Despite the adversity the lodging industry faces with home sharing services like Airbnb and VRBO, there's also an enormous opportunity for properties to attract and cash in with food and beverage.
In a recent edition of Foodservice Equipment & Supplies, our own VP of commercial sales, Jim Koelbl, sat down to discuss the current beverage trends in the hospitality industry, and the conversation was enlightening.
For starters, to ignore the threats facing the hospitality industry is impossible, but it's also hard to ignore the opportunities. Millennials, especially, are looking for more variety when it comes to food offerings, and that's where the industry is heading.
"While there are still true full-service hotels, these aren't as prevalent as the mid-grade types that are seeking more versatility with barista-style coffee in the morning and alcoholic beverages in the afternoon and evening," Koelbl said.
This comes down to one thing. Maximizing space. As designs and operations trend more toward multi-use opportunities, so too come the potential to increase onsite revenues.
Of course the challenge then becomes, what kind of equipment can we utilize to give us the ability to serve multiple meals and different types of beverages depending on the time of day?
"One challenge for many hotel brands that have traditional or mid-grade hotel bars is that these areas are open in the lobby. This presents a challenge in securing liquor, which needs to be easily locked up during off hours to prevent theft."
Perlick has helped solve this challenge with a locking speed rail cover that stores beneath the speed rail when not in use. When needed, it is then placed on top and is secured with two padlocks.
While multi-use spaces can certainly impact a property's bottom line, so, too, can embracing trends. The craft cocktail movement is a great example, and in many cases, an hotel that creates a high-quality, reputable bar will often be a destination even for those who don't stay in the hotel. Some of the hottest New York City cocktail bars, for example, can be found in hotels.
"Perlick has partnered with renowned mixologist Tobin Ellis to create the Tobin Ellis Signature Cocktail Station," Koelbl said. "This gives craft mixologists all the tools needed to create craft cocktails. This provides high volume in a small footprint."
Perlick is dedicated to high volume quantity without compromising on the high end quality.
See how Perlick bar and beverage solutions can help impact your lodging and hospitality bar and beverage program. Check out our latest bar and beverage guide today.
