SURVEY
How healthy would you rate the OVERALL SELECTION of snacks typically available in a hotel lobby shop / vending machine ?
Very unhealthy
Unhealthy
Healthy
Very Healthy
0 % 10 % 20 % 30 % 40 % 50 % 60 % 70 % 80 % 90 % 100 %
How much is your perception of a hotel brand influenced at all by the selection of snacks in their lobby shop or vending machines ?
Strongly influenced
Somewhat influenced
Not at all influenced
0 % 10 % 20 % 30 % 40 % 50 % 60 % 70 % 80 % 90 % 100 %
How much do you agree with the following statement : “ I find it more difficult to make healthy choices when traveling ”?
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
0 % 10 % 20 % 30 % 40 % 50 % 60 % 70 % 80 % 90 % 100 %
A significant portion of respondents said they buy snacks at hotel lobby shops / vending machines on most hotel visits ( 25 %) and occasionally ( 26 %). Most guests are either disappointed or very disappointed with the selection of snacks typically available in a hotel lobby shop / vending machine . Only 45 % of guests said they are satisfied or very satisfied , suggesting it is an area hotels can work on to differentiate themselves and improve guests ’ perceptions of the brand . In fact , 77 % of respondents said their perception of a hotel brand is at least somewhat influenced by the selection of snacks in their lobby shop or vending machines .
In an open-ended portion of the survey , travelers from a variety of hotel loyalty programs weighed in on the current status of hotel-snacking options . One said : “ It would be nice to see healthier snack options in the lobbies of hotels .” Another said : “ It ’ s time for a change ,” while another put it more bluntly : “ They suck .”
When exploring specifically what might influence purchase decisions , 81 % of respondents indicated more healthy snacks , such as yogurt and fruit , would either very much or somewhat influence them to buy snacks in their hotel . Seventyseven percent said availability of additional “ better-for-you ” versions of traditionally indulgent snacks would do the trick and 71 % specifically identified snacks formulated to support better sleep would influence their decision to buy .
Turns out , healthier snacking is better for brands , bellies and the bottom line , providing hotels with a revenue boost . The hotel industry as a whole is shifting to a further focus on wellness , but getting there might require intervention by the brands and standardizing food items found in vending machines and grab-and-go . Brand equity matters : 77 % of respondents were either strongly or somewhat influenced in their perception of a hotel brand by the types of snacks they offered . Listening to customer desires and acting on them is a fast way to build all-important brand equity .
46 hotelsmag . com June 2023