Restaurant Manager: Tips for Success

Restaurant Manager: Tips for Success....Many people believe that an average of nine out of 10 restaurants find themselves closing their doors within the first year. This statistic may seem a tad bit absurd, and for a good reason, because it simply is not true; however, there is no denying that restaurants do have a high rate of not being able to keep their heads above water.

To help fight these odds, restaurant owners must make sure that they employ workers who can effectively manage their establishments. To be a good restaurant manager, a person will need to be business-savvy, have great customer relationship skills as well as be incredibly creative.

#1: Create a Business Plan

A good manager will need to know the ins-and-outs of a restaurant's business plan, including its short-term and long-term goals. If a manager is left in the dark about these objectives, there is no way for the person to work towards them. Within the business plan, it should be defined how the restaurant will be made distinguishable from other restaurants in the same area; this way, the manager can implement strategies that will build an effective brand for the restaurant.

#2: Create a Budget, and Stick to It

Restaurant managers must have top-notch accounting skills. They should know how to develop efficient budgets, and more importantly, they must have the discipline to stick to a budget. They must be financially savvy, carrying out techniques that can be used to decrease overhead expenses while at the same time making sure that the restaurant is operated in an effective manner.

#3: Good Interior Design Taste

Good managers are those that can effectively place tables and chairs within the dining area of a restaurant. They should be able to coordinate napkin, table and chair colors with the theme of the restaurant and much more. When it comes to feeding guests in large numbers, a manager must know how to go about accommodating such groups. Most importantly, good restaurant management will make sure that the kitchen, dining and bathroom areas are clean at all times.

#4: Good Hiring Skills

Restaurant managers are responsible for hiring other employees. Everyone from a cleaning lady to a server to a line cook must be interviewed and hired by a manager. Keeping this in mind, a manager must have top-notch hiring skills. He or she should be able to determine during interviews which applicants can be trusted, which ones will be a good fit for the company and more. Above all, the manager should be able to determine which applicants will be able to provide superb customer service. Without great customer service, a new restaurant is sure to go under.

#5: Great Public Relations Skills

A restaurant manager must carry out a wide range of duties. Such duties include mingling with customers while they are dining. From walking around to each table to ask about customers' dining experiences to offering discounts for those who are not completely satisfied, a manager must have great public relations skills. In addition to effectively communicating with customers, the manager must also be able to communicate well with coworkers.

**One of the best things a person can do to become a good restaurant manager is to earn a formal degree in restaurant management. This type of degree can usually be earned in two to four years.

The article sums up certain word to the wise that should be taken care of to become a successful restaurant manager. With your great skills and efforts, earn a reputable restaurant management degree offered by various culinary arts schools or colleges [http://www.culinaryschoolsu.com/program/culinary-arts].

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For Restaurants, Marketing Must Be Blended

For Restaurants, Marketing Must Be Blended........I was in a meeting with a friend who is a prominent entrepreneur last Friday. This gentlemen started his first business (an advertising agency) at a young age and grew it to the point where he could sell it and make a nice buck. He then parlayed that cash into a successful career of starting restaurants/pubs. As a business owner who has advertising experience I was shocked to hear that he does very little advertising outside of the local independent magazine. In fact, his budget is less than $500 a month. He tells me that this is common amongst his industry. Advertising does very little for these kind of businesses. Seeing a billboard for your restaurant a week ago will not influence my decision tonight about where I will go to eat. However I did learn that most of his reticence is due to his lack of time and resources. Like himself, most restaurant owners don't have the knowledge or the time to manage their marketing strategy. So, they resort to posting things on Facebook & Twitter, often sporadically and with little to no results.
We started talking about the kind of advertising that would be effective. We discussed a recent experience he had with Yelp, the popular online review website. He worked with the local Community Manager of Yelp to host an event for Yelpers where he invited them to try his knew menu and seasonal cocktail list. Although at first he was skeptical about the outcome the Yelp event would have, he explained that was incredibly impressed with the results; here's why.
He Found a Digital Sweet Spot - unlike Twitter and Facebook, Yelp is largely geared around reviews of restaurants. Yelpers are notorious foodies who love to discover and frequent independent restaurants. In fact, some of the best reviewed places on Yelp are total hidden gems that without the help of Yelp may have never been shared. And even though Facebook and Twitter are great for branding they reach a wide segment of people from all kinds of demographics. Yelp on the other hand is a digital sweet spot for restaurant owners. Although some see it as a complaint board, smart business owners know this is a gold mine.
He Had Expert Help - as I mentioned, the Yelp Community Manager was there to provide direction and support for the event. My friend did not have to take time out of his busy schedule to organize, plan and execute the minutia of the event; he just had to check-off on the concepts and direction it was heading. This put him in the driver seat without needing to worry about the road. He had the expert on call to help him make decisions and that seemed to make him feel comfortable and more open minded.
It Blended Online & Offline Marketing Strategies - the event was promoted via Yelp's newsletter and social media channels but a lot of the buzz came from word-of-mouth. People who found out about the event shared it family, friends and co-workers to drive even more awareness. The results was more people at the restaurant than he had all year. This is essentially blending the online and offline promotional model to drive results. My friend has never been happier with a marketing campaign and thanks to an approach that had tangible, visual ROI (people buying food & drink) he could determine immediately if it was worth it. That gave him closure and a willingness to try something else.
What I learned from this that social media and digital marketing can be combined with offline events to create revenue opportunities for restaurants. It's great to share a happy hour special on a Facebook page but going the extra mile to make it an event is another ball game.
One key takeaway I had was that the hospitality industry would benefit from having a dedicated community manager to organize these kinds of events. This person should have a good mix of both digital and event promotion skills, on and offline. Furthermore, if you are unable to locate such a person or cannot afford to have one on staff, consider reaching out to your local social media mavens to see what opportunities there are.

Jason Murphy is Co-founder of Gabster Media, a Cleveland website design [http://gabstermedia.com] digital & social media marketing agency.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jason_M_Murphy/899025

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Managers Need To Keep It Real

Managers Need To Keep It Real....I spent last Thursday hosting several staff training sessions at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place. It was incredible! From the housekeepers to the bellman to the sales force, all employees at the property made it obvious why they're one of the most profitable Hyatts in the country.

About halfway through one of the afternoon sessions, I noticed a man sitting in the front row. Literally, he was sitting IN the front row. The 6 foot 5, suit clad man casually kicked up his legs across a few chairs, smiled, nodded and kept an interested eye on me at all times.

Who is this guy? I wondered.

After we adjourned he approached me and said, "Scott, thanks very much for your presentation! I've been hearing great feedback from everybody. I'm Jerry Simmons, the General Manager of this hotel."

Ohhhhhh...the GM. Wow. Didn't see that one coming.

"And I'm so glad you talked about approachability to our staff. You see, too many managers think it's wrong or 'not cool' to be approachable. Like they should be isolated from the rest of the staff. But they need to be real. So I think your ideas are just what they needed to hear."

It turns out Mr. Simmons started his career as a wide receiver for the Steelers, Falcons, Saints, Broncos and Bears in the 60's and 70's. Then, after a Hyatt Regency asked him to talk to their employees about leadership, he took on a part time position in the off season in the hotel restaurant. Nine years later he became the General Manager of one of the biggest Hyatts in the country.

What a story. What a guy. What a hotel. Not to mention a shining example of someone who knows how to keep it real. Now I know, you've heard the phrase "keep it real" ad nauseum. And it could mean a lot of things to a lot of people.

But to me, keeping it real (being yourself, showing vulnerability, eliminating superficial hierarchy and maintaining congruency in your character) is a direct indicator of one's approachability.

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With Restaurant Management Training, Discover a Career in the Restaurant Industry

 With Restaurant Management Training, Discover a Career in the Restaurant Industry...There is something truly rewarding about working in a profession which strives to make other people happy. This is what the restaurant industry is all about. For many, the combination of a shrewd business sense, and a love of food, brings them to the decision to look into restaurant management training. These programs have exploded in their popularity, and can fully prepare students for rewarding work in restaurants, casinos, resorts and on cruise ships.

With so many different options for dining in our country, it is hard to imagine a restaurant management school curriculum that can encompass it all. But that is exactly what this training does. With a range of culinary skills instruction, as well as specialized training, students are exposed to just about every scenario they could encounter in the field. Hands on instruction by patient, experience chefs will guide these students through the many nuances of the culinary arts. Most restaurant management schools cover wine studies, as well as food and beverage management, and coursework in all the behind the scenes work that is critical to the smooth running of a successful restaurant.

To be successful in managing a restaurant, you need to be a skilled businessperson. Even small, stand alone dining facilities work with very large budgets, and employee many staff people. Most reputable restaurant management training programs realize that this work is about more than just the food. In order to do a great job in the culinary world, you need to be skilled in dealing with budgets, paperwork, and people.

Your coursework will teach you about food and beverage ordering and inventory, to provide you with all you need to develop and implement interesting and diverse menu selections. Another chief consideration will be in the training, scheduling, and evaluating of your many staff, from the dishwashers, to the cooks, to the servers.

And, lastly, your restaurant management degree curriculum will address methods of effective marketing, advertising and sales, because, although you will strive to make your restaurant the best it can be, this is a very competitive industry. If this all sounds like the career for you, it is time to look into one of these many, comprehensive restaurant management training programs.

Take a quick look at [http://www.accrculinaryartsschools.com] to learn more about restaurant management training [http://www.accrculinaryartsschools.com/restaurant-management-degree.php] programs and what you can expect from these courses.

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Salaries And Wages For Careers In Hospitality

Salaries And Wages For Careers In Hospitality......The hospitality industry is responsible for more jobs than almost any other employer in the United States. There are thousands of jobs available around the world in interesting and exotic places. The salaries are not always high by the standards of other professions, but the plentiful numbers of jobs is a plus. Workers are able to enter the work force with minimal education, sometimes less than secondary school credentials. This means the salaries as a group are at the low end of the scale.

Because there are many types of skills that vary from job to job, the salary levels can vary significantly also. A front desk clerk at a resort hotel might earn more than a member of the housekeeping staff, but less than an accountant at the same hotel. Waitresses may earn more or less than hostesses at the restaurants. The amount of tips and gratuities received by waitresses and waiters can make a big different in the amount of earnings.

Many jobs in the industry mean working for an employer. The jobs may be shift work and can include weekend work and holiday work. For some people, this makes the career less attractive. Others look at the chance to work in places where the general public only visits while on vacation.

Some positions in the industry earn more because of the additional training required. A good example is that of a chef at a popular restaurant. This takes a period of training as well as the ability to work under often stressful conditions. Good trained or accredited chefs can command a higher salary than other service personnel in and around a restaurant.

Travel jobs are great for those who like to be on the go. There are many types of industry jobs in the travel category. You can serve as a stewardess on an international jet flight or as a travel agent running your own business. Helping people get to and from the airport or other travel means is another type of hospitality job. A tour guide may be salaried or may set up specialized tours for visitors to the area in which the workers live.
Hospitality career pay is tied closely to training and school requirements. The person with higher or more comprehensive credentials will earn more than the part time high school student looking for an after school job. Career wages may be increased through the addition of bonuses and benefits to the regular paycheck.

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