The hospitality industry is a whole lot more demanding and competitive than most people assume, and that’s why everyone in it is always looking for ways to improve. You just have to. if you’re going to survive and thrive.

To that end, here’s a quick list of killer hospitality training tips that will put you head and shoulders above your competition in the industry. Some of them might seem a bit obvious, but you will be surprised at just how much of a difference they can make for your business if you consciously implement them each and every day.

Let’s get right into it.

The Top Hospitality Tips

1. Get your team in gear

You will only be as good as the team you have behind you. For those in hospitality management positions, there’s nothing more important than cultivating a team that mirrors your commitment, standards, and passion for the work that you do. Sure, it’s easier said than done, but it should always be a priority.

Hire the very best people available, give them very clear objectives and expectations, allow them the room they need to do their jobs, and always let them know when they’re doing a good job. You’re the captain of the ship, and how you lead your team is just as important as how the wind blows, if not more so.

2. Keep on learning new hospitality tips

The best teachers are learning to the very end. Hotel managers really need to be virtuosos of their trade – knowing all there is to know about every aspect of their craft. Proper hospitality training dictates that you know the proper dishwashing technique just as well as what wine pairs with every item on your menu. You can’t afford to stop improving and innovating your operation.

Don’t be afraid to change the way you do things if you find out about a better way; you might encounter some resistance at first from your staff, but if you’re working towards providing a better experience for your customers, the results will justify your decision, and everyone will be better off because of it. Leaders face the wind.

3. Say hello

Never underestimate the power of the personal touch. Guests coming into your establishment, for the first time might not know what to expect, and a personal welcome might go a long way in making them feel immediately at home. Take every chance you get to greet them as they enter, making eye contact, smiling, and generally letting them know that you’re glad to have them with you and are at their service should they need anything.

Managers, make sure to say hello and visit tables. Just saying hello while wearing a suit can do wonders for your restaurant’s image.

Most guests are a bit shy about asking for additional service, and putting them at ease about such things might be the thing that keeps them coming back to your place time and time again. That extra set of towels they ask for in the middle of the night might be the thing that gets your Yelp! review to the top of Google’s search results.

4. Keep (your hospitality approach) up with the times

Speaking of search results, you have to adapt your approach to the hospitality industry in the digital age, where your online presence is just as important as the state of your kitchens. Restaurants and hotels nowadays have to be easily located online, as word-of-mouth recommendations have moved entirely to social media and review websites.

Invest in a bit of IT expertise, whether it’s in-house or sourced externally. Online bookings, social media presence, online marketing, SEO optimization, and everything inbetween should be prioritized in today’s times if you want to compete effectively. And yeah, don’t forget about the Wi-Fi. Never forget about the Wi-Fi.

Don’t go overboard with technology though. For instance, asking customers to leave a tip before the transaction even processes is a recipe for hospitality failure.