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.
This article presents an "internal" approach to hospitality marketing. The basic idea is that a focus on the customer renders marketing and service inseparable. Management policies that enhance customer-based service often prove to be a firm's best marketing strategies.