Developing a gourmet hotel today can be an opportunity for financial success. After all, dining experiences have become one of the main areas of spending for travelers. Foodies—or travelers who love good food—are here to stay, and the hotel industry must capitalize on this type of customer.
In this regard, hotels that place an emphasis on food and beverage services have been part of the response to these trends currently shaping the hotel industry.
In this article, we’ll explain what a gourmet hotel is and why you should open one.
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What is a gastronomic hotel?
To develop a gastronomic hotel, it’s important to understand what we’re talking about. In this sense, a gastronomic hotel is a hotel that combines high-quality dining based on local products, food and wine experiences, and excellent accommodations.
On the other hand, at these establishments, the restaurant is open to the general public. In other words, it is not necessarily reserved exclusively for guests staying at the property.
In addition, these types of hotels also stand out for their high-quality, personalized service, their setting, and their meticulous design. Gastronomic hotels are typically located in historic settings or charming environments, where guests can delight not only their palates but also their eyes.
Tips for Developing a Gastronomic Hotel
If you’re thinking about developing a gourmet hotel, keep the following tips in mind:
- A restaurant is about much more than just the food. In other words, it should have a pleasant atmosphere that encourages interaction among customers. Therefore, you should take into account factors such as music, colors and textures, interior design, and scents, among others.
- The menu should reflect the local culture. You should offer dishes that are typical and representative of the local cuisine, as well as wines with a designation of origin.
- Offer dishes made with superfoods. Today’s customers prefer foods that provide health benefits. Some examples include berries, corn, avocados, seaweed, and fatty fish, among others.
- Offer authentic Latin-style cuisine. Mexican, Peruvian, and Chilean cuisines, among others, are currently trending.
- To develop a gastronomic hotel, it is necessary to take food and wine activities into account. In this case, the hotel should offer wine-tasting and food-tasting experiences at local wineries.
- Have a good food and beverage preservation and storage system.
- Have staff dedicated to serving wine. It is recommended that these staff members have experience and be certified by sommelier associations or schools.
- Menus in different languages.
- Service staff who are fluent in several languages (at least Spanish and English) so they can provide appropriate service.
- Hire an experienced and well-regarded chef or head chef.
- Parking—if possible, on-site, or at least with spaces reserved for diners. It is recommended that the parking capacity be equal to or greater than one-third of the restaurant’s seating capacity.
Why Develop a Gourmet Hotel
Developing a gourmet hotel can be a good investment, as these hotels have gained considerable popularity in recent years. What’s more, some hotels have now used their restaurants to create a local entertainment and leisure community, thereby becoming a landmark in the cities where they are located.
In addition, today’s tourists are looking for novel and trendy experiences. For example, local cuisine. Today’s tourists place a great deal of emphasis not only on the quality of their accommodations but also on the quality of the food they will eat while traveling.
Another reason to invest in these accommodations is the ability to attract more guests. After all, guests who come just to the restaurant to sample its delicious dishes may decide to stay at the hotel. The quality of the food encourages them to stay at least one night.
Conclusion
Today, haute cuisine, local cuisine, and especially Latin American cuisine have become trends in the hotel F&B industry. Therefore, both investors and owners of tourist accommodations should take this into account and make the most of it.
Finally, developing a successful gourmet hotel requires careful planning, creativity, and a focus on culinary excellence. So we recommend seeking help from industry professionals.
