A buffet setup at Hilton Barbados Resort. |
is a wealth of information that is shared weekly and monthly, best practices collateral made available for specific focus areas, career training opportunities, as well as on the job learning, just to name a few. As we work closely together, we learn from a wealth of knowledge and skills that are shared, out of the box ideas and alternative methods that contribute to the success of the banquet experiences we deliver,” said Nicholls. |
|||||
|
management at HEPP & WMF Professional.
TECH-SAVY GATHERINGS Technology is taking modern banquet planning to a new level. For instance, it can help enhance the guest experience by providing nutritional content, tracking product sourcing and enabling real-time menu customization.“ Polling technology allows guests to pre-select menu options and
Teresa Nicholls, director of catering and events, Hilton Barbados Resort
|
dietary preferences, enabling banquet teams to prepare more efficiently and deliver a seamless service experience,” said Berwald.
That’ s not all. Consider Hilton Barbados Resort, which utilizes a Meeting Simplified booking process, a service that allows guests to book and contract all key arrangements for small meetings.“ With the ability to conduct virtual site inspections, technology now grants clients the opportunity to see an entire property and event spaces without having to be on island,” said Teresa Nicholls, director of catering and events at Hilton Barbados Resort.“ In addition, our main booking system is now available online, which allows team members to access key programs anytime, anywhere.”
STAFF TRAINING Delivering an impeccable
|
experience for a small group of guests is one thing, but executing the same level of service for hundreds requires rigorous training and preparation. For EOS Hospitality, the approach includes pre-event meetings, leveraging historical group data and equipping team members with guest intelligence to anticipate needs.
At Hilton Barbados Resort, access to tools and information is crucial.“ There
Kai Zimmermann, manager global key account management, HEPP & WMF Professional.
|
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES Talent sourcing and maintaining a high degree of service remain primary challenges in the hotel industry, which affects banqueting planning. To face this, some practices include developing in-market partnerships for shared labor pools, establishing strong relationships with talent agencies and investing in ongoing training, all while offering employee-centric benefits.
From a budgeting angle, it’ s the hotels who trim the fat of their banqueting budgets who most likely stand to lose, said Polidoros.“ We haven’ t seen significant pressure on pricing, suggesting the market has adjusted. However, only new hotels with outdated pre-COVID budgets face this challenge. If these properties don’ t revise their budgets and opt for lower-tier equipment, they’ ll eventually need to reinvest, straining their own finances or passing the cost onto others in the future.”
|
|||
70 hotelsmag. com May / June 2025 |