Insider Tips on Hotel Merch, Sobe WFF 2024, Craft Vodka, and Hospitality Excellence Unveiled
By: Steve Turk
This month step into the world of luxury hotel merch, the 2024 South Beach Wine and Food Festival, a unique vodka, and how I am helping hotels train their teams to create memorable experiences with each guest.
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🛎 Trending in Hospitality: The Popularity of Luxury Hotel Merchandise
The Online Merchandise of The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, FLThe world of high-end hotels is witnessing an exciting trend: guests are increasingly interested in buying hotel-branded merchandise, such as clothing with the hotel’s logo or unique, luxury items. This trend highlights how guests want to take a piece of their luxury experience home with them, seeing these items as a badge of their exclusive travels and stays.
Why Your Hotel Should Offer Merchandise
Offering hotel merchandise is about more than just selling products; it’s a way to extend the luxury experience beyond the hotel stay. Sarah Wetenhall, CEO of the Colony Hotel Palm Beach, points out that owning hotel-branded items is seen as a sign of being part of an exclusive group. It’s a way for guests to show off where they’ve stayed, almost like a secret handshake among those in the know.
The Beverly Hills Hotel merch being resold on eBay.The resale of these items, on sites like eBay, at much higher prices shows their value goes beyond the physical item; it’s about the prestige of the hotel’s brand. This shows that hotel merchandise can be more than just souvenirs; they’re luxury items that carry the hotel’s prestige into everyday life.
Enhancing the Luxury with Complimentary Merchandise
I believe that any booking of a luxury suite or pool cabana should include complimentary, exclusive merchandise. This not only elevates the guest experience but also ensures that the premium accommodations are further highlighted by these special items. Offering merchandise that guests can only receive when booking these luxury options adds a layer of exclusivity and makes the stay even more memorable.
Nobu Merchandise Collaborations Sell OutBenefits of Including Merchandise in Your Hotel Offering
1. Improves Guest Experience: Providing special merchandise for guests, especially those in high-end rooms or services, adds an extra touch to their stay. It gives them something unique to remember their experience by, deepening their connection to your hotel.
2. Creates Exclusivity and Loyalty: By offering merchandise only available through certain bookings, you’re not just selling items; you’re selling a unique experience. This exclusivity makes guests feel special and encourages them to return and to share their experiences with others.
3. Extends Your Brand’s Reach: Every piece of merchandise your guests take home is a conversation starter and a way to share their experience with others. This passive form of marketing can increase your hotel’s visibility far beyond its physical location.
Implementing a Merchandise Strategy
To tap into this trend, hoteliers should focus on creating a merchandise line that reflects the hotel’s brand and values, and consider offering exclusive items for guests in premium accommodations. This approach not only adds value to the guest’s stay but also fosters a deeper engagement with your brand in a subtle yet powerful way.
💭 What I'm Inspired By: The Buzz of the South Beach Wine and Food Festival
Coke Zero Sugar presents Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives LIVEhosted by Guy FieriI was lucky enough to attend this years South Beach Wine and Food Festival. It is truly one of my favorites events. This year was an eye-opening experience that truly highlighted the energy and excellence within the hospitality industry. Surrounded by some of the most talented chefs, hoteliers, sommeliers, beverage directors, wineries, distilleries, and entertainers, the event was a showcase of the best our industry has to offer. Each participant brought their A-game, creating an inspiring atmosphere that everyone could feel in the air.
What stands out about this festival, beyond the incredible talent on display, is its purpose. The event is more than just a celebration of food and drinks, it's a meaningful fundraiser for the future of hospitality. The festival raises significant funds for Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, directly supporting students who will lead our industry tomorrow. To date, the festival has impressively raised $37 million, showcasing the generosity and commitment of everyone involved.
Tribute Dinner honoring Massimo BotturaThe energy at the festival was electric, knowing that every moment of enjoyment was also contributing to a greater cause. It was inspiring to see the industry not only showcasing its excellence but also investing in its future through education and support. This commitment to excellence and philanthropy is something I find incredibly motivating and aim to incorporate into my own work in the hospitality industry.
The South Beach Wine and Food Festival serves as a powerful example of what the hospitality industry can achieve when it combines passion for the craft with a commitment to making a difference. It's a reminder of the impact we can have when we work together, inspiring a brighter future for the next generation of hospitality leaders.
📝 What I’m Working On: Training Teams at Luxury Hotels for Memorable Guest Interactions
Steve Turk hosting a hospitality training at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, FLIn the luxury hotel world, what really makes a guest’s stay memorable isn’t just the fancy rooms or the beautiful views, it’s how the staff interacts with them. Understanding this, I’ve been focusing on helping luxury hotels train their teams to make every guest interaction something special. I’ve recently wrapped up a training session at the famous Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, where we worked on ways to enhance how the team connects with guests.
This kind of training isn’t just about making guests happy, though that’s a big part of it. It also helps keep the hotel staff motivated and reduces the chances of them wanting to leave their jobs. Happy staff leads to happy guests, and that’s a win-win for everyone.
I have more training sessions planned with other luxury hotels soon. If you’re interested in bringing this kind of training to your hotel, to really elevate how your team engages with guests and to help reduce staff turnover, let’s talk. This is about creating experiences that guests will remember and share with others, making your hotel stand out in the competitive luxury market.
🍷 What I’m Sipping: Zyr Vodka - A Craft Organic Experience
This month, Im sipping Zyr Vodka, a spirit that not only captivates with its rich history but also stands out for its exceptional quality and commitment to purity. Pronounced “zeer,” Zyr Vodka is a testament to the art of vodka making, bringing a unique offering to any menu with its craft organic essence, ultra-smooth texture, and deep roots in tradition.
The Craft Behind Zyr
Zyr Vodka is meticulously crafted from a proprietary blend of winter wheat and rye grains, chosen for their superior quality and flavor profile. The vodka’s ultra-smooth texture is achieved through an arduous process of six distillations followed by ten unique filtrations, ensuring a clean, crisp finish that is unparalleled in the world of spirits.
The Journey of Zyr
The journey of Zyr Vodka is as intriguing as its taste. The brand’s founder, Dave Katz, spent five years in Moscow, Russia, in the 1990s after earning a degree in Russian Studies. It was there that Katz honed his vision for Zyr, inspired by the rich vodka culture of his surroundings. However, the landscape of vodka production for Zyr shifted dramatically with the onset of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Katz, determined to continue his craft, brought Zyr to the United States, where it was reborn with the help of experts, including the Master Distiller and owner of Black Band Distillery in Peoria, Illinois. Together, they recrafted Zyr, now certified organic, gluten-free, and kosher, among other accolades.
Why Zyr Stands Out
Zyr’s commitment to purity and quality is evident in every bottle. With no additives, no sugars, and only 96 calories per serving, Zyr offers a clean, guilt-free sipping experience. Its meticulous production process and organic certification make it a standout choice for those seeking a premium, health-conscious vodka.
Zyr Vodka is a spirit that deserves a place of on any discerning drink menu. Its rich history, meticulous crafting, and commitment to purity set it apart in a crowded market, offering a unique, organic vodka experience that is sure to delight and impress.
Contact Mike Giro to add Zyr to your program michael@lifeisgood.com
🎙 Listen: The Podcast
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Cheers,
Steve Turk
Founder and Host of The Hospitality Mentor
