your field who you admire and consider if there are any adjustments that you can make to appear sharper and competent. When you’re spending hours of the day moving around, deodorant is also a plus, as can be a healthy supply of chewing gum or mints to protect against bad breath.
Independence
Succeeding in the hospitality industry no longer means you have to work solely for others. Whether you’re interested in founding a pop-up food outlet, a tourism service, or even a B&B, it’s easier and more affordable than ever to start a business of your own. You’ll find plenty of ways to secure financing, including (but not limited to) bank loans, angel investment, and crowdfunding. Entrepreneurship is an avenue that will best suit those who have experience within the industry and who understand the rules and pitfalls of business management.
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To that point, if you don’t already have the business acumen, it can be a good idea to return to education and earn an online degree. Whether you’re interested in management, leadership, or marketing, remote learning means that you can cut out commute times and balance your studies with a full-time/part-time role.
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If you are a member of the Hospitality Property School Group, as a bonus, I’m going to share a list of 15 tips for success in hospitality management.
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In conclusion
Hospitality can be an unwieldy beast for those who are not already used to working in it. Fortunately, like with anything else, the work often gets easier over time and, as you gain experience, you’ll begin to pick up on the skills & habits you need to succeed in the system or start a business of your own.
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“Courtney started Gig Spark to be a resource and the first step for people who are looking to join the gig economy, either to supplement their income or as a way to fulfill their dreams of becoming an entrepreneur.”
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Have you ever considered a career in the hospitality industry?
Let me know in the comments.
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We cover more on organizational structure in “The Guide to Owning & Operating a Hospitality Property – Successfully” book & course. You find more information at KeystoneHPD.com
You will have access to this episode for as long as you would like but if you would like to see all the bonuses you would have access to as a member of the Hospitality Property School Group, check out the short video in this episode post-show notes.
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In our next episode, I will be talking about Finding Success in Service.
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That’s it for today’s episode,
Until next time, have a fun day.
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If you haven’t done so yet, make sure up sign up for the INNsider Tips, say hi on social and join one of our groups. And make sure you get your free copy of the “How to Improve Your Hospitality Properties Success”.
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You can find all the links in the show notes.
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⇒ TO READ OR LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE ON KEYSTONE HOSPITALITY PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT:
https://keystonehpd.com/what-do-hospitality-property-evaluators-look-for-309
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“The Guide to Owning & Operating a Hospitality Property – Successfully” course.
https://KeystoneHPD.com/Course
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Did you get your copy of the “How to Improve Your Hospitality Properties Success” ebook?
KeystoneHPD.com/How-to-Improve-Your-Hospitality-Properties-Success
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Get Your INNsider Tips
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Join one of your private groups
https://keystonehpd.com/private-groups
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Say hi on social
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/KeystoneHPD
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keystone-hospitality-development
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Listen to The Hospitality Property School PODCAST here
keystonehpd.com/hospitality-property-school-podcasts
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A Division of Keystone Hospitality Property Development
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It’s good that you brought up how vital it is for hospitality workers to be quick with their feet since you’ll be moving quickly when doing tasks. I’m opening a restaurant soon, and since I managed to find staff to hire, I want to get them proper training first before we open for business. I’ll be sure to take note of this while I look for training platforms I can use for my employees.