Why Your Guests Want Great Locally Sourced Food with Their Stay
Did you know more than half of your guests care about their dining options when staying at your property, regardless of whether it’s a hotel or a bed and breakfast?
Food is often a determining factor when your guests choose where to stay during their visit to your locale. Not only do they care about food, but they often want to immerse themselves in your local cuisine.
This often means sampling the local fare.
In this article, we look at why your guests want great locally sourced food with their stay and what you can do about providing it for them.
Meeting the Needs of Your Guests
Thanks to the digital world, the hospitality industry is constantly evolving and changing to meet its customers needs and expectations.
In a world where people can see what your property looks like inside and out with a click of the mouse and check out reviews all over the internet, your customer’s happiness matters more than ever.
To stay ahead of the competition, you’ve got to be on the lookout for new ways to meet your customers needs. Staying ahead of the curve and anticipating their needs means success for you in the future.
One key is knowing what’s on trend and what your guests care about. Many people today are concerned about not only the environment but where their food comes from.
When you can trace the patch from farm to table, you’re one step ahead of the trend.
The Demand for Local
It might surprise you to know that the demand for locally sourced food isn’t just about the environment. It has social, health, and economic concerns in addition to environmental concerns for many of your guests.
Here’s why:
- People perceive locally sourced food as being superior – it is fresher, has better flavor, ripens naturally, and doesn’t need a long shelf life.
- They like to support local farmers.
- Your guests want to eat food right from the farmer because they can trust the quality and integrity of the food and not have to worry as much about food safety.
- They want to preserve local farmland and open spaces by supporting farmers economically.
Once you understand the reasons your guests want locally sourced food, the choice to provide it becomes an easy one, especially if your hotel culture is service oriented.
Showcase Local
It’s more important than ever to showcase local food in your hotel restaurant.
Your hotel guests and even diners who visit your hotel want artisanal, feel good food. They also want an experience, and locally sourced food gives them that. (tweet this)
Generic is gone in the hospitality industry, as are cookie cutter restaurants.
Cater to the explorer in your hotel customers, and you’ll do much to enhance the ambiance and aesthetic feel of your hotel.
The farm to table movement is established and going strong. Think local meats and produce. We think this is a long-lasting trend as more and more of your guests, especially Millennials, care about social responsibility and sustainability.
If you want to cater to Millennials and upcoming generations, locally sourced food has to be at the forefront.
Exploration is On-Trend
Another reason your guests want locally sourced food is the need for global exploration. This means exploring the cuisine local to your area.
This is your hotel’s chance to get creative in your dining and drinking experiences. Check out some of these tips for enhancing your locally sourced food:
- Offer only sustainable items.
- Include only locally sourced ingredients.
- Make healthier dishes.
- Offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
- Feature ethnic dishes from your area. For example, your town might have a large Mediterranean, German, or Hispanic population – feature locally sourced food from these areas.
- Offer comfort foods locally sourced from your area that fit the season.
- Introduce locally sourced drinks. For example, bring in local beer and wine.
Grow Your Own
If you really want to stay on top of the trend and show your guests you care about sustainability, grow your own kitchen garden.
This is easy if you live in a temperate region. If not, consider adding a greenhouse. You can purchase one relatively inexpensively. Or, consider a rooftop garden if you don’t have any open space.
In addition, you can extend your patio or pool area to include a garden. You can also add raised beds. Your garden space doesn’t have to be huge either. You can grow an organic garden in 200-600 feet. You might go larger or smaller depending on the size of your restaurant.
Your guests will love seeing your garden, and they’ll feel comforted by their very locally sourced, organic produce.
Keep Your Guests Onsite
Lodging amenities have become more varied the last several years as more and more properties are looking to differentiate themselves from the competition.
When you offer locally sourced food at your hotel, you offer a specialized service that appeals to your guests. This means they stay onsite longer, and it also means you’re doing more to make them happy.
In addition to keeping your guests onsite, your great food entices locals to dine with you, too. In the end, this means more revenue for your property.
You might also consider bringing in a local chef to cook for you. If this isn’t an option every day, bring the chef in several times a month for special meals.
Make your locally sourced incredible menu a calling card for your hotel. By aligning your property with the local trend, you separate yourself from the competition.
Final Thoughts
Your guests want great locally sourced food with their stay. They want a terrific experience that allows them to feel like they’ve done something good for the world.
When they eat local food, they feel like they’re contributing to sustainability. And, they’ll remember you gave them that good feeling.
When it comes to sourcing meats, cheeses, and produce, look to your own garden, community supported food programs, local farmers, and area community gardens.
Show your guests you care about what they care about. Let me know your goal is to provide the healthiest options by letting them know where their food comes from.
This in turn shows your guests you’re playing a part in improving the environment, the local economy, and their overall experience at your property.
Looking to showcase your locally sourced menu? At Hotel Propeller, we build functional, beautiful websites that highlight your hotel to help you stand out in the crowd. You’ll find everything you need to attract guests to your website and compel visitors to make a reservation. Take a look at our showcase and contact us today.
Images: Jay Wennington and Alex Block on Unsplash
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