For a hospitality food business, ensuring that every customer leaves their establishment as healthy as they walked in, is absolutely essential. For those customers with food allergies and intolerances, clear and accurate allergen labelling isn’t a luxury, like upgrading to an exclusive penthouse, it can be detrimental to their health (even a matter of life or death!). In Ireland, food allergies are a growing issue that affect a considerable number of people. It is estimated that approximately 3% of the population has a food allergy, while 1% of adults are affected by coeliac disease, and a further 5% of adults are lactose intolerant.
At Access Hospitality Ireland, we talk to hundreds of customers who are navigating the challenges of meeting compliance and allergen labelling efficiently. And that’s where we can help! We deliver software solutions to help operators manage these obligations easily.
- Topic:
- Hospitality
The hospitality sector in Ireland is crucial for not only supporting tourism but for providing welcoming and memorable experiences for those enjoying activities such as romantic date night or a lazy Sunday brunch. Though employment in the sector stands at a record high of 2.6 million, it’s about the quality of service that makes Ireland’s renowned ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’ welcome, so special. But it comes as no surprise that the sector is dealing with a shortage of skilled employees which threatens the industry’s potential and affects businesses, employees, customers and communities alike.
Here at Access Hospitality, we talk to operators every week who are struggling with finding, and then crucially keeping hold of good skilled staff. We help them to identify the possible causes for high staff turnover and then implement processes to help make working life happier for staff as well as progress career development.
In this blog, we’ll dive into why there’s a shortage of skilled employees in the Irish hospitality industry, look at how this effects businesses and customers and share some of our strategies to tackle the issue.
- Topic:
- Hospitality
Loyalty programmes are like a secret handshake between your restaurant and your most valued guests. They say: "We see you, we appreciate you, and we've got something special just for you." And although customers are increasingly willing to sign up, the traditional route of generic rewards is no longer enough. Diners are more likely to stick with the place if it offers relevant and personalised rewards.
Recognising that consumers seek personalisation, operators should focus on integrating a loyalty programme with an EPoS system. Why? Because it can supercharge it with the customers' data – their choices, habits and even their birthdays for more tiered and tailored loyalty experiences.
We frequently hear from our customers here, at Access, who are looking to explore ways to get more out of their loyalty programmes and create experiences that meet demands. So, in this article, we'll explore how to set up a truly effective hospitality loyalty programme and discuss the benefits of integrating it with your EPOS system for deeper, authentic loyalty.
- Topic:
- Hospitality
Sustainability is a hot topic right now. And for Ireland, where tourism is such a huge economic driver, it’s important to look at the impact businesses have on the environment. With the Irish Government committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, all business sectors, especially hospitality, need to examine their role in driving sustainable operating practices.
Hotels, restaurants, and F&B operators are uniquely positioned to shape positive changes in tourism. And it’s not just about government regulations, adopting more sustainable processes is a smart business decision, helping you to improve operational efficiency, lower business costs and appeal to an increasingly eco-conscious consumer base.
Here at Access Hospitality Ireland, we understand the challenges and opportunities that come with sustainability objectives. We’ve helped more than 2,250 restaurants, hotels and other hospitality businesses adopt digital software to streamline operations and become more sustainable.
In this article, we’ll look into sustainable tourism and what it means for hospitality. So, if you’re looking to learn a little more about sustainable business practices for hospitality operators, you’ve come to the right place.
- Topic:
- Hospitality
Upselling in restaurants is a proven strategy that can help enhance the customer experience and boost profits, but only if done right. Pushy waiters can turn the guests off and their negative reactions can leave your staff uncomfortable and unmotivated. To make sure your customers have the best experience in your restaurant, you need to teach your staff the art of upselling.
One thing we hear a lot from our customers here at Access, is that customers are increasingly ordering fewer items, and the average order values are lower. This is where upselling can play a vital role by recommending the more premium options, encouraging them to indulge in a treat or highlighting a high-value offer.
In this article, we're going to look into practical tips and strategies on how to upsell without turning your customers off and how technology can make the process smoother for both your team and your customers.
- Topic:
- Hospitality
Restaurants are just businesses like any other, and they need to make money in order to survive. Regardless of your cuisine, concept or customer base, if your restaurant profit margins are too thin, you need to take steps to improve them.
It's a common thread we see a lot here at Access, with businesses of all sizes looking to improve their profit margins, especially after so many years of strife. Our specialists have years of experience helping operators reduce costs, while our leading hospitality software helps improve gross profit through streamlined operations.
In this article, we'll look at the factors affecting your bottom line as well as strategies to improve your restaurant business's profit margins.
- Topic:
- Hospitality
In the age of smartphones and on-demand everything, hospitality has undergone a remarkable transformation in which real-life experiences and digital software must work in harmony. And whether you’re just starting to adopt a software-based strategy in your business or are experienced in navigating the technological requirements of a large-scale hospitality business, you’ve likely found yourself considering "Is an omnichannel restaurant strategy right for me?"
Here at Access, we hear this question a lot. So, we’ve decided to get into it in this comprehensive guide and address the myriad questions, doubts and considerations that have led you here. We understand that the restaurant industry is one of constant evolution, and your journey through the digital dining landscape may be just beginning, or it may be a quest for optimisation and staying ahead of the curve.
So, whether you’re a digital newbie or an experienced technology advocate for your business, keep reading as we explore omnichannel restaurant software, what it is, how it works and most importantly, whether adopting one will help you achieve your business objectives.
- Topic:
- Hospitality
With the energy prices constantly rising, hospitality operators must prioritise cost-saving measures to mitigate the financial impact of rising costs.
Food-led hospitality businesses, which require large kitchen equipment and fridges to run, face some of the most energy-draining operations, making it even more important for operators to find effective strategies to maximise energy efficiency and reduce operating costs. Moreover, as consumers increasingly prioritise sustainability and corporate responsibility, operators must ensure that their cost-cutting efforts also align with these values.
In this article, we will list 8 steps pub and restaurant operators can take to achieve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs while demonstrating their commitment to sustainability.
- Topic:
- Hospitality
With less than half of Irish restaurants confident they have the technology needed to operate effectively, it's clear that there's a significant opportunity for digital transformation in the sector. As a hospitality operator, your point of sale (POS) system is arguably the most important tool in your business, but choosing the perfect software is only the first step in a successful POS implementation - next, your team has to transition to using it.
From choosing the right software and hardware to staff training and minimising downtime, there's a lot to consider. In the end, you want the transition to be seamless and actually transformative for your business.
Here at Access, we’ve successfully helped countless businesses save both time and costs in the process. So, in this article, we'll break down the key steps to a successful POS implementation and shed light on how to do it in the most effective way possible.
- Topic:
- Hospitality
With 61% of hospitality leaders planning to invest in new technology this year, it's clear that staying ahead of the curve is a top priority. As a hospitality operator, your point of sale (POS) system is arguably the most important tool in your business, but choosing the perfect software is only the first step in a successful POS implementation - next, your team has to transition to using it.
From choosing the right software and hardware to staff training and minimising downtime, there's a lot to consider. In the end, you want the transition to be seamless and actually transformative for your business.
Here at Access, we’ve successfully helped countless businesses save both time and costs in the process. So, in this article, we'll break down the key steps to a successful POS implementation and shed light on how to do it in the most effective way possible.
- Topic:
- Hospitality
