From showcasing unique hotel guest experiences to viral food trends and more, social media platforms like Instagram have raised the bar for the hospitality industry. The hotel management and culinary arts world is rapidly changing as a result, since guests now rely on social media to decide which restaurants to dine at or which hotels to stay at during holidays.
Students pursuing a hotel management course at the best culinary institute in India are highly aware of social media’s significance in their chosen careers. Read on to know how the hotel and culinary industry is evolving due to Instagram.
Instagram’s Effect on the Hotel Management Industry
This is how Instagram impacts hotel operations and guest experiences:
1. Pre-Booking
New-age travellers often turn to Instagram to research accommodation options for their staycations or vacations. Below are the different ways in which the platform influences them:
Strong First Impressions
Many hotels post high-quality photos and videos of their rooms, services, amenities, etc., to attract the attention of potential guests on Instagram. Hotel management course graduates know that it helps create a strong first impression in the minds of users.
Influencer Recommendations & Peer Reviews
Authentic experiences of peers and recommendations from trusted influencers on Instagram about a particular hotel can make guests more confident about booking it.
Customer Engagement
Thanks to social media platforms like Instagram, hotels can actively engage with potential customers. Prompt responses to queries and concerns show how committed the hotel management team is to guest satisfaction.
2. Booking
Instagram has simplified the process of hotel and travel bookings for its users. This is how the platform can boost business for the hotel management industry:
Direct Booking Options
Instagram allows hotels to offer instant booking options directly via their business profiles. Due to this feature, guests can conveniently book a hotel room in just a few clicks through social media.
Attractive Deals
Hotels may announce attractive deals, promotions, and personalised offers to guests on Instagram. The platform helps them segment their target audience to create tailored deals matching each group’s interests and preferences.
3. During the Stay
Hotel management course graduates know that people develop certain expectations regarding their potential stay experience based on what they have seen on Instagram before booking the hotel. These expectations are usually about:
Service Quality
Guests will expect their entire stay at the hotel to go smoothly from the time they check in to when they check out, more so if they have seen other users share positive feedback on Instagram. The hotel management team must provide seamless services to ensure that their experiences are just as good as they expect it to be.
Visual Consistency
People will already have an idea of what the hotel looks like before they personally see it due to the visuals available on Instagram. If the hotel’s actual appearance does not match its online representation on social media, it can be quite disappointing to guests.
Personalisation
Instagram users may see influencers getting personalised experiences at hotels and expect the same level of hospitality when they visit themselves. The hotel must cater to your distinct preferences related to room selection, dining choices, and more.
4. Post-Stay
Most guests post reviews, photos, videos, etc., on platforms like Instagram to share their experiences of staying at a hotel. If their feedback is positive, it can lead to organic marketing and word-of-mouth referrals for the hotel. This is what hotels must do:
Respond to Guest Feedback
The hotel must monitor every guest review on Instagram and respond to it. They must thank the guests who post positive reviews and address the complaints of those who have shared negative experiences. Guests appreciate it when a hotel publicly shows such receptiveness to feedback.
Promote Loyalty Programs
Some hotels may reward guests for their positive reviews via loyalty programs to encourage repeat bookings. Instagram is a great channel for hotels to promote these kinds of programs.
Instagram’s Effect on the Culinary Arts Industry
The advent of Instagram has revolutionised the global culinary arts industry in the following ways:
Food Photography
Many users post photos of what they eat at a restaurant on Instagram. Appealing food photos can draw plenty of likes, shares, and comments. Since this food photography plays a major role in attracting customers to a cafe or restaurant, chefs and culinary arts professionals have to give as much attention to visual presentation as they do to taste.
Influencer Collaboration
Food bloggers on Instagram have helped many businesses in the culinary industry grab the spotlight they deserve. If these influencers have a substantial number of followers, collaborating with them can do a whole lot of good for your restaurant. A culinary establishment can get greater exposure to potential customers and witness increased footfall and sales when trusted influencers endorse it.
Global Audience
Because of Instagram’s global reach, culinary arts professionals can share their unique talents with audiences from around the world. The platform has erased geographical barriers and given many local and international cuisines the chance to shine. It has fostered a sense of cultural exchange within the global culinary industry.
Customer Interactions
Culinary businesses can build stronger relationships with their customers through interactions on Instagram. They must regularly reply to comments, acknowledge positive reviews, and promptly address concerns. Customer feedback on social media can help you improve your F&B offerings and restaurant services. Sharing BTS (behind-the-scenes) content on your restaurant page is also an excellent strategy to boost customer engagement.
Viral Food Trends
You never know when and how a dish can become a viral sensation on Instagram overnight. Such trends inspire BA Culinary Arts students and professionals to be more experimental and creative. Culinary businesses must keep a close eye on viral food challenges and trends if they want to attract new customers.
E-Commerce Integration
The integration of e-commerce features on Instagram has made it easier for restaurants and culinary businesses to sell their products to customers. For example, if users see a local bakery advertising their special seasonal menu and wish to order immediately, they can do so directly via Instagram itself. It simplifies the purchasing process for customers, while also generating another revenue stream for the establishment.
Why Enrol in a Hotel Management Course at SRIHM?
The Sheila Raheja Institute of Hotel Management (SRIHM) is a leading institute in Mumbai offering two undergraduate degree programs: B.Sc. Hospitality Studies and BA Culinary Arts. The college has an eminent teaching faculty with industry experience and a world-class campus infrastructure that simulates real hotel and kitchen environments.
Both BA Culinary Arts and B.Sc. Hospitality Studies students receive holistic training that blends classroom learning with intensive practical experiences. SRIHM also offers placement support and global exposure opportunities to learners. That is why many hotel management course aspirants believe it to be the best culinary institute in India.
Conclusion
Instagram’s impact on the culinary arts and hotel industry is huge. The best culinary institute in India or elsewhere across the globe understands this and trains their students accordingly. If you wish to apply to a hotel management course at SRIHM college, get in touch with us today!