The hospitality industry’s communication gap: catering to needs but failing to connect
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In an era where inclusivity and convenience are paramount, the hospitality industry has made significant strides to accommodate diverse customer needs.
From offering step-free access and gluten-free menus to ensuring venues are dog-friendly and equipped with baby-changing facilities, establishments are increasingly versatile in their offerings. Despite these advancements, a communication gap persists, leading to a disconnect between what venues provide and what potential customers know about them.
Meeting Diverse Needs
Hospitality venues today recognize the importance of catering to a wide range of customer requirements:
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Accessibility
Many venues now feature step-free access, ensuring that customers with mobility issues can enter and navigate the premises with ease.
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Dietary Considerations
Gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options have become commonplace, allowing individuals with specific dietary needs to dine without worry.
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Pet-Friendly Options
Recognizing the growing trend of pet ownership, numerous establishments welcome dogs, offering amenities like water bowls and pet-friendly areas.
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Family-Friendly Services
Venues are increasingly providing facilities such as baby changing stations, kids’ menus, and play areas to accommodate families.
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Recreational Activities
To enhance the customer experience, many places now offer activities like pool tables, darts, live events, and meal deals.
The Communication Breakdown
Despite these extensive efforts to cater to varied needs, many customers remain unaware of the available options due to insufficient communication.
This disconnect has significant implications:
- 1
Last-Minute Planning
Modern consumers often make plans on the spur of the moment. In such scenarios, they do not have the luxury of time to thoroughly research venue facilities and services. When crucial information is not readily available, these customers may opt to stay home or choose familiar but potentially less suitable options
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Information Accessibility
While some venues list their amenities on websites or third-party platforms, the information is often buried or not highlighted effectively. Customers with specific needs must sift through numerous pages or make direct inquiries, which can be time-consuming and frustrating.
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Targeted Marketing
There is a lack of targeted marketing strategies that address specific customer needs. General advertising fails to convey the specialized services that could attract a more diverse clientele.
The Failure of Existing Solutions
While there are existing solutions aimed at improving communication, they often fall short:
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Online Presence
Venue websites have limited reach, and social media pages lack the functionality to clearly list all available amenities and services. Utilizing SEO techniques to improve visibility can be costly and may result in mixed signals due to irrelevant customer review information.
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Third-Party Platforms
Platforms like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Google My Business can highlight specific features (e.g., “dog-friendly,” “gluten-free menu”) to increase visibility. However, these platforms are not very user-friendly and can overwhelm users with excessive information.
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Clear Signage and In-House Communication
This approach only works upon arrival and relies heavily on customers’ ability to recall the information during their visit. It fails to assist those planning their outings from home.
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Mass Email Marketing
While mass email marketing campaigns can inform customers of special offers and amenities, they are often ineffective. Customers tend to ignore these emails or are unable to locate a specific offer email when they need it, leading to missed opportunities.
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Feedback and Adaptation
Actively seeking customer feedback on helpful or lacking information can guide improvements in communication strategies. However, this process is often slow and reactive, rather than proactive in addressing communication gaps.
Bridging the Gap with My Watering Hole App
The My Watering Hole app is a game-changer in addressing the communication gaps within the hospitality industry.
Leveraging advanced location-based search engine capabilities and a user-friendly, one-touch interface, this app provides real-time information about nearby venues, ensuring that customers can easily find places that cater to their specific needs.
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Real-Time Information and Location-Based Search
My Watering Hole app offers a sophisticated location-based search engine, enabling users to find venues in their vicinity that meet their specific requirements. This real-time feature ensures that users can make informed decisions quickly, without extensive research or legwork.
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Comprehensive Venue Types
The app covers over 60 venue types, making it a versatile tool for anyone looking to explore new places or find specific types of venues. Whether you’re searching for: Bowling Alleys, Cafes, Clubs, Escape Rooms, Pubs, Restaurants and more. The extensive database ensures that users can find the perfect venue for any occasion.
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Diverse Deals and Event Types
My Watering Hole app also excels in providing information on various deals and events, enhancing the overall user experience:
– Deals: The app can list over 20 different types of deals (Happy Hours, Kids Meal Deals, Roast and more), helping users find the best offers available.
– Events: Users can explore over 20 event types (Bingo Night, DJ Nights, Live Music, Pub quiz and more), ensuring they never miss out on exciting happenings around them.
– Live Sports: For sports enthusiasts, the app lists venues showing live sports for over 25 different sports events, keeping them updated on live action.
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Special Occasions and Venue Activities
Understanding the importance of special occasions and unique activities, the app provides:
– Special Occasions: Information on venues offering for celebrating over 30+ special occasions such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Anniversaries, Birthdays, Weddings, and other life events.
– Venue Activities: Details on over 15 venue activities, including Beer Tasting, Cocktail Masterclasses, Wine Tasting, Whiskey Tasting and more.
A Promising Horizon
The hospitality industry has undoubtedly made significant progress in catering to diverse customer needs.
However, the benefits of these advancements are undermined by poor communication. By prioritizing clear, accessible, and targeted information dissemination, venues can better connect with potential customers, ensuring that everyone—from those seeking gluten-free options to families needing baby-changing facilities—feels informed and welcomed. This, in turn, can lead to increased patronage and customer satisfaction, as people feel confident that their specific needs will be met.
The My Watering Hole app addresses the communication gaps in the hospitality industry by providing real-time, location-based information that caters to a wide range of needs. Its comprehensive coverage of venue types, deals, events, special occasions, and activities ensures that users can effortlessly find and enjoy the services they require. By leveraging this advanced technology, the app helps bridge the gap between what venues offer and what customers know, leading to a more informed, satisfied, and engaged clientele.
Try out the powerful features of the My Watering Hole app
Download the App here https://linktr.ee/mywatering for more information contact them at [email protected]