news
Social media remains a missed opportunity
It is believed that over one
in 10 hotels, restaurants and
pubs are generating up to half
of their sales through social
media. This is leading many to feel that
much of the industry is still missing out on
the opportunities available by maximising
the potential of such outlets as Facebook
and Twitter.
These findings, from a Barclays survey of
a representative sample of 126 UK hospitality operators, discovered that 29 per
cent of hospitality businesses across the
UK are attributing at least 25 per cent of
their sales to social media. Despite sales
boosts for some businesses, 60 per cent
of those who took part only see limited
opportunities through social media.
According to Barclays’ head of hospitality and leisure, Mike Saul, the majority of
the industry is “missing a trick” in terms of
neglecting social media.
Saul said: “Social media has blurred the
lines between personal and corporate
communities – something that has been
encouraged by consumers who now
expect to be able to interact in an immediate and very personal way, not just with
friends, but with their favourite, and not so
favoured, brands.”
More than two-thirds of the businesses
currently using social media claim positive experiences, and have seen a boom
in attracting customers. Still, it is found
that there are many businesses using
social media that are not fully maximising its potential. The survey found that 44
percent of businesses have a presence on
sites such as Facebook and Twitter, but
they rarely use it. Many cited concerns
over the time-consuming nature of constantly managing social media, risks of
negative publicity and also the technical
skills required as reasons they are hesitant
in using these platforms.
Saul believes "there needs to be a strategy driving it" for businesses to realise
social media’s full potential.
TripAdvisor to
monitor threats
Recognition
for Aagrah MD
Online reviews site TripAdvisor has launched
a new tool for hospitality operators to report
possible ‘blackmail’ from guests.
The move is in response to concerns by
operators that some guests threaten to
write a negative review unless a demand
for a refund, upgrade, or other request is
met. TripAdvisor’s new tool allows operators to report these threats before a negative review is submitted.
Speedy reporting of these threats, via the
management centre, can greatly help TripAdvisor’s investigative process and help
keep blackmail reviews from ever reaching the site, the company said.
Best practices for submitting reports of
potential blackmail to TripAdvisor include
instructing employees to share any guest
blackmail threats immediately, and submitting a potential blackmail review
report as soon as possible via the management centre. Operators can do this
on the website as well, by clicking a link
to dispute reviews in the “manage your
reviews” section of the site.
The Aagrah group's managing director and executive chef Mohamed Aslam
MBE, has named as the only Asian
businessman to make it into the
Northern Restaurant and Bar (NRB)
top 50 list.
Recognising the most successful individuals who
have helped to shape the
hospitality
landscape
across the north east,
the NRB announced the
prestigious list at their
exhibition in Manchester
recently.
When asked how he feels to receive
such high recognition from industry
peers, Aslam said: “It is humbling
to be part of such a distinguished
group. I’m simply following my passion for food and in particular about
Kashmiri cuisine, which Aagrah continues to pioneer.”
8
Encompassing over 200 industry
exhibitors, the business to business event attracted thousands of
visitors and generating millions of
pounds in deals.
Aagrah’s progressive development
plan currently sees the launch of its
15th fine dining restaurant opening in Ilkley, west Yorkshire, at the
Moors Shopping Centre with a
further two sites in the pipeline.
The latest restaurant will creates
opportunities for 20 jobs.
Established in 1977,
Aagrah is the UK’s largest
chain of Kashmiri Restaurants, a family run business, set up by Aagrah
Chairman Mohammed Sabir
MBE. Aside from its various
sites throughout Yorkshire,
Aagrah also provides event catering
nationally and amongst its recent
high profile catering events have
been as offical Asian caterer to
the World Snooker Championships
2013.
caterer to the launch of Jaguar F
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