Hospitality Consultancy in Dubai: How to Start a Successful Restaurant Business

A lot of people dream of owning and running a successful restaurant business in Dubai. After all, successful hospitality companies in the city are enjoying a steady flow of revenue every month, thanks to the continuous flow of diners and industry stability.  While you might be dreaming of running your own successful restaurant in the near future, it is important to ask whether you have what it takes to actualise this dream. In fact, the statistics have not been so encouraging. However, with proper planning and management, you can easily be among the 20% of restaurants that never go out of business. Here are some steps that can help budding owners start a successful restaurant business in Dubai.

12 Steps to a Successful Restaurant Business

Opening a restaurant may be an easy task but operating a successful restaurant will cost you a lot more in terms of financial, knowledge and human resource. With these steps, you can be on your way to having a successful restaurant business.

1. Conduct a feasibility study

Having a successful hospitality business in Dubai is not simply a matter of getting resources and opening up shop in a prime location. A feasibility study is important since it will help confirm that your idea is valid. For example, you might want to have a gourmet restaurant and a feasibility study will help you ascertain whether your local area needs an additional gourmet restaurant. The study will also help you point out other possible ideas that you may have not thought of when drawing up your plan.

Companies offering hospitality consultancy in Dubai will help you with a feasibility study before you get too deep and realise that your idea was impractical. While this is likely to cost you, it may help you save a lot of cash in the future.

2. Concept development

A restaurant concept is simply a theme or the overall idea that defines the type of restaurant that you want to run. It is easy to think that all restaurant ideas have been explored in the hospitality sector but you will be shocked at the new ideas that you can get. A good concept plan should offer you a fresh yet effective idea that can be easily turned into reality. It is worth noting that a great concept should adhere to your quality expectations while also fitting your clients’ preferences with regards to location, customer service and even type of menu.

How do you create a perfect concept development plan? Well, it is important to study your target market, assess your clients and potential competitors, prepare a plan and finally draft the final report. This will ensure that the concept plan you draw is practical and can be easily implemented.

3. Write a business plan

A comprehensive business plan may not seem like a priority but it will come in handy later. It will help you to reach out to potential investors or even get restaurant loans when you badly need them. A good business plan also helps you to develop your business strategy while using the information you received from your feasibility study.

What are the main things you should include in your business plan? The primary components include an executive summary, company or restaurant overview, a market analysis report, unique business offerings, management structure, marketing and finally your future financial projections. Drawing up a business plan may not be easy if you do not have prior experience but you can easily outsource this from competent restaurant consulting firms.

4. Build a strong brand

The third step to having a successful restaurant is creating a strong brand. It is impossible to downplay the importance of having a strong brand in the contemporary business market. Your brand can be compared to your voice in the market. It will help your clients understand your story, what your business stands for and the objectives of your restaurant. Customers want to feel part of your business and developing a strong brand that they can relate to can be a great way to achieve this.

Other benefits of having a strong brand include having a competitive edge in the market, better customer recognition, enhanced customer loyalty and the ability to introduce new products. It is not necessary for you to be good at branding as you can easily get good branding services from reputable F&B consultants in Dubai. These services include designing your logo, graphic design for your signage, developing attractive menus and even business cards among others.

5. Get a suitable location

Location is one of the most important factors that contribute to the success of a business. While most people know the value of a great location, many restaurant owners underestimate what a great location can do for their business. It is extremely important that an entrepreneur chooses a great location before they can invest in a restaurant.

What are some of the crucial things that you need to consider when choosing a location? Parking is very important. A restaurant should have its own parking spot but if this is impossible, then they need to partner with a hotel or establishment that has one. Accessibility is also vital. The main reason why most restaurants are close to highway exits is to make them accessible. Places that are so accessible will not only have plenty of foot traffic but will also be visible to others.

Lastly, the base population is also important when choosing a suitable location. Are there enough people to support your niche restaurant? Does your main target market reside in the area you want to set up shop? Asking yourself these questions and answering them honestly can help you have a better chance of running a successful establishment.

Article originally published by Glee. Read the full article here, https://bit.ly/2Zjrgga

The Signature of a Top Exhibition Stand in Dubai: Quality & Excellence

Want Exhibition or Event Success? Quality is Key

When deciding to participate in any exhibition or trade show, or even hosting an event, there are a lot of factors to be taken into consideration like cost, visibility and commercial pay-off. Your exhibition stand should showcase your products or services to the best advantage, enhance your brand, and ultimately lead to more business opportunities. The placement, design and organisation of any exhibition stand or booth, all play a critical role in attracting visitors. Remember, depending on the size of the trade show, there could be anywhere from dozens to hundreds of other companies all competing for attention.

Many times, companies or agencies working on behalf of corporates can be frustrated because despite investing time and money in developing a design concept, booking space and developing promotional materials, the exhibition stand does not reflect the company or the brand.

It is important, therefore, to ensure that you’ll be hiring a qualified exhibition stand builder with standardised processes, methods and resource planning, and a highly proficient team who will handle the projects. At Electra, we have dedicated project and account managers who will create and oversee the whole project planning and execution. This will guarantee regular updates on the project status at every stage and support until its completion.

Don’t wait until the last minute to discover that not all exhibition stand contractors in Dubai are alike.

In the final analysis, put to one side the expense, the time, the preparation, it all comes down to the quality of the execution. The top exhibition stand contractors or exhibition stand builders in Dubai and across UAE deliver the premium quality others do not or cannot. Quality is the sign of true artistry or craftsmanship; the attention to detail that can be seen in a carefully hand-sewn seam, or the brushwork of a master painter.

American writer William A. Foster once wrote: “Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives”. Any company that invests time, money and effort in an exhibition or trade show wants this to benefit its business. An exhibition stand or booth is a visible reflection of a company’s values, the way it thinks about itself and the way it serves its clients, the choices it makes and how it delivers on its promises. Quality, therefore, should be the main factor when making any of the hundreds of possible choices that accompany participating in an exhibition or hosting an event, including factors such as the concept, design and execution.

Event or Exhibition Stand Finishing Supports Branding

In a previous post, we shared some tips on how to choose the best exhibition stand company in Dubai, where we highlighted some of the nightmare scenarios that can occur if you don’t hire a reputable and reliable exhibition stand contractor. Now we want to look more closely at the quality issue because it is an essential component of success. At the end of the day, you can make all the right decisions, but not get the effect you desire, because the exhibition structure or event venue is the core element of your presentation, you need to be 100% sure that it will be constructed, laid out and furnished to the highest standard possible within your budget. If you cannot answer in the affirmative to the following three questions, you may be in trouble.

top exhibition stand contractor dubai

Have you picked a partner who is dedicated to delivering high quality finishing?

Did you hire an exhibition stand builder who understands the importance of details in creating an overall impression?

Can you rely on your contractor to deliver your vision on time, on budget and according to specifications?

A quality stand or event depends not just on the design but on the quality of the build, that’s why every event production company in Dubai must remember this quote from legendary Hollywood producer David 0. Selznick, most famous for “Gone with the Wind”: “The success of a production depends on the attention paid to detail”. When you are organising an event, you are creating a show, a display, an experience for your existing and potential clients. You want them to be engaged, interested and comfortable.

Lack of attention to detail and poor-quality control can lead to such issues as shabby furniture and fixtures, sloppy painting, uneven surfaces, and seams, loose fittings, poor joinery, cracks, dents and many more. The presence of any of these flaws can create exactly the opposite impression of your company, rather than being professional, thoughtful and organised. A poorly-executed build can make you look disorganised, careless and unreliable. Rather than enhancing your brand, it could damage it. This is certainly one case where people will judge a book by its cover.

Article originally published by Electra. Read the full article here, https://bit.ly/31gTvxy

Artificial Plants in Dubai: Expectations vs Reality

Planters Artificial listed down some of the most common expectations about artificial trees and plants in Dubai that may lead to disappointments in the end. https://bit.ly/2VJGMAd

Infographics originally shared by Planters Group.

Your Ultimate Guide to Green Walls Dubai

Green walls are one of the fastest growing trends in office interior design in Dubai and all of UAE over the past few years. Find out why in our latest blog. https://bit.ly/2TUp9gd

Infographics originally shared by Planters. 

Collaboration with External Partners is Key to Success

What is collaboration in business? The definition of collaboration from the Oxford Dictionary is “The action of working with someone to produce something.” But in business, it is more likely to be working with someone outside your team, and potentially with different expertise to achieve a common goal or product. Organisations are now reaching beyond their internal employees and collaborating with external partners to achieve their goals.

Harvard Business Review surveyed business leaders worldwide about how collaboration is changing with their organisations

72% say “effective team communication” has become more important over the past 2 years

54% are investing in easier-to-use collaboration solutions

64% report that collaboration with external parties has increased in importance

(Retrieved from http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/collaboration/index.html?stickynav=1)

During our 20 years in business we have supported and collaborated with our industry architects, designers, suppliers and project managers to create high-quality interior solutions for our clients. We have also collaborated with industry groups like the Dubai Chamber of Commerce who has helped guide us on our CSR journey, and The US Green Building Council (USGBC) to achieve our LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and LEED EBOM (Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance) certifications. Without external collaboration with other like-minded businesses, we could not meet our client’s expectations or achieve our ‘green’ and CSR goals.

In 2017 Summertown is extending our collaboration with external partners to form a global alliance – The United Workplace Group – which is a much more formal external partnership.

The United Workplace is a network of like-minded businesses, sharing a passion for the workplace– inspiring design, innovation and a culture of collaboration underpins everything we do. All members share common ethics, values and goals bringing with them a wealth of knowledge and experience. The fundamental goal of The United Workplace is to provide consistency of service and local insight on a global scale- to fulfil your workplace design, fit-out or commercial furniture consultancy and installation needs.

Globalisation is accelerating and having the ability to link businesses, exchange best practices and share knowledge is seen as a distinct advantage. The United Workplace consists of a handpicked collection of businesses selected in recognition that each country and market has specific requirements.

Article originally published by Summertown. Read the full article here, https://bit.ly/2JZZb9I

Restaurant Management Consultant Tips: How to Run a Profitable Business

Restaurants, like any other business, have the sole reason of making profits out of their customers’ needs. There are numerous resources that can help you learn how to run a profitable business. Restaurant management consulting firms in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, however, swear by the tips outlined in this blog article. These tips are behind the success of many restaurants in the region and can help you achieve the same with your restaurant.

10 Tips to Make your F&B Business Profitable

Below, we share 10 of the best tips to increase the profitability of your hospitality business:

1.    Ensure Customer Satisfaction

Our customers are the sole reason for the existence of our business. Therefore, if we are to talk about the business’ profitability, it is only natural if we are keen on our customers’ needs. Restaurant management consultants all over Dubai and Saudi agree that the journey to maximum business profitability begins with customer satisfaction.

So how do you ensure your customers walk out of your doors fulfilled and content?

• Understand what they need and what irks them. Some customers, for example, are thoroughly keen on cleanliness and will instantly be put off by the slightest impression of otherwise.
• Keep up with the trends and instantly adapt to customers’ changing needs. Most people are moving towards being healthy and are conscious of what they are eating now more than ever. In order to keep the customers coming, you need to move along with the trends, adopt healthy diets on your menu or opt for ingredients that are more natural and whole.
• Listen to the customers. How do you handle complaints raised by the customers? They will definitely keep coming back if they feel their views are listened to. As a restaurant manager, occasionally walk around the dining room, saying hello to the diners and getting their feedback. This would be highly appreciated and the homely reception will surely promise return visits.
• Take note of and reward your loyal customers. You can set up an email list where you get to share new deals and specials, giving them the privilege of knowing first. Restaurant consulting firms also suggest loyalty programs. Loyalty programs help you to retain customers while giving you an advantage over your competitors.

A satisfied customer is a guaranteed, faster way of marketing that beats any other. You can bet they will come back with friends and family next time.

2.    Manage the Costs of Food and Beverage

While you focus on increasing your restaurant’s profitability, take stock of food and beverages in the business. Be vigilant to monitor any disappearance of foods or drinks, which could sadly be as a result of theft from the employees. You should be able to account for how much was bought and how much was sold without missing pieces to the puzzle. Set up a system to ensure no employee makes off with bottles of wine or food.

You can also avoid incurring huge losses by reducing the number of faulty or redo dishes, which also generally reduces the amount you throw out as waste at the end of the day. If you are making losses from expiring ingredients, you can use applications that will notify you when a product is a few days from the expiry date*.  The overall effect of all these is saved costs and an increase in the number of profits you earn eventually. Hospitality consultancy companies suggest negotiation with supplies for discounts, helping you to save more.

Hospitality management companies more so in Dubai and Saudi are now keen on the ‘zero waste policy’ as is shown by the high number of F&B companies absorbing it into their policies. The Armani hotel in Dubai is a great example of this.

3.    Improve the Quality of Services and the quality of food you offer

A satisfied guest will always market you, and we cannot fail to insist on this. The customers can enjoy great food almost anywhere but what will set you apart from the rest is your service. How you present your food to the customer, how fast or slow your service is; how you basically handle the customer. Be friendly and welcoming, carefully paying attention to the guest. Greet the diners the minute they enter the dining room. Use polite titles such as sir and ma’am when addressing them and see the big difference it will make.

Check on the quality of the food you offer too. This is a no-brainer. The reason your customers came into the premises was largely to get a sumptuous meal. If you have everything else in check but serve unpalatable food, then it will all be in vain. How do you present your food on the plate? Do you offer specialties? Are local foods a big part of your menu? Recent trends show that customers are shifting towards appreciating their local dishes, the same is true in the region. Use organic and healthy ingredients too.

4.    Proper Staffing

From the chef to the servers to the maintenance guy, everyone who works at the restaurant is a representation of the business’ values. A customer can get put off by poor employees and that has a negative effect on your image as a company. The bad habit of one employee is tied to the entire restaurant brand as it is seen as something that is allowed and not strictly dealt with. This means that you have to be extra careful when hiring.

You may hire people with experience working in the hospitality industry, but in the situation that you do not, be sure to train them and instill the values that define your business. For instance, you could ensure they are knowledgeable and well-versed with the menu such that they will be able to up-sell food with high-profit margins. It will increase your sales significantly if the waiting staff know exactly when and how to up-sell. They could offer extras alongside the main courses or suggest other courses the guests have not ordered.

Just as any firm in other industries, for maximum output from the employees, you have to ensure that they are happy and engaged with the roles they play. The effect that this has is increased performance, in their serving and eventually in customer satisfaction.

A great way to make sure your staff is well-motivated, as suggested by companies offering hospitality solutions all over Dubai and Saudi Arabia, is establishing reward systems for the employees. Each department could vote in an employee of the week who gets a small reward. This honestly goes a long way in motivating and challenging them to become better at their assigned duties. Hold team building events and get to know your staff individually, they will feel part of a bigger family and their response to your concern and care will blow your mind away.

5.    Market! Market! Market!

You may offer the best food and services in Dubai or Saudi Arabia, but of what benefit is it if only a small fraction of the population are able to enjoy them? You want to make maximum profits and that simply means more sales. The best way to market your hospitality business is by following trends. Go with the flow. What sites are most popular at the moment?

Hospitality management companies recently discovered the shift of majority of the population towards YouTube and are now encouraging companies to adopt this trend. Restaurants can now make videos to advertise themselves and post it on YouTube and Facebook Live. Set up ads on these sites too to reach as many people as you can. You can also advertise on travel sites and that will make your business more accessible to both local and foreign visitors.

You may find it of great benefit to hire social media experts and professional photographers on your marketing team to bring out the best of the features in the quality of services you offer and ensure massive advertising. Post up deals such as 2 for 1’s, happy hours and any discounts and watch how the effect works like magic! The advantage of advertising on social media and such sites is that you get to understand what the customers are into and get feedback based on the views, likes and comments that you will get.

Take advantage of celebrities and social media influencers in the region to market yourself. Invite them over and let them make reviews on your restaurant that they will post on their pages. You will be shocked just how much following you will acquire by that.

6.    Spruce things up with your décor

An interesting trend has come up. The younger generations (who by the way now have the largest purchasing power) are more likely to visit and be loyal customers to restaurants deemed “cool” by their peer influence. You might be wondering just how they are able to gauge this.

As we have said above, this generation is driven by trends and influences. The social media craze is something we cannot fail to notice. They want to visit instagrammable venues to share with the world, by that we mean they are extra keen on the décor and setting of the restaurant. The décor in your restaurant should match the preferences of the particular group of customers you are targeting. If it is the above-said group, go for classy and trendy themes. If you are targeting professionals, go for more simple yet sophisticated themes with a chilled mood. If your restaurant is purposed to serve families, then you can opt for a more homely and accommodating setting.

Create inviting views for your guests. Do not downplay the effect of plants and nature in your building. Play with lights and sounds. Soft lighting creates the illusion of a bigger space, and hard surfaces reflect the ambience that you are trying to achieve through your musical choices.

7.    Do not get left behind on Technology

Technology is no doubt changing the hospitality industry all over the Middle East, most especially in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. We have seen restaurants such as the Drink and Spice Magics Restaurant in Bur Dubai going as far as having robotic servers. To get to a level of maximum profitability that you desire, then you have to up your skills in the technological sector. It makes work much easier. It saves you precious time and it enables you to cut down on costs by replacing employees. Technology is more precise and fastens processes up.

Article originally published by Glee. Read the full article here, https://bit.ly/2HQegIS

10 Weird Sushi You Should Definitely Try

Sushi first appeared, according to the historical account, on the streets of Japan back in the 8th century. The rest of the world had yet to be introduced to this delicacy, but once the concept began spreading across international boundaries, more and more takes on sushi began popping up. Japanese restaurants in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have followed suit, offering both incredible and unique sushi.

Today, sushi restaurants are known for serving the classic, traditional offerings of the concept as well as more modern takes on sushi. Here in the UAE, diners can indulge in a variety of weird styles, some of which have become the best sushi in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Let’s take a look at weird sushi you definitely need to try, both here and abroad.

Beef Tartare with Cream Cheese - Sushi Counter, Dubai, UAE

The best sushi in Dubai and Abu Dhabi thinks outside the box, and that is exactly what Sushi Counter has done with their Beef Tartare Summer Roll. We’ve all seen cream cheese used in Philadelphia Rolls around the world, but this is a completely delicious take on a fine dining classic. Enjoy with a lighter roll, perhaps a Moutabel and Cucumber Summer Roll, for a healthy and complementary pairing.

Bentley Roll – Sushi World, Cypress, California

Spicy tuna is the anchor of the luxurious Bentley Roll. This California masterpiece also includes avocado and is topped with seared Salmon, creating a unique blend of flavors that mix well with their sesame dressing.

Sushi Burrito – Sushi Counter, Dubai, UAE, and other locations

The sushi burrito has become an international phenomenon in recent years. Following the rise of quick-service Mexican restaurants, sushi chefs thought, ‘Why not enlarge a sushi roll into a burrito?’ The result is a handheld masterpiece that can be enjoyed in a restaurant or on the go. Sushi restaurants in Dubai have embraced the trend.

Shaggy Dog Roll – various locations

This may not sound like an appealing invention, but once you’ve tasted the Shaggy Dog Roll, there’s no going back. With Shrimp and Crab, alongside avocado and a spicy aioli on top, this roll is simple but incredibly delicious. Perhaps this roll is the result of sushi restaurants around the world getting creative – will the best sushi in Dubai and Abu Dhabi catch on?

Tasmanian Roll – Kunti, Bali, Indonesia

The Tasmanian Roll is a true gem – if you find a Japanese restaurant serving this, you’re in a good spot. It typically features ocean Trout, Salmon, asparagus, yellow onion, green onion, lemon, and chili oil. Add a dose of Wasabi and soy sauce and this roll is sushi heaven! It pairs very well with hot sake, or hot tea for those not wanting alcohol.

Agemono – Hokkaido Sushi, Singapore

You might expect to find something unique and over the top at Japanese restaurants in Singapore. Hokkaido delivers with this tempura dish of deep sea-caught prawns and Grouper fish, served together for a taste unparalleled in fine dining Japanese restaurants. Their menu contains many creative options, but the Agemono is a classic that has withstood the test of time. This restaurant does it as well as any.

Pickled Vegetable Nigiri – various locations in Japan

Due to the steady popularity of pickled vegetables among the Japanese, restaurants across the country are known to offer them on top of rice as Nigiri. These aren’t your traditional hand rolls – Nigiri starts with a ball of moulded rice and finishes with a topping that is typically fish-based. Not in this case, however, and the Japanese have come to embrace the concept.

Ama Ebi Sushi Square – Sushi Counter, Dubai, UAE

Have you tried a sushi square? If not, the time is ripe to do so because they are among the best sushi in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Sushi Counter tops squares of rice and other deliciousness with fresh fish and toppings. In this case, sweet shrimp, donburi mix, edible blue flowers, and basil make for a tempting concoction that will whet the appetite. We suggest ordering more than one, because once you’ve had a taste it’s hard to think of anything else.

New York Subway Roll – Sticks n Sushi, London, UK

This roll looks like an amalgam when it served to the table, and that’s because it is. It’s not often that garlic makes such a profound impact on a sushi roll. At this London establishment, diners enjoy this roll of tempura shrimp, which is harmless enough, but the kicker is this: garlic, Salmon, avocado and spicy sauce. Tail on, game on!

Irish Sushi – various locations

Of course, we need a ‘green’ version for Japanese restaurants in Dubai to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. This roll swaps out the rice for mashed potatoes, the seaweed wrapper for cabbage, and the fish for corned beef. We’ll raise a pint to that!

 

Article originally published by Sushi Counter. Read the full article here, https://www.sushicounter.com/blog/10-weird-sushi-you-should-definitely-try