F & B
complimentary breakfasts .
The pandemic may have altered the F & B landscape in the hospitality sector but there has been a steady rise in both in-house guests and local patrons taking advantage of hotels ’ new table service offerings .
At Dimension Hospitality , the Fort Lauderdale , Fla . -based hotel management company , buffet breakfasts have been fully operational at most of their hotels at least
Grab-and-go breakfast station at an avid hotel .
the past year . Their grab-and-go options have been a source of considerably bigger growth , providing their culinary teams the opportunity to drive creativity .
“ By and large , brands are a little less prescriptive when it comes to the grab and go , so that gives us a broader pallet from which to curate interesting offerings ,” said Dimension Hospitality ’ s COO Joseph Viglietta .
WHEN WE HAVE MORE AUTONOMY , WE CAN GET CREATIVE . OUR GRAB-AND-GO BAGS ARE TYPICALLY CURATED BASED UPON HIGHEST VOLUME SELLERS , AS WELL AS LOCAL FAVORITES
– JOSEPH VIGLIETTA , COO , DIMENSION HOSPITALITY
While brand standards dictate most offerings , the company tries to make their buffets , as well as all guest interactions , unique by embracing opportunities for guest interactions .
“ Guests may not remember the types of juice served , but they will remember how we made them feel . It comes down to engagement and that ’ s how we attempt to set ourselves apart . The opportunities for interaction with guests are becoming increasingly infrequent due to mobile technology . So , when we have an opportunity like breakfast time , it ’ s important to engage ,” Viglietta said .
Dimension Hospitality tries to add a personalized touch to their offerings , with some hotels incorporating adding a regional décor to their buffets . For example , in the music city of Nashville , the company has made serving bowls out of melted vinyl record .
EMERGING TRENDS Hoteliers anticipate the trend of prepackages breakfasts to continue . The demand for pre-packaged breakfast items , in general , has been growing since the pandemic . Demand for premium grab-andgo has been especially robust as quality in this field continues to improve .
The rising preference for pre-packaged breakfasts depends on some factors , Viglietta said , including the recent spike in COVID variants and time constraints . “ A fresh fruit cup or granola parfait , a muffin or bagel . These are all very portable and easily pre-packaged . When we have more autonomy , we can get creative . Our grab-and-go bags are typically curated based upon highest volume sellers , as well as local favorites . Each of our hotels that provide such offerings are encouraged to infuse an innovative touch point , which may include customized packaging , signature chocolates , and even hand-written notes . It ’ s a nice surprise when you open the bag .”
Hilton has prioritized grab-andgo markets over grab-and-go bags , programming these outlets to feature freshly prepared items and healthy
48 hotelsmag . com October 2023