How does a hotel create ambience at breakfast?

Question

Creating the correct ambience is important in any establisment to ensure a return trade.

Answer 1

How does or how could a hotel Best create ambience at breakfast?

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1.  Get the basics right - enough seating, warmth, light etc.  FRESH food.   Re-stock food that is left out buffet style, to keep it appealing.  Remember that some people find entering a large room full of people quite daunting, so do what you can to help them along as much as possible.

2.  Provide a menu that caters for varied guest types - eg. religious food differences, vegetarians etc.

3.  Provide a clear 'map' for guests - help seat guests, tell them what to do and what is on offer.  This can start before guests enter a dining room, guest service directory etc.

eg.  Sit them down and ask drink preference, inform them what is available and where to go, even if it seems blindingly obvious.

4.  Check back often to see how things are, offer more drinks etc.

The ambience is only partly about the phsyical environment, the rest is about how the staff and guests make it more comfortable etc.

Think about other stuff guests might need - transportation help, weather info etc.  Then work out how to best provide it.

Answer 2

Natural light, quick service, free papers and peace and quiet.

Answer 3

Have a well-stocked buffet that is both pleasant to look at and smells great! Freshly baked bread and grilled bacon do it for me!

Music is OK but needs changing regularly as patrons could easily be irritated by repetitious muzak. Perhaps a few flowers  might go down well too.

Even though it might be winter, take advantage of the morning sunlight when it's there, to make the room bright, cheerful and welcoming.

Answer 4

I have worked at several of these Hotel buffets and this is what kept people coming back. A great view, lots of copies of the local newspaper available each day (especially on Sunday) Good coffee and tea (VERY important), things for kids to do so their parents can relax and enjoy their breakfast, a good variety of food on the buffet, friendly but not intrusive staff, a chef doing some sort of "demonstration" dish. At one place I worked at we had the same breakfast chef for 5 years who made the most amazing omelettes out at the buffet, thisguy practically had a following as not only were his omelettes fantastic, but he was also very friendly and remembered peoples faces and what they liked on their omelettes.

Answer 5

A friendly smile and lots of choice - hot food, fruit, pastries - a newspaper, hot toast, hot coffee, and to be left in peace.

It might help if the place doesn't look like Colditz but at that time of the morning just fresh & clean (not smelling of last night's smoke) will do.

What I DO NOT want is to be forced to listen to drivel or someone squawking, on a radio. It's much too early in the morning; the usual bustle is noise enough. Only if the place is empty, have the radio on very low.

Answer 6

I would make it very bright with natural light from the windows in the morning,

Answer 7

it comes down to the first person they see when thay come down. if you have a jolly member of staff saying good morning, help yourself to juice and cereal then thats a start, but the waiter/waitress has to follow it through until they leave

Answer 8

I'm not a hotel guru but in my opinion breakfast is not a quiet affair, so there is not much need for true ambience like you would think of an upscale or themed restaurant or bar, people just want coffee right away and the newspaper. If anything its the smell of bacon or ham, something that gets the senses going in the morning. And usually breakfast has some type of country theme.

Answer 9

Room service

Answer 10

dont forget the music! some nice jazz is always good at breakfast, dont you always notice your favourite song when it comes on? its always great to hear a cheery, relaxing but not too depressing song in the morning, but nothing too fast or heavy, especially when you have a hangover! frank sinatra, sam cooke, traci chapman are good choices, and dont forget your own music, because if you are in a good mood and singing along to the music, it transfers to your guests and they see you are happy to be working there.