Return to all postsReturn to all resources
National Hospitality Day - Why the Industry is so Important

National Hospitality Day - Why the Industry is so Important

Written by
Adam Castleton
Published

September 30, 2022

Category
Startle news

The hospitality industry has gifted us all memories that will last a lifetime. But why is it so important that we support it?

Friday 30th September is National Hospitality Day - a day to celebrate our brilliant, resilient restaurants, pubs, hotels, bars, cafes and the amazing people who work within them. With companies still feeling the impact of the pandemic, and now struggling under the pressure of rising energy costs, it’s never been more important to show our support. 

We all have positive experiences with hospitality - whether it’s a memorable meal, a first date drink, a honeymoon hotel or anything in between, the industry is important to us all. But why? 

Money, Money, Money

In 2019, the economic output of the hospitality sector was £59.3 billion, around 3% of the UK’s total economic output. It’s a vitally important industry for economies around the world, and for local communities. People spending money on things like food and drink locations, entrance fees to entertainment venues and stays at hotels, can help to support infrastructure developments for local communities. Music to our ears. 

What a way to make a living…

As well as the economic output, the hospitality sector is vital for employment rates. In March 2020, there were 2.53 million jobs in the hospitality sector in the UK, representing 7.1% of total UK employment.  The industry is particularly important for providing jobs for younger workers, foreign-born workers, part-time workers and workers from minority ethnic backgrounds compared to other sectors.

That’s Entertainment 

Aside from the measurable benefits, the hospitality industry has given us all happy times with friends and family. 

Let’s take dining out - research by the University of Oxford revealed that communal eating increases social bonding and feelings of wellbeing. Whether the visit to a restaurant is for an occasion like an engagement or just a casual catch up with a friend, the experience can spark positive emotions (especially with the right music).

If you’re travelling, you might remember that one hotel with fond memories. With us all working longer hours and living busy lives, the hospitality industry gives us opportunities to unwind, reconnect, and make memories. You might even be a working parent or a shift worker who doesn’t get time to prepare dinner at home - that quick trip to the local restaurant could be your only opportunity to have a nice hot meal.

Why is it so important for us to support hospitality?

Despite being a huge economic force, vital for employment, and an industry that gives us all memories that can last a lifetime, the sector feels the impact of external changes heavily. 

The industry is naturally seasonal, with periods like Summer and Christmas being peaks for most. 

Covid-19 had a devastating impact on the industry, with an estimated £114.8bn worth of expected sales lost between March 2020 and December 2021 in the UK alone. Overall, hospitality economic output during 2020 was 42% lower than during 2019; in 2021 output was 21% lower than 2019. The hospitality industry’s share of the UK economy fell from 3% in 2019 to 2% in 2020 and 2021. Despite this, 66% of leaders feel optimistic about the next 12 months for their business - we need to get out there and support our local hospitality venues. 

This also rings true with the industry feeling the impact of the cost of living heavily - some argue that the impact will be worse than the pandemic. The increase in energy prices will be felt heavily by the sector - an example of this was shown when celebrity chef Tom Kerridge recently revealed the energy bill for one of his pubs will increase from £60,000 to £420,000. And with customers all feeling the pinch, they’re less likely to have the disposable income to spend. 

It seems that despite all the amazing things it can offer us, the industry is very vulnerable to external pressures. It’s important we all show our support where we can and continue to make amazing memories. 

WE ASKED THE STARTLE TEAM TO TELL US ABOUT THEIR MOST MEMORABLE HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCE

“I went out for dinner with some friends last year, and our waitress was one who used to serve them about 8 years ago at a different restaurant. They remembered her because she’d given such good service in the past, and it really showed how memorable hospitality experiences can be if done right.”

- Shaun, Design Lead

“My best hospitality experience was at The Pig in Bath during Covid-19, just after my wedding. Everything was just perfect, they went above and beyond. Things like complimentary champagne in the room, a free “congrats” dessert, and amazing service which was helpful and personal. It was just an experience that I’ll never forget.”

- Mel, Chief Customer Officer

“I visited a hotel a few years ago and the staff had called a taxi for Mr Castleton as I checked out. There was somehow communication between the front desk and the front door, but it was an unexpected peak-end that I still remember to this day.”

- Adam, Chief Executive Officer

Tell me more, tell me more - What does a great hospitality experience look like?

Imagine an atmosphere that’s built to run itself, optimising the music and lighting to make sure the experience is always at it’s best and keeps the tills ringing. Couple that with incredible music mixes that are integrated seamlessly with your atmosphere and we’re suddenly talking about the bar of the future which we’re already building.

Walk this way, talk this way…

You have to walk the walk if you talk the talk, so here’s Will Barratt of Wine Inns on how we helped transform their brand’s customer experience:

“Startle's music+ service is exceptional. Their playlists are fantastic and I can control all of our venues from my smartphone. The service is backed up by Startle's Relentless Support™ team who are always on hand to answer any question or fix any issue immediately.”

Why not download for free (and with very little effort) our hospitality brochure? There is one for pubs and restaurants, as well as hotels and cafes.

Heard enough?

Ready to create standout customer experiences? Get in touch to find out how we can use music and tech to help you achieve your goals.

Request a quote
Rotary phone

Heard enough?

Music is powerful, but using it with intention takes skill. Chat to our team today to find out how our behavioural-science backed, curated playlists could help you achieve your goals.

Tell me more
Woman dancing

Heard enough?

Seeing is believing. Engaging your customers through vibrant visual displays can be a game-changer in your retail or hospitality experience. Chat to our team today to find out how our dynamic digital signage solution could help you achieve your goals.

Tell me more
Woman's face

Heard enough?

Live sport has been at the heart of many pubs for decades. Chat to our team today to find out how Arena, our automated, all-inclusive sports promotion platform, could help you achieve your goals.

Tell me more
People watching sports in a pub

Heard enough?

Your environment is always changing. Chat to our team today to find out how using our invaluable insights to auto-adjust your atmosphere could help you achieve your goals and fine-tune your operations.

Tell me more
Happy woman eating in restaurant

Heard enough?

Replicate a perfectly curated atmosphere across an entire estate, all from a single platform. Chat to our team today to find out how using Studio could help you achieve your goals.

Tell me more
Technoology

Heard enough?

Creating something so deeply subjective as an atmosphere without a strong understanding of human behaviour is kind of silly. Chat to our team today to find out how behavioural science can be applied to help you achieve your goals.

Tell me more
People walking

Heard enough?

Dedicated management, free player replacements, 24/7/365 support… what you want, baby we got it. Chat to our team today to find out how relentless our Relentless Support™ really are.

Tell me more
Man with headphones

Heard enough?

Creating a standout retail experience isn’t easy. Chat to our team today to find out how we can use music and tech to create a till ringing atmosphere and help you achieve your goals.

Tell me more
Clothes on rack

Heard enough?

Creating a standout restaurant experience isn’t easy. Chat to our team today to find out how we can use music and tech to serve up the perfect atmospheres in your restaurants and help you achieve your goals.

Tell me more
Restaurants kitchen

Heard enough?

Creating a standout coffee shop experience isn’t easy. Chat to our team today to find out how we can use music and tech to brew the perfect atmospheres for your cafes and help you achieve your goals.

Tell me more
Cafe

Heard enough?

Creating a standout pub experience isn’t easy. Chat to our team today to find out how we can use music and pint-sized tech to create the perfect atmosphere and help get the drinks flowing.

Tell me more
People celebrating in pub

Heard enough?

Creating a standout hotel experience isn’t easy. Check out (or in) how we can use music and tech to create the perfect atmospheres and help you achieve your goals by chatting to our team today.

Tell me more
Restaurant table with cutlery

Heard enough?

Creating a standout gym experience isn’t easy. Chat to our team today to find out how we can use music and tech to get your atmospheres into perfect shape and help you achieve your goals.

Tell me more
Gym equipment

Heard enough?

Creating a standout salon experience isn’t easy. Chat to our team today to find out how we can use music and tech to create an atmosphere with the perfect finish and help you achieve your goals.

Tell me more
Salon equipment

Heard enough?

Creating a standout office experience isn’t easy. Chat to our team today to find out how we can use music and tech to create atmospheres that work as hard as your customers.

Tell me more
Co-working space

Heard enough?

Creating a standout spa experience isn’t easy. Chat to our team today to find out how we can use music and tech to create the perfect peaceful atmosphere and help you achieve your goals.

Tell me more
Towels and insense

Heard enough?

Creating a standout ship experience isn’t easy. Chat to our team today to find out how we can use music and tech to create the perfect atmospheres for your cruise ships and help you achieve your goals.

Tell me more
Beach with cruise ship in background
National Hospitality Day - Why the Industry is so Important

Adam Castleton

With 15 years of experience working in technology, Adam is our strategic and savvy CEO. It’s his job to lead Startle, ensuring that we have a positive impact on both our customers and our team, by delivering innovation and growth in a positive culture. When he’s not at work, he tries hard to switch off by spending time outside with his wife and kids - his self proclaimed ‘happy place’ is having a wander in the forest on a sunny day.

Say hello on LinkedIn

Hey, we've just met you and this is crazy. But here's our number +44 (0)203 397 7676. So, call us maybe?

  • Number of locations *