Food & beverage
from Mexico, Asia, Italy and beyond, while also enjoying maximised downtime to interact with other guests and attendees,” Walter notes.
Covid connoisseurs But the pandemic, as Walters points out, has had an even more fundamental impact on the way that people consume food and drink. “During the pandemic, people became culinary connoisseurs from the comfort of their own kitchens, dabbling in virtual wine tastings and culinary classes. Virtual and self- taught tastings and cooking experiences proved to be an important outlet for relieving stress and building connections. As people returned to travel, we found success in offering hands-on culinary experiences to our guests across our global portfolio.” This is one trend that Hilton believes is here to stay.
Above: The Hilton Tulum Riviera
Maya Resort, which features all-inclusive dining experiences and menus.
Below: Offering flavours from Mexico, Asia, Italy and more, the Hilton Tulum Maya All-Inlcusive Resorts combines dining with leisure.
Walters also notes the rise of the so-called “bleisure” traveller, who, in the post-Covid world, is increasingly keen to combine business trips with leisure. “According to [the global trends report], 85% of business travellers expect to travel as much or more next year, and we’ve seen that the purpose of their trips increasingly blend elements of business and leisure. We anticipate comfort and personalisation will continue to play a significant role in where guests choose to stay and, as a result, have evolved our on-property experiences and packages to meet this demand. “For instance,” Walters continues, “at Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino, travellers can make the most of the property’s Power Palapas, which are outfitted with everything remote guests need to stay connected on vacation, ranging from charging stations to laptop cooling pads and power bowls with hydrating aloe juice or coconut water. “We have seen groups gravitate toward all-inclusive resorts in appealing destinations, like Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-inclusive Resort, that provide a variety of dining experiences and menus, featuring flavours
“We anticipate that people next year will be seeking out culinary experiences when planning future travel and will prioritise creating deeper connections with the world around them. To answer this demand, we recently revamped our Hilton Honors Experiences to offer travellers unique experiences that allow them to immerse themselves in the local culture and create deeper connections with those they are travelling with and the destination they are visiting.”
For hotels around the world, the journey out of the pandemic has been long and full of challenges, but Hilton have grasped an important truth: that there is no magic bullet for the hotel sector. “Restaurants across the Hilton portfolio were severely impacted at the beginning of the pandemic,” Walter admits, “and each individual hotel had to introduce solutions that made the most sense for them based on not only local guidelines, but also their guest ‘needs’. In other words, hotels need to do more than simply expand their outdoor spaces – as Hilton has realised, real and lasting change comes from embedding a range of innovative solutions.
“There is no doubt that the pandemic was a difficult time for the hospitality industry,” reflects Walters, “but it also proved to us, and the world, that travel is truly an unstoppable force. From the perspective of our food and beverage venues, the pandemic stripped out any noise and distraction from the business. While trying, the events of 2020 provided us with an opportunity to re-evaluate the priorities of our restaurants and strengthen them to best serve the needs of our guests and owners.”
There may still be work to do – and there’s no doubt that the colder months will continue to present challenges across the hotel sector – but Hilton remains confident. “We are stepping into next year optimistically,” Walters says, “and our dedication to fill the world with the light and warmth of hospitality will guide our efforts in and beyond 2023.” ●
42 Hotel Management International /
www.hmi-online.com
Hilton
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