The hotel lobby is often the first point of contact that guests have with a property, and as such, it is critical to make a positive first impression. Elevating the lobby experience can help to create a welcoming and memorable experience for guests, which can lead to increased satisfaction and loyalty.

Here are some ways that you can elevate the hotel lobby experience:

The lobby design sets the tone for the entire property, and it is important to make it visually appealing and functional. The lobby should be spacious, well-lit, and easy to navigate, with comfortable seating areas and a variety of amenities to keep guests engaged.

Set your brand apart and build customer loyalty with the right sights, sounds, and scents that compliment your hotel operation. Commercial free music and more than 1600 invigorating scents, MOOD:MEDIA has all the solutions you need to create a memorable experience and keep your customers coming back time and time again.

When it comes to flooring in your lobby, you want to make sure it’s always clean and well taken care of. Karcher has scrubbers and sweepers for your operational needs. When it comes to cleaning, no job is too big or too small for Karcher.

Guests expect to be connected at all times, and providing free Wi-Fi and charging stations can help to create a positive experience. Other technological features, such as interactive touchscreens, virtual concierge services, and smart room key systems, can also enhance the guest experience.

Not only should you have TVs in each of your rooms, but your lobby can also be a source of entertainment. By adding TVs with DirecTV to your lobby, you can increase guest engagement and keep them entertained while they wait in line to check-in and check-out. You can even run hotel promotions and LTO’s on the screens, informing guests of exclusive offers they can take advantage of while staying at your hotel.

Mood lighting can be used to create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere. Soft, ambient lighting paired with relaxing music can help guests feel more at ease and comfortable. Batteries Plus Bulbs has over 60,000 types of batteries, light bulbs, and accessories for you to create the ultimate lobby vibe.

Providing high-quality food and beverage options such as Peet’s Coffee and Otis Spunkmeyer cookies in the lobby can help to create a welcoming and social atmosphere. This can include a coffee bar, grab-and-go food options, or a full-service restaurant or bar. Guests can be hungry after a long day of traveling and that little tasty gesture goes a long way.

Art and décor can add character and personality to the lobby and can also provide a sense of place. This can include local artwork, sculptures, or other unique decorative features like fountains. Suppliers such as Leslie’s Pools can help you maintain the quality of your fountains and water features with their best-in-class products, services, and installation.

Investing in the right safety and sanitation supplies will ensure your lobby is clean and guests know you care about their well-being. One company that offers a complete assortment of cleaning supplies is HD Supply. With more than 60,000 products to choose from, HD Supply has all the essential items you need for a safe and clean environment.

By focusing on these areas, a hotel operation can elevate the lobby experience and create a memorable first impression for guests.

As a Source1 member, you get access to exclusive savings and discounts on everything you need to elevate your hotel lobby experience. We’ve partnered with a trusted network of suppliers to bring you aggressive OS&E contracts, specialty luxury agreements, and the best pricing on top quality products and services. We find you reduced pricing on OS&E items you’re already purchasing, customized supplier programs and ensure delivery of products that meet your specifications.

Procurement management is the process of acquiring and managing the goods and services necessary to operate a hotel. It involves sourcing and purchasing the necessary supplies, equipment, and services required for the hotel’s daily operations, such as food and beverage, linens, toiletries, cleaning supplies, furniture, and technology.

Hotel procurement management also involves managing vendor relationships, negotiating contracts and pricing, and ensuring timely and efficient delivery of goods and services. Additionally, it involves managing inventory levels and tracking expenses to ensure the hotel is operating within budget.

Effective hotel procurement management is critical to ensuring that the hotel is operating smoothly and efficiently. It can help to reduce costs, improve quality and consistency of goods and services, and create a positive guest experience. It requires collaboration and communication between various departments within the hotel, including the purchasing department, finance department, and operations team.

But how can you do all of that manually? It would take too many hours to accomplish all those tasks without the help of technology.

Using technology for hotel procurement management can bring numerous benefits, including:

Streamlined Processes: Technology can automate the procurement process, making it more efficient and reducing the need for manual processes. It can simplify tasks such as order processing, invoicing, and inventory management, saving time and reducing the risk of errors.

Enhanced Supplier Management: Technology can help manage relationships with suppliers by enabling better communication, collaboration, and tracking of performance. It can also help in the selection of the right suppliers by providing insights into supplier performance and price.

Better Cost Control: Technology can provide real-time data on procurement expenses, helping hotels to identify cost-saving opportunities and make more informed decisions. It can also help with budgeting and forecasting.

Improved Compliance: Procurement management technology can help hotels comply with regulations and standards by enabling them to track and monitor procurement processes, ensure contracts are adhered to, and verify supplier compliance.

Improved Guest Experience: Technology can help hotels deliver a better guest experience by enabling them to efficiently manage inventory levels and ensure that the necessary supplies and services are available to guests when they need them.

Overall, using technology for hotel procurement management can help your hotel save time, reduce costs, and enhance the guest experience. It can help you better manage your hotel procurement processes and make more informed purchasing decisions.

Hotel supply chain management refers to the process of managing the flow of goods, services, and information from suppliers to the hotel, and from the hotel to guests. It involves coordinating and optimizing the activities of all stakeholders involved in the supply chain, including suppliers, transportation companies, and internal departments such as procurement, purchasing, and operations.

The objective of hotel supply chain management is to ensure the efficient and cost-effective delivery of goods and services to guests, while also ensuring that the hotel’s operational needs are met. This includes managing inventory levels, negotiating contracts with suppliers, managing vendor relationships, and tracking the delivery and quality of goods and services.

Effective hotel supply chain management can lead to several benefits, including:

1. Cost savings: By optimizing the procurement process, hotels can reduce costs and increase their bottom line.
2. Improved efficiency: Supply chain management can help streamline processes, reduce waste, and increase the speed of delivery.
3. Enhanced guest experience: By ensuring a steady supply of high-quality goods and services, hotels can provide guests with an exceptional experience.
4. Better supplier relationships: Good supply chain management practices can lead to better relationships with suppliers, which can result in improved service, better prices, and more reliable deliveries.

Technology can play a significant role in streamlining the supply chain process by automating manual processes, improving communication and collaboration, and providing real-time insights into the supply chain.

Some of the ways technology can help streamline hotel supply chain management include:

1. Automation of procurement processes: Technology can automate the procurement process, from supplier selection to contract management and payment, reducing the time and effort required to manage the supply chain.
2. Improved communication and collaboration: Supply chain management software can provide a centralized platform for all stakeholders to communicate and collaborate, reducing the risk of miscommunication and improving decision-making.
3. Real-time inventory management: Technology can help hotels manage their inventory levels in real-time, providing insight into what is in stock and what needs to be ordered, and reducing the risk of stock outs.
4. Data analysis and reporting: Supply chain management software can provide real-time data and analytics that can help hotels make informed decisions and identify areas for improvement.
5. Supplier performance management: Technology can help hotels track supplier performance and monitor their compliance with contract terms, reducing the risk of delivery issues and ensuring that suppliers are meeting the hotel’s standards.

Hotel supply chain management is a critical aspect of hotel operations that helps ensure that the hotel is able to deliver an exceptional experience to guests while also controlling costs and improving efficiency.

In conclusion, technology can greatly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of hotel supply chain management by automating processes, improving communication and collaboration, and providing real-time insights into the supply chain. This can lead to cost savings, enhanced guest experiences, and improved supplier relationships.

It’s impossible to manage your hotel operation manually these days. There are too many processes and data points to be able to keep up with the flow of information that goes along with every purchase your procurement team is making.

Let’s face it – cutting costs and reducing labor have made the top of your priority list over the last year.

Wondering what hotel procurement technology can do to help you meet both of those goals?

Here are four benefits of leveraging hotel procurement technology in your operation:

Without technology, you’re unable to get a clear and accurate picture of your spending habits. Hotel procurement technology gives you real-time visibility and purchasing analytics on how your spending is impacting your profitability. You can leverage your purchasing data to make more profitable business decisions.

Source1 hotel procurement technology provides real-time visibility into your purchasing, providing actionable data on how your spending impacts profitability.

Hotel procurement technology from brands such as Source1 can recommend opportunities for new savings. If you’re carrying out your procurement duties manually, you’re sure to be missing out on product recommendations that cost less but still impress your guests. Procurement technology can help you identify product substitutions that reduce costs so you can maintain a high-quality guest experience and increase profits.

Your restaurants and room service are deciding factors in guests choosing to stay in your hotel, so it’s important to maintain stock of all your inventory. But how can you streamline the process, so your staff is not wasting hours counting the items coming in and out of your hotel?

Manage and optimize your inventory by using hotel procurement technology for more accurate forecasting and effective ordering. Technology gives your back-of-house staff the tools to track in-house inventory levels and automatically adjust recipe costs so your chef can place more insightful orders. Source1 inventory technology streamlines the inventory process and alerts you when stocks are low, prompting easy re-orders and re-stocking.

With the large amount of purchases your operation is making every day, what better way to organize those purchasing contracts then with the help of contract management technology? Your hotel purchasing department has contracts coming and going throughout the entire procurement process and it can be hard to keep track of renewal dates, pricing audits, and if you are even receiving the items on your contract.

Hotel procurement technology can help you ensure you’re paying the correct prices, make corrections in real-time, and maximize the value of all your negotiated contracts.

Ready to leverage the power of hotel procurement technology? Become a Source1 member today!

Summer is the perfect time to take a step back and put a little tlc into your hotel operation. Does the paint on the walls need a refresh? Does your lighting need to be replaced? Does your pool need a good cleaning?

Putting regular efforts into preventative and cosmetic maintenance increases overall guest satisfaction, cuts down on large last-minute expenditures and ultimately saves your staff time.

When guests leave happy and leave a positive review after their stay, it’s effective upkeep and preventive maintenance that play a role in their memorable experience.

Not only can Source1 help you give your operation a much-needed makeover, but we partner with popular brands to ensure our members are getting quality solutions for all their business needs.

As a Source1 member, you get exclusive savings on the following brands:

ACE Hardware

Sure you can have a plan to update your operations look, but where are you going to get the tools to carry out that plan? ACE Hardware has customized inventory solutions from top national brands that you can trust. They have products you can rely on such as paint, electrical, power tools, outdoor equipment, janitorial and sanitation, plumbing, HVAC, hardware and more! Even better, Source1 members get a 10% discount on their order. You can order products anytime, from anywhere. Multiple users can access one account with varying permission level so you can trust your staff to take care of the ordering.

Leslie’s Pools

Your pool is one of the amenities your guests look forward to when staying at your hotel. Reduce costs and increase your guests’ pool experience by leveraging our savings and discounts on pool services and solutions from Leslie’s Pools. And it’s not all about the pool. If you have fountains throughout your hotel, they have products to help you keep those cleaned and properly operating. As a Source1 member, you get discounted pricing on 1500 items and service programs from Leslie’s Pools.

A1 American

Pool season has arrived! And your guests don’t always pack towels with them for pool days. A1 American offers two types of towel solutions for your hotel operation. Their Value towel line includes classic towel options for hotels which prefer a low-cost alternative, but with the quality, durability, and softness of a midrange towel. For hotels looking for an upgraded softness and absorbency, their Deluxe towel line is perfect for that exclusive feel while maintaining a budget-friendly price.

Carrier

No matter hot or cold outside, you should always be checking on your HVAC system to ensure the inside of your hotel operation is properly climate controlled and set to a comfortable temperature for your guests. Comfort drives decision-making when it comes to choosing which hotel to stay at. Carrier provides reliable HVAC systems. Through advanced controls and digital solutions and services, Carrier optimizes buildings to protect the people inside, enabling continuous improvements to air quality and overall health while reducing energy costs.

Take the time to evaluate the areas in your hotel that could use an upgrade or maintenance. Sign-up as a Souce1 member today and take advantage of discounts and savings on products and solutions to keep your operation up to date.

Finding the best purchasing solutions for those memorable experiences can be time consuming and come at a high price. Operators are serious when it comes to their procurement process, selecting only the best suppliers to support their customized amenities and services. 

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2022 is just a few short weeks away and it’s likely there will be an increase in travel in the coming new year, whether it’s for business or leisure.

As challenges continue to grow within the supply chain and labor shortages are at an all-time high, it’s important to take advantage of solutions that will help you run a profitable hotel operation.

Let’s take a look at 5 hotel trends you should watch for in 2022:

Partnering With Supply Chain Experts

One trend to adopt in the coming new year is to partner with Supply Chain Management experts, such as Source1. With the unpredictable state of the supply chain, hotel operators are having trouble procuring the necessary supplies to keep their operation up and running – including food and beverage products

By leveraging supply chain management experts, you can reduce costs, optimize your purchasing, and ensure you’re getting high-quality products at competitive prices.

Leaning on industry leaders such as Source1, you gain the power your operation needs and access to supply chain programs tailored specifically to your operations unique needs.

From cost-effective product sourcing to distribution management, partnering with supply chain experts can even help with negotiating contracts so you can maintain high-quality standards.

Embracing Technology

Technology is evolving every day and as a hotel operator, it’s important to embrace the digital age. One way of doing so is by adopting different technology solutions that streamline processes and give you a more accurate picture into the health (success) of your business.

Because your food cost is one of the biggest factors that play a role in your operation’s success, it’s crucial to understand how it works and how you can take control of it.

Time constraints keep you from completing the tasks you need to do in order to manage your food cost accurately. With food cost management experts such as Orderly, you won’t have to worry about manual calculations anymore.

Technology not only helps you manage food cost and inventory, but it gives you a bigger picture of your operation. What’s working and what isn’t. Are you paying the best prices? Did you generate any revenue off that new menu item you added? Data and spend management technology, such as Source1, provide you with visibility into your purchases and contract utilization.

With updates in real-time and actionable data reporting, you’re provided transparency to how your spending impacts profitability.

Increased Use of Labor Saving Solutions

As an operator, you’re looking for products and solutions that save you time but still leave you  satisfying guests. By incorporating more versatile ingredients, you can make prep time easy and give customers that homemade taste and feel.

Here are some labor saving products that can save your staff time and money (just to name a few):

Idahoan Real Mashed Potatoes are a great staple item that save you time and money. Nobody has time to boil, peel, or mash anymore. With Idahoan, you can create signature dishes that provide guests with comfort and deliciousness.

Speeding is illegal but not in the kitchen. With their speed-scratch solutions, Unilever has come up with many solutions that save you both time and money. With their cream-based soups, sauces, and gravies, you can create a variety of savory dishes your guests will love. Even better? Unilever uses clean ingredients that have no artificial flavors or preservatives. Can you say superior, convenient, and flavorful?

Does your staff spend hours prepping cocktail ingredients? Cutting limes and lemons, making fresh juices and mixers from scratch? No more. The ReaLemon and ReaLime juices from Keurig Dr. Pepper are a must-have for those nights you’re understaffed and slammed with drink orders. No need for slicing, squeezing, or cleanup. These juices are convenient, consistent, and high-quality. Made from 100% lemons and limes that give you that crisp, real juice flavor. They make for great use in meals, desserts, and dressings too.

Don’t forget, labor saving does not only apply to food and beverage ingredients. We know you’ve heard this already in this blog above, but one major way you can combat the labor shortage is with technology. Not only does Source1 technology help identify areas that can be streamlined, but it also saves you time when searching for products or substitutions.

More Grab and Go Items

Like many other businesses, the hospitality industry has been hit hard due to the pandemic.

With restaurant openings becoming unpredictable once again as COVID cases surge, hotel guests are looking for convenient grab and go items that are healthy and will keep them energized throughout the day.

According to this survey, half of all millennials would pay more for food that offered benefits. This means it’s important to offer more than the typical chips and soda. Plant-based, whole grain, and high-protein snacks are just a few options you can provide your hotel guests with.

As a Source1 member, you get access to exclusive savings and discounts on grab and go items for your hotel convenience store and room service options.

From sustainable, functional food items to immunity-boosting, full of antioxidant snacks, you can keep up with the latest food trends to satisfy guests.

Source1 members get direct access to suppliers, products, detailed analytics, and more. With over 9,000 high-quality products partnered with 1,000+ suppliers to choose from, you’ll be sure to catch your guest’s eye with the variety of healthy options you provide them with.

Luxurious and Engaging Guest Experiences

It’s important to give guests a luxurious experience they won’t forget. But in order to do so, you may think you have to pay more for high-quality products and services. Thankfully, that’s not the case. By cost controlling and sourcing the right products and services, you can provide guests with a memorable experience.

Source1 partners with a trusted network of suppliers who provide high-quality services and products for your guests, such as savings and discounts on solutions for golf, pool and spa, linens, amenities, and more.

From sanitation and maintenance solutions to reduced costs on textile products and memorable experiences for your guests, leverage savings and discounts you receive as a Source1 member on solutions for your hotel services.

Become a Source1 Member Today!

As the new year approaches, be sure to keep up with these trends, ensure guests return, and put some profits back into those pockets.

When you become a Source1 member, you’ll have access to savings, discounts, and much more to help you provide guests with the highest quality services and most memorable experiences.

Make smarter business decisions and improve your bottom line with Source1’s power and technology.

Become a member today!

 

 

 

 

 

The need for cultural progression is important, but when the pandemic hit the hospitality industry, the importance of supplier diversity shifted down the priority list. With a new year ahead, it’s the perfect time to approach your procurement in a new way and encourage supplier diversity throughout every area of your operation.

A diverse business is defined as any company that is at least 51% owned by one or more minorities. Supplier diversity is crucial to your commitment to inclusion and your procurement and purchasing teams have an opportunity to contribute to your companies’ overall D&I goals by partnering with more diverse businesses.

Partnering with more diverse suppliers fosters collaboration, drives company growth, and can boost your bottom line. Not only does a commitment like this benefit your customers, but it also improves brand reputation and supports your communities beyond just social gains.

No matter the size of your operation, you should create a D&I program to enhance your offerings and expand your supplier portfolio. Here are some steps your operation can take to create a more inclusive and diverse atmosphere and grow your relationships with suppliers:

Define Your Diversity Program

What are the reasons your company is interested in creating a D&I program? Do you have the staff support and manage the program? What is the scope of your new program? Do you have existing partnerships with any diverse suppliers? Your D&I program will be unique to your business. Defining your program, the mission of the initiative and who will run it are the first steps to starting a successful D&I program.

Join Diversity Organizations

By partnering with diverse organizations, you can add new vendors and extend your supplier diversity program. When suppliers see that your business is a part of a larger diverse network, they are more inclined to join forces with you. When you connect with organizations who value diversity and inclusion you are able to gain different perspectives and connect with like-minded groups who can help you bolster deeper partnerships. Not only does joining forces with diverse and inclusive organizations improve your brand reputation, but it also lets other suppliers know that your company is committed to diversity and inclusion, which can lead to future partnerships.

Embrace Procurement Technology

Once you’ve created your supplier diversity processes, you’ll want to evaluate how your new supplier relationships are creating value for both partners. Embracing procurement technology to assist with your supplier diversity efforts is key to making a true impact. By integrating procurement technology into your sourcing process, you can expand your pool of potential suppliers. Procurement technology opens a whole new world of diverse e-commerce partnerships and can help your business identify high quality products to source from more diverse brands. Once you integrate procurement technology with your new suppliers, you gain access to more diverse supplier data. Your new suppliers get a deeper dive into who is buying their products, how much they are buying and which products are big revenue drivers.

Launching a diversity and inclusion program doesn’t have to be hard when you are committed to growing your supplier networks. Defining your program, creating new partnerships, aligning with like-minded businesses, and embracing the power of technology are great steps to creating or improving your diverse and inclusive supplier relationships.

At Source1, we partner with many suppliers such as General Mills, Unilever, and PepsiCo, who all believe in more inclusive and diverse partnerships. When you become a Source1 member, you gain access to an alliance of suppliers who understand the importance of diversity and inclusion. We source products and services from many diverse businesses and are creating a supply chain network that values a more diverse pool of partnerships.

Using high-quality products to maximize your hotel breakfast offerings at your operation can be a huge revenue generator. Cooking with name brand ingredients your customers know and love can keep your loyal guests returning and new customers choosing your location over others.

Hotel breakfasts can either be the best start to your guests’ day or an underwhelming experience that leaves them wishing they ate at the breakfast diner around the corner. This includes both room service and dine-in.

There is increasing pressure on hotel operators to provide high-quality service and offer more than just free pastries at breakfast. With guests returning to travel and seeking luxury properties to stay at, stand out from other businesses by including premium breakfast options with their stay.

Let’s look at some food and beverage solutions that increase your profits and keep guests returning to your property.

That First Morning Cup of Joe Counts

Nothing says “good morning, it’s going to be a good day” like that first sip of your morning coffee. It’s important to offer high-quality coffee options to your guests. It can set the mood for the rest of their stay. These days, guests have high expectations around freshness and the availability of flavor options.

Don’t be an average Joe hotel operation. Offer premium coffee that will caffeinate and rejuvenate your guests. For that boldly crafted timeless taste, 1850 by Folgers delivers a smooth lineup of fire roasted delight for the distinguished coffee consumer. Deja vue? More like Deja-brew! 1850’s carefully crafted steel-cut size results in more consistent brewing experiences. Give the gift of a brew-tiful day with 1850 by Folgers.

Not Your Basic Sausage and Eggs: Turnkey Breakfast Solutions

According to Conagra, 60% of hotel operators expect food and beverage revenue to grow over the next 3-5 years. That means it’s time to offer more than just the breakfast basics.

These labor saving solutions cut prep time, are cost effective and be used to create innovative menu offerings.

No need for extra cooler space. Idahoan Hash Browns are fully cooked so you can go from shelf to grill in 10 minutes flat. Simply brown or crisp on one side and heat through before serving crispy side up – in less than half the time of frozen or refrigerated. With unbeatable flavor and perfect texture, Idahoan Hash Browns are real potatoes that are real fast and real efficient.

“Protein” mentions on menus have risen nearly 77% over the last four years. Capitalize on the surge in protein mentions and say goodbye to the cooking and hassle of egg prep. With Sunny Fresh egg products, your kitchen staff can focus on innovative new ways to using eggs. Sunny Fresh egg products eliminate cracking, cooking and heavy clean-up, making them just right for your operation. Expand the appeal of your breakfast menu with dishes such as omelets, scrambled eggs, breakfast burritos or even grab-n-go sandwiches.

Don’t Forget Meatless Eaters

One-third of Americans are actively reducing their meat consumption. Help your plant-based eaters rise and shine with meatless breakfast options. Having a plant-based menu available for your meatless guests is imperative these days because your guests want it and your competitors are probably offering it.

Beyond Breakfast Sausage has arrived. These hearty patties are easy-to-cook, deliciously juicy, season to perfection and packed with 100% plant-based protein. You can power the day for your flexitarian, vegetarian and vegan guests by offering so many different breakfast items using Beyond Breakfast Sausage such as breakfast sandwiches, frittata’s, and other breakfast staples.

Source1 Solutions

Not only is breakfast the most important meal of the day, it is also an important amenity when staying at a hotel. A good breakfast brings many benefits to guests that accommodation providers may not realize. A satisfying breakfast can add comfort to a guest’s stay, making it a far more pleasant experience overall.

As a member of Source1 Purchasing, hotel operators get exclusive access to savings and discounts on all the products and solutions mentioned above and more! Contact us today so we can get your hotel operation on its way to cutting food cost and labor.