Return to all postsReturn to all resources
How important is a happy crew for hospitality?

How important is a happy crew for hospitality?

Written by
Abbie Dawson
Published

May 9, 2022

Category
Latest research

In the midst of a hospitality recruitment crisis, this is more important than ever.

Anyone who works in hospitality knows that a great, happy crew of staff is absolutely integral to giving customers a great experience; you can have all the best in-store tech and the most jaw-dropping store fit out in the world, but if the workforce is too stretched, or not trained correctly, or demotivated, then your customer experience will suffer.

So the current increase in job vacancies and talk of a recruitment crisis in the sector is clearly of some concern.

There’s still plenty of positive news about; the steakhouse concept restaurant Hawksmoor are taking their brand to Liverpool and opening their first restaurant there, while Greene King (someone Startle work closely with) have plans to double the size of their more premium pub concept, the Metropolitan Pub Company estate.1

Yet the fact is that job vacancies in the sector rose by almost 700% from November 2021​ to January 2022.2

And even more worryingly, there is evidence that the reduced number of staff in teams is starting to take its toll, with the mental health of those working in the hospitality industry being worse now than at the height of the pandemic, according to a new survey by Censuswide and hospitality marketing firm Flipdish.3

One main reason for this is the high number of vacancies in hospitality, with 45% of the nationwide respondents having to ask staff to work longer hours, the report added.

And a further kick in the teeth is the news that plans to introduce legislation prohibiting hospitality firms from taking a proportion of staff tips or service charge have been shelved, a move that the CEO of the Night Time Industries Association (NITA), Michael Kill, described as 'disappointing'.4

Clearly, a lot goes into creating a great hospitality experience, in which the staff play a vital role.

Yes, music is important, but it takes more than just music. We call it Music+.

For us at Startle, it is something customers tell friends about. It elevates a brand to distinction, with all sites harmonising in unison. Ultimately it improves your bottom line. A great music and tech solution can also make your hard-working staff’s job a bit easier.

Walk this way, talk this way…

You have to walk the walk if you talk the talk, so here’s Mike Racz of Domino’s on how we helped transform their brand’s customer experience:

“Startle is the perfect partner for the design and installation of my audio systems. Their expert engineering teams provide site-specific recommendations that always deliver the most amazing sound quality. They also provide me with a number of bespoke playlists that are constantly refreshed with new and exciting music, which means the service is loved by both my staff and customers. I cannot recommend their services highly enough. Having tried the rest, Startle certainly is the best.”

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.

References:

1Propel Hospitality; ‘Other News’. 8th May 2022. https://www.propelhospitality.com/

2The Morning Advertiser; ‘Up pay, advertise more and show progression to attract young people to hospitality’. 29th March 2022. https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2022/03/29/Recruitment-crisis-What-puts-young-people-off-hospitality

3BBC website article; ‘Hospitality: London's recruitment crisis causing mental health issues’. 23rd April 2022. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-61149218

4Big Hospitality; ‘’Disappointment as government shelves plans for tipping legislation’. 6th May 2022 https://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Article/2022/05/06/Disappointment-as-Government-shelves-plans-for-tipping-legislation

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
How important is a happy crew for hospitality?

Abbie Dawson

With a degree in Marketing and a Marketing Week Mini MBA in Marketing, Abbie has always had a goal of working with a brand with music in its DNA. Enter: Startle. She is in charge of our marketing activity, making sure to spread the word of Startle to as many brands as possible. When Abbie’s not working, you'll find her vinyl shopping to add to her collection or in the gym picking up heavy things or making enemies with a punching bag.

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 *