The past few years have seen rapid change in the hospitality sector. The post pandemic world wants contactless payments, easy mobile ordering through platforms like this hospitality software. Great Wi-Fi and multilingual options.

With the rise of VR showing diners dishes before they order, the pace of change is not slowing.

Here’s 5 Hotel Restaurant Trends to keep in mind for 2024

1. Plant Based Menus

As many people move towards plant based diets, restaurants need to up their menu game, making sure dishes are enjoyable and well considered. Offers for special dietary requirements from different milks to vegan and gluten free menus will become more the norm. Along with this, more discerning customers are taking into account how sustainable they feel a hotel is, from their suppliers to their policies on waste throughout the establishment.

2. Digital payments and ordering

We’ve all become used to ordering via a QR code but normally the operation suits the restaurant more than the customer with clunky apps and email registration. With the POS System by Mews there is no need to download an app, search for staff, hunt down physical menus or search through a lengthy list of items.

Guests can order with a QR code, the data connects to the staff in each food and beverage area of the hotel. Freeing up employees to focus on guest satisfaction while orders are created and delivered to the correct customer and table on time.

Payments are processed as they order with credit cards, debit cards and regional alternative payments accepted.

3. Remote Work and Digital Nomads

With rising numbers not returning to the office there is a growing trend where people are having staycations or enjoying holidays mixed with work in a hybrid manner. With this in mind hotel restaurants need to have areas where guests can work, eat or meet with others such as clients or colleagues.

Strong Wi-Fi, sufficient sockets, aircon and flexible dining options are all on the wish list. The positive of this trend is that digital nomads can bring in revenue when hotels might be seasonally quiet.

4. How does AI fit in?

Whether it’s noticeable to guests yet or not, AI has already arrived in hotels. The ways this can help guests and the business itself are endless if handled well.

With check-in and check-out options done in app. There are now also AI virtual assistants answering common queries allowing staff to carry out more specialist service tasks.

When a guest needs a member of staff the old school ways can still be used. However WhatsApp chats setup with concierge directly for each customer are also becoming popular and feel more personal.

5. Experiences Over Consumerism

Many diners consider themselves foodies or travelling gourmets and want more than your standard restaurant menu. Hotels are now offering experiences such as dining in the restaurant kitchen, or at a raised area with views of the kitchen action.

There’s guest chef evenings, cooking classes and often several restaurants within the same hotel. Visitors are also looking for more than the usual fish fingers and chips for their children and expect healthy options and more choice.

From ghost kitchens catering to increasing requests for a’ la carte room service or takeaway, AI helping answer guest queries and Instagrammable atmospheres. There’s a lot to keep up with.

Successful hotels will know their main target audience and curate these trends to give their guests want they want ensuring the most relaxing stay.