Month: November 2017

Of the many challenges hotel managers face, one of the most difficult tasks is keeping up with the ever-changing expectations of guests. Instant gratification is (and has been) in high demand across all industries. Consumers want what they want when they want it, and services like Uber, Amazon Prime, and others have set the bar pretty high.

Hotel guests are no different.

In fact, a recent study shows that 61% of business travelers want free WiFi access. In other words, they don’t just want access to information…they want it now!

How does this translate to hotel pantry management?

In two ways: convenience and profits.

Convenience

While vending machines are still a viable option for many locations, your hotel pantry provides these bleary eyed travelers with more variety and ultimate convenience. Think about it, how many times have you had money stolen from you by a vending machine? A pantry eliminates that hassle. After traveling all day and (sometimes) being away from family, guests can simply walk into the market, pick an item or two, and pay for it just as they would in a convenience store. This added convenience leads to more sales.

Profits

A hotel pantry can be an excellent source of revenue, but it has to be managed well. It has to be a priority. That means pricing items effectively, merchandising, and keeping the pantry well-stocked and clean. An attractive pantry filled with guests’ favorite snacks and treats will influence impulse purchases, which will lead to higher profits.

One aspect of managing a hotel pantry that initially gets overlooked is theft. Shrinkage from your pantry is unavoidable, whether it’s due to stealing or reduced prices for employees. So it’s important to take the proper measures to prevent guests and employees from stealing or abusing the pantry. Here are four tips to help reduce theft from your pantry.

1. Surveillance Cameras

Some suppliers will have security cameras installed to monitor the pantry. If you don’t work with a supplier that can install cameras, we suggest investing in them. While it might seem like another expense, the money you make (and save) from the pantry will quickly cover the costs.

2. Maintain Physical Presence

Managing a hotel can be like juggling  glass bottles while running full speed across a balance beam. It gets hectic. But being able to maintain a physical presence near and around your pantry as much as possible will help deter would-be thieves.

3. Inventory Monitoring System

Knowing is half the battle. Without having a firm understanding of what your pantry inventory looks like at any given time, it’s much more difficult to keep up with shrinkage. Having a solid pantry management system to keep track of inventory that you have can help reduce theft and shrinkage. If you know certain items are likely to disappear, you can limit the amount of product you put on the shelves.

4. Monitor Employee Use

It’s well-known in loss prevention circles that employees steal more than customers. Knowing this, it’s incumbent on managers to make sure employees understand that the pantry is–first and foremost–a convenience for guests. It’s not a break room. Some managers choose to not let employees use the pantry at all, while others decide to let them purchase items at a reduced price. Whatever your approach, stick to it and monitor employee use of the pantry.