The results of the Advertising Standards Agency's (ASA) adjudication on whether TripAdvisor's advertising slogans such as the now defunct "reviews you can trust" were misleading are finally here, and the online reviews site has ended up with a bit of a bloody nose.
Posted: 10 Feb 2012 | FULL ARTICLE
The BHA has resigned from the VAT Club to concentrate on the industry's official VAT initiative. Chief executive Ufi Ibrahim explains why
Hospitality faces two scenarios in 2012 as the top teams progress but those at the bottom struggle, says Graeme Smith a partner at Zolfo Cooper
Posted: 03 Feb 2012 | FULL ARTICLE
When it comes to hospitality, it's essential to have a clear idea of what your customers want from your business. But how do you find out exactly what's going on inside their heads? How do you ask the question without intruding on the experience of your guests?
Food inflation is likely to decline rapidly over the coming year, says consultant Séan Rickard. He predicts that the worst is over for hospitality businesses
Posted: 02 Feb 2012 | FULL ARTICLE
As we approach the start of the London Games, athletes and competitors across the globe will be putting the finishing touches to their preparations, hoping they'll be able to look back on 2012 as the year they achieved Olympic gold.
Consumers are certainly tightening their belts, and may even have resolved to drink less in 2012, but one luxury it seems we can no longer contemplate cutting back on is coffee. Since 2005, the branded coffee chain market has doubled and is now estimated to be worth £2.1b according to Allegra Strategies.
Posted: 20 Jan 2012 | FULL ARTICLE
Being top of the tree can be a lonely place, says Pride of Britain chief executive Peter Hancock. Which is why working with peers is rewarding
There is no doubting that 2012 is going to be a challenging year for everyone working in the hospitality industry. The prime minister himself made it clear in his New Year message that "there are fears about jobs and paying the bills" and that "the search for work has become difficult, particularly for young people".
Posted: 13 Jan 2012 | FULL ARTICLE
As he reaches 50, Vineyard Group MD Andrew McKenzie reflects on the essence of hospitality, growth of bureaucracy and rise of the career hotelier
Can it really be six-and-a-half years since the International Olympic Committee awarded London the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games? It seems only yesterday that I was in the Brakes development kitchen in Covent Garden, listening to the screams of delight from the crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square.
Posted: 23 Dec 2011 | FULL ARTICLE
British Hospitality Association chief executive Ufi Ibrahim appeals for the industry to get behind the campaigns to cut VAT for hospitality
Deal of the day offers have exploded over the past couple of years as an ever more bargain-hungry consumer seeks out all the value they can squeeze from suppliers. And for hospitality, they can be a great way to expose your brand to a wider audience...
Posted: 16 Dec 2011 | FULL ARTICLE
Hoteliers must strike a balance between cutting edge, contemporary design and timeless tradition, says Pride of Britain chief executive Peter Hancock
With every new wave of technology releases, the bar of consumer expectations moves ever higher. Today's consumers are inundated with increasingly cutting edge gadgets and services at an ever-advancing rate. But how do hospitality operators know which technology bandwagon on which to hitch a ride?
Posted: 09 Dec 2011 | FULL ARTICLE
Waiting staff are not paid enough, argues customer service expert Mario Dolcezza, who suggests abolishing tips in favour of more skill recognition
Posted: 02 Dec 2011 | FULL ARTICLE
What do a tax bill, a provincial town landlord and a rare hamburger have in common? They may sound like they have the makings of a moderately amusing joke but instead the answer is that the three of them represent the challenges hospitality businesses across the country are facing in microcosm this week.
The planning system with regard to hot food takeaway stifles job creation, says Andrew Emmerson, business development director at Domino's Pizza
Posted: 01 Dec 2011 | FULL ARTICLE
As portable devices, be they smartphones or laptops, have become increasingly integrated into daily life, so consumer expectations with regard to Wi-Fi have changed. Just a few years ago we were happy to wait at home while a dial-up connection downloaded our e-mails. Now guests expect to log on with their latte.
Posted: 30 Nov 2011 | FULL ARTICLE
Is it possible to halt the spread of mobile phone use and social media surfing in restaurants, asks Pride of Britain chief executive Peter Hancock
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Using foraged ingredients is nothing new but the trend has become more mainstream over the past two years. However, the wider use of foraged food in restaurants also carries a certain amount of danger.
Watch here
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