July 2005
By Dale J. Venturini
President and CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association
Whether it’s for our pristine beaches, historic sights, storied architecture or popular cultural events, large numbers of tourists will flock to Rhode Island during the upcoming summer months. It goes without saying that summer is the busiest time of year for hospitality and tourism operators, and, as the second largest industry in the state, a successful summer season is critical not only for hospitality businesses, but for the strength of the overall economy in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island has long enjoyed a strong travel and tourism industry, attracting 16 million visitors in 2003, and generating more than $2.6 billion from tourists who patronize our restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions and retail shops. With 38% of visitor expenditures taking place in July, August and September, the summer is Rhode Island’s peak tourism season.
Vacations are a complete experience, from the tourist attractions, to the hotel stays, to the restaurants visitors enjoy. Impress those visitors now, and you’ll have them coming back to your restaurant, hotel or attraction, coming back to vacation in Rhode Island, and telling friends about their wonderful experience in the Ocean State. Summer is your time to shine, but you have to be prepared.
Before the summer season really heats up, now is the time to take stock of the measures your business has in place (or needs to put in place) to accommodate the increased number of guests the warmer weather brings to the area. Ask yourself this question: is your establishment equipped to handle the influx of seasonal customers? More importantly, is your establishment prepared to provide these customers with the highest quality of service possible?
The most apparent measure is increasing your workforce. With more customers comes the need for more employees, and sometimes the need for seasonal, or temporary, work staff. Although these employees are hired on a temporary basis to help meet the demand during the summer season, they should still receive the same training as your permanent, full-time staff. Your entire staff, from top to bottom, is the face of your establishment, and you should not risk offering the service your loyal customers have come to expect and the service tourists expect to receive, by cutting corners.
From proper food safety procedures to responsible alcohol service, providing thorough training for new and temporary staff, and offering refresher courses for more seasoned workers is an essential step in preparing for the bigger crowds. Proper alcohol service becomes even more critical during the summer months, particularly for restaurants and bars, as young guests on school vacation visit more and the majority of guests stay out longer. Signing staff up for a Bar Code® course is the best way to ensure all of your employees know how to identify whether a guest’s photo ID is valid, recognize the signs of a patron who has reached his or her limit, and ways to decline further service. If you have more than 15 people in need of training, RIHTA instructors can come to your place of business to administer Bar Code, making it easy and convenient to offer the proper training to all of your employees.
Safety and security precautions are another set of measures that businesses should assess before the summer season heightens. Go over your establishment’s safety plan with all of your employees, especially new and seasonal workers, to make sure that all staff members know what to do in the case of any emergency. Before the season hits its busiest peak, schedule a drill for your employees after hours to ensure they know who to call in emergency situations, how to communicate with customers during an emergency, and where all emergency information is posted.
As a tourism destination, Rhode Island has so much to offer. Yes, visitors will remember the beaches and the museums, WaterFire and the mansions, but hospitality is what keeps visitors coming back. Tourists may remember the sites and sounds of the Ocean State, but they’ll never forget the great people they met along the way. The best tourism promotions start with your employees. It’s better than any article, advertisement or television commercial. Prepare your employees to give guests the best experience possible, and Rhode Island’s hospitality and tourism industry will continue to sizzle, during the summer and beyond.
By Dale J. Venturini
President and CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association
Whether it’s for our pristine beaches, historic sights, storied architecture or popular cultural events, large numbers of tourists will flock to Rhode Island during the upcoming summer months. It goes without saying that summer is the busiest time of year for hospitality and tourism operators, and, as the second largest industry in the state, a successful summer season is critical not only for hospitality businesses, but for the strength of the overall economy in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island has long enjoyed a strong travel and tourism industry, attracting 16 million visitors in 2003, and generating more than $2.6 billion from tourists who patronize our restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions and retail shops. With 38% of visitor expenditures taking place in July, August and September, the summer is Rhode Island’s peak tourism season.
Vacations are a complete experience, from the tourist attractions, to the hotel stays, to the restaurants visitors enjoy. Impress those visitors now, and you’ll have them coming back to your restaurant, hotel or attraction, coming back to vacation in Rhode Island, and telling friends about their wonderful experience in the Ocean State. Summer is your time to shine, but you have to be prepared.
Before the summer season really heats up, now is the time to take stock of the measures your business has in place (or needs to put in place) to accommodate the increased number of guests the warmer weather brings to the area. Ask yourself this question: is your establishment equipped to handle the influx of seasonal customers? More importantly, is your establishment prepared to provide these customers with the highest quality of service possible?
The most apparent measure is increasing your workforce. With more customers comes the need for more employees, and sometimes the need for seasonal, or temporary, work staff. Although these employees are hired on a temporary basis to help meet the demand during the summer season, they should still receive the same training as your permanent, full-time staff. Your entire staff, from top to bottom, is the face of your establishment, and you should not risk offering the service your loyal customers have come to expect and the service tourists expect to receive, by cutting corners.
From proper food safety procedures to responsible alcohol service, providing thorough training for new and temporary staff, and offering refresher courses for more seasoned workers is an essential step in preparing for the bigger crowds. Proper alcohol service becomes even more critical during the summer months, particularly for restaurants and bars, as young guests on school vacation visit more and the majority of guests stay out longer. Signing staff up for a Bar Code® course is the best way to ensure all of your employees know how to identify whether a guest’s photo ID is valid, recognize the signs of a patron who has reached his or her limit, and ways to decline further service. If you have more than 15 people in need of training, RIHTA instructors can come to your place of business to administer Bar Code, making it easy and convenient to offer the proper training to all of your employees.
Safety and security precautions are another set of measures that businesses should assess before the summer season heightens. Go over your establishment’s safety plan with all of your employees, especially new and seasonal workers, to make sure that all staff members know what to do in the case of any emergency. Before the season hits its busiest peak, schedule a drill for your employees after hours to ensure they know who to call in emergency situations, how to communicate with customers during an emergency, and where all emergency information is posted.
As a tourism destination, Rhode Island has so much to offer. Yes, visitors will remember the beaches and the museums, WaterFire and the mansions, but hospitality is what keeps visitors coming back. Tourists may remember the sites and sounds of the Ocean State, but they’ll never forget the great people they met along the way. The best tourism promotions start with your employees. It’s better than any article, advertisement or television commercial. Prepare your employees to give guests the best experience possible, and Rhode Island’s hospitality and tourism industry will continue to sizzle, during the summer and beyond.
