Amanda Horan, Enterprise Development Manager at Fáilte Ireland, speaks to us about the range of practical new supports available to help tourism businesses innovate their food offering, build efficiencies and upskill staff to boost sales when they reopen.
"As the National Tourism Development Authority, we continue to focus on what we can do to support tourism businesses to survive in this challenging environment and provide a range of supports on areas including finance, sales and marketing and operational performance through our online COVID-19 Support Hub. In response to COVID-19 safety operating guidelines, we identified food as a key area for innovation and have developed a suite of supports to help businesses run a more successful food operation when they reopen," says Amanda.
Two such new supports are the Inside Food podcast series and the Breakfast Innovation Toolkit.
Inside Food Podcast Series
"Inside Food is the first series of Fáilte Ireland's new Inside Tourism Business Podcast. It examines the consumer trends that will shape eating out when businesses can reopen, menu innovation, managing food costs and reducing food waste, while improving service quality and driving sales and revenue," says Amanda.
"The seven-part series features leading hospitality experts and operators and aims to help businesses consider ways to further efficiencies while maximising revenue," says Amanda. "Our experts and industry guests look at how businesses can begin to adapt their offerings now to suit new consumer demands when it is safe to reopen and discuss smart advice and actionable takeaways."
Subscribe to the Inside Food podcast now wherever you listen to your podcasts, or visit www.failteireland.ie/podcasts for more details.
Breakfast Innovation Toolkit
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But could it become your business's most important food experience? "More hotel residents eat breakfast than any other food offering," says Amanda, "and as it is often your last visitor service touchpoint before checkout and departure, it's a real opportunity to make a positive impact and drive increased revenue for your business.
"Our new Breakfast Innovation Toolkit looks at everything from how to re-engineer your menu to considering new ways to grow your breakfast customer base while ensuring customer safety. With resources including food and labour cost calculators as well as best practice kitchen and service checklists, the toolkit will help businesses plan and innovate their breakfast offering now to drive revenue and deliver great service when it is safe to reopen."
For more information on the Breakfast Innovation Toolkit, the Inside Food podcast series and a range of expert supports for tourism businesses, visit Fáilte Ireland's online COVID-19 Business Support Hub at www.failteireland.ie.
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