Hotels: the importance of a good dining service

Life in hotels: the dream for so many people! But what would a good hotel be without a first-class dining service? We break down the benefits for you, and how to create one that reflects who you are.

For your customers

For many people, staying in a hotel means complete relaxation. And relaxation means no laundry, no cleaning and no cooking. So the first benefit for your customers is being able to unwind as much as possible. With breakfast on site and the option of coming back late in the evening, after exploring the area, and sitting down to a meal before heading up to their room, the stay becomes magical!

Offering a dining service in the evening is also one less worry for your customers: no need for cash, everything goes on the bill, no need to hunt down a restaurant on the other side of town, and the chance to rest a little longer...

Lastly, it is one more pleasure for them! Not only do they enjoy a few nights with you, but you also serve them the very best of your local culinary heritage. What more could they ask for?

For you

The benefits for hotels of running an efficient and delicious dining service are many:

- You gain more visibility: on social media, for example

- You earn more money, because your customers spend it with you

- Diners may come to you for a meal and, in doing so, discover your hotel and come back to stay

Finally, one last benefit not to be overlooked is reputation: if you have a good instinct and unearth a talented chef, your hotel is bound to gain from it! You immediately think of Le Meurice with chef Alain Ducasse, Eric Fréchon at Le Bristol or La Rotonde with chef Aurélien Largeau.

Of course, there is no need to start out with a big-name chef, but bear in mind that good food will always get people talking about you!

Where to start

First of all, ask yourself a few simple questions:

- Who is my target audience?

- What do I want to offer: breakfast, lunch, dinner?

- How? In the room and in a dining room, or only one of the two?

- What style of cooking? Regional or international?

Once you have those answers, start looking for a chef and a kitchen brigade. That search will depend on the style of cooking you want. If your customers are looking for authenticity, go for seasonal, regional cooking; if you welcome lots of children and families, opt for something more international.

You can even offer several menus! For example, a "quick bite" menu at lunchtime and a more gastronomic menu, focused on your region, in the evening. That way you can meet the needs of your resident guests as well as customers from outside.

What about you? What dining service do you offer? And if you are also wondering what kind of furniture to buy, we have the answer!