Hospitality marketing: The internal approach
The most important element of the hospitality product is not a tangible good (for example, a guest room or a meal) but the manner in which the "goods" of the hospitality industry are delivered. In survey after survey, hospitality consumers have underscored the importance of the service element- the manner in which the hospitality product is delivered- by placing good service foremost among the qualities they look for in a hotel or restaurant. Poor service is a recurring complaint among dissatisfied guests and the dominant theme of horror stories about unpleasant hotel stays.
hospitality firms acknowledge the importance of high-quality service delivery, and many attempt to differentiate their product on service. It is a pervading theme in their advertising, marketing plans, training programs, and managerial edict. Emphasizing service is one thing; delivering it is another. In fact, emphasizing service isn't the proper approach at all. The emphasis should be placed on the customer.