Food, Glorious Food

Whenever people are away from home, whether it’s on business or pleasure, a day visit or staying overnight, our customer research has shown that the major factor that makes a venue memorable is the food. It doesn’t matter how fantastic are the rooms, the facilities or the décor, if the restaurant is sub standard, then that’s the memory that lingers long after the visit is over.

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The real value of good customer service

If you are a fan of consumer champion programmes like ‘Watchdog’ you will know that in many instances people aren’t complaining about an actual product or even the cost of it, but how they have been treated by the seller.

‘We give exceptional customer service’ is a boast that has been taken up and rolled out as a mantra by a whole host of different organisations. But how many of them actually understand what real customer service is? If you think about it, providing customers with a first class service should really be taken as read. But too many businesses are very happy to treat the customer with understanding and respect before they actually purchase, but far too few of them continue with that courtesy once they have the money safely in the bank!

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Christmas Parties should be Fun not a Chore

Whether you love it or hate it, the summer has flown and THAT time of year is approaching fast, and I don’t mean the annual salary review. It’s only a matter of weeks away now until the Christmas Party becomes the talking point around the office! It can be great fun for those who come along to enjoy themselves. but quite a stressful time for the poor soul who has the responsibility for organising it. Colleagues will be expecting you to provide the perfect event; as will your boss, but you have to fit it in with your usual heavy workload.

At all the Chartridge Conference Company venues, we’ve had years of experience organising very successful Christmas Parties, so we’ve put together a few tips to help keep the run up the Christmas stress free.

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There’s no excuse for poor service

You don’t have to be an international economist to know we’re still facing difficult economic times but I wonder just how many businesses in the ‘service’ industry are using this as a convenient excuse for lower standards.

We know that our customers have different requirements, and it’s not difficult to provide any specific requirements they may have, but we overlook the basics at our peril. We’re in the hospitality industry so surely our core offering is hospitality – a friendly welcome, a personal service and good food.

At all the Chartridge venues, we make a point in talking to our customers to find out what they want, what they expect. Their biggest gripe is venues that promise the latest high tech facilities with all the bells and whistles, yet fail to deliver those things they expected as standard – functional rooms, a peaceful environment, staff who make them feel valued and a menu that makes up for being away from home.

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Will the Bribery Act see the end of Corporate Hospitality?

The Bribery Act came into effect on 1^st July 2011, with penalties of 10 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine for those caught acting like a politician!

But is this a sledgehammer to crack a nut?  Will it be another example of the law of unforeseen consequences? What are the ramifications for the meetings industry where entertainment and hospitality have long been regarded as a legitimate activity?

In the hospitality industry, entertaining potential clients, hosted dinners and overnight stays have played a key role in hooking clients who have a choice to make. 

It is estimated that corporate hospitality is worth £1bn annually in the UK and certainly plays a big role in the profits of hotels, restaurants and caterers nationwide

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