Hotel Owner September 2017 | Page 9

MONTH IN REVIEW GO ONLINE www.hotelowner.co.uk POOCHES Arch London to offer luxury experience to dogs The Arch London hotel is offering its four-legged guests a luxury experience as the five-star hotel plans to make its property fully dog-friendly. The hotel will set out to treat dogs to an “indulgent experience”, complete with luxurious dog beds, feeding bowls, treats and pet food cooked to order. Dog walking services are available, allowing owners to relax whilst “their furry friends explore the 350 acres of nearby Hyde Park”. Dog-sitting services are also provided by the hotel in case owners wish to leave the premises. As well as this, the hotel can offer to arrange for a pampering session in Chelsea’s luxurious Pet Day Spa, where the dog can be groomed, indulged and revitalised. UPCOMING EVENTS 26 - 27 September 2017 Hotel Tech Live – ExCel London 17 – 18 October 2017 Independent Hotel Show – Olympia London 8 - 9 November 2017 Holiday Park & Resort Innovation – NEC Centre September 2017 FEEDBACK Negative reviews? 85% would ‘rather leave positive ones’ Some 85% of hospitality customers are more inclined to leave a positive review than a negative one, a survey from hospitality software partners Fourth has found. The survey, which took a sample of 1,500 dining consumers, revealed that customers left on average 3.4 reviews a year and the core drivers behind leaving a positive review were: quality food (87%), attentive staff (69.4%), and quick service (46.7%). The findings also highlighted that younger consumers aged between 16 to 29 were twice as likely to leave a negative review as their older counterparts, aged 45 to 59. The survey also found that those aged 16 to 29 were twice as likely to leave a negative review because of incorrect website information, than those aged 30 to 44. They were also more than eight times as likely than those aged 44 to 59. When asked what factors influenced leaving a negative review, the top results were: poor quality food (78.8%); rude staff (68.6%); and waiting time for food (61.9%). The survey also revealed that operators had the best chance of appeasing a negative review if the food wasn’t up to scratch, if they provided: a discounted bill (58.2%); great service throughout the meal (46.2%); the offer of a complimentary return visit (39.2%). Catherine Marshall, communications director at Fourth said: “Customer- driven online review platforms, such as TripAdvisor, have become very influential drivers in generating footfall. “It is clear that the younger, tech-savvy generations are more critical than 1 2 3 4 5 the older generations when it comes to leaving negative feedback and therefore forward-thinking operators seeking to future proof their business are tracking, analysing and acting upon customer sentiment.” She added: “In the end, it all comes down to businesses utilising technology to get total transparency on their operation so that they can make informed decisions to improve sentiment and drive sales – two vital levers in today’s challenging environment.” DEVELOPMENT Work starts on new £20m Liverpool hotel Liverpool-based contractor Newry Construction has begun work on the £20m Times Hotel by Vincent in the city’s historic Ropewalks district for developer Elliot Group. The 116-room hotel will be situated on Seel Street and will be an addition to Elliot’s neighbouring £40m Wolstenholme Square project, which is also being built by Newry. The Wolstenholme Square development will include 447 studio and one-bedroom apartments spread across four blocks. The Times Hotel will be operated by hospitality entrepreneur Paul Adams, the man behind Southport’s Vincent hotel and its sister bar and brasserie, the Vincent Café on Liverpool’s Exchange Flags. The hotel, scheduled to open in late spring 2018, will include a rooftop pool and spa. www.hotelowner.co.uk 9