Let’s Talk

Insights & Articles

Hospitality Insights & Restaurant Advice

Practical ideas and industry perspectives on hospitality strategy, operations, brand growth, hotel advisory, restaurant performance and the trends shaping our industry.

Explore articles
Subscribe
How to start a restaurant

Featured Article

How to start a restaurant

Starting a restaurant is as exciting as it is demanding. From the first idea to the first drink poured, every decision you make will either build your success or quietly undermine it. What you do in the early design stages has long-term consequences. In my experience, the difference between thriving and barely surviving often lies […]

Paul SarlasManaging Partner

7 min read

Read article


LinkedIn Articles

Travelling & Dining Alone – Some tips to surviving

During the past 15 years, I have been travelling quite extensively as a hospitality consultant, and whilst having a passion for trying as many food and beverage concepts during my travels and sharing my good and bad experiences on social media, I am always asked the question as to how I feel about dining alone. […]

Apr 24, 2016
•
7 min read


Illuminated hotel sign above a hotel entrance

LinkedIn Articles

Hotel GM and The Owner – Communication

Carrying on from previous posts, I have recently seen that a small boutique hotel’s success could be improved by a complex department head with direct relations and contact with the owner. This is a weapon against the General Manager. Most times, an owner needs to learn more about the politics and the ins and outs […]

Apr 17, 2016
•
5 min read


LinkedIn Articles

How can your concept stand out from the crowd?

Today’s difference is that the market is much more saturated than some years ago. Apart from having more restaurants per square kilometre, people are more travelled, have access to more cooking shows and online videos about food, and now better understand the differences in cuisines by region or speciality, rather than just country-to-country knowledge. Sushi […]

Jan 15, 2016
•
12 min read


LinkedIn Articles

Hotel Strategic Planning a Must.

On a recent consulting project, my company was appointed to assist a hotel open for just over a year, redefining the F&B offering and delivering a more substantial bottom line. During this period, I noticed the minimal strategic approach in developing the concept in the preliminary stages. So, I needed to write the below to […]

Jan 7, 2016
•
6 min read


LinkedIn Articles

A Restaurants Business Plan…..

Further to my recent article ” Top 10 Restaurant Startup Errors“, the most relevant error is No. 1. Avoiding the business plan, I was requested by a few of the readers as to how to write the business plan. I hope the below can assist. Creating a business plan may sound scary and a waste of time now, […]

Dec 29, 2015
•
11 min read


LinkedIn Articles

Importance of Understanding the P&L

With a little extra time on my hands over this festive season, I have had the chance to catch up with some blog writing. You may have noticed that several of my recent posts focus on business planning and cost management. This is due to our current project, which we are assisting with cost management […]

Dec 29, 2015
•
7 min read


LinkedIn Articles

Creating the Restaurant Ambience

As Managers and Owners in hospitality, we might be inclined to use the word ‘space’ rather than a place when describing the ambience of a restaurant. The difference between these two words provides an interesting take on what makes a design good or excellent. A nice space can undoubtedly support a hospitality business, but creating […]

Dec 28, 2015
•
6 min read


LinkedIn Articles

Balancing the Restaurants Profit Equation

Too many restaurants focus solely on the bottom line – profits. We lose sight of everything else that is important and how we got there. Owners are so focused on profit that they become entangled in two objectives: increasing revenue and cutting costs. In the most likely scenario, a combination of two methods is applied. […]

Dec 24, 2015
•
5 min read


LinkedIn Articles

Top 10 Restaurant Startup Errors

Are you thinking of opening a restaurant? Are you prepared to make crucial decisions? As a new restaurant owner, knowing which steps you can take to avoid a disaster is essential. Avoid These Mistakes Now! The most common restaurant mistakes that new owners make are usually the ones that play a vital role in the […]

Dec 15, 2015
•
7 min read


LinkedIn Articles

Restaurant Feng Shui

While developing a concept here in London to open in early 2016, my business partner insisted on a Feng Shui Master to come and evaluate the site we have found in Wardour Street, Soho, London. Although I have yet to consider Feng Shui in previous restaurant concepts I have developed, the thought of having some […]

Jul 21, 2015
•
5 min read


LinkedIn Articles

Getting Your SWOT Analyses Right

Most of us have probably taken part in a whole boatload of SWOT analyses. Indeed, in my time, companies and staff have shared numerous SWOT analyses with me. Unfortunately, they all seem rather basic, Marketing 101 stuff. Yet, even though SWOT analyses are fundamental, most companies still need to carry them out well or even […]

Apr 23, 2015
•
4 min read


LinkedIn Articles

How to deal with bad online reviews

The online component of owning a restaurant has been the most significant change in the industry over the past ten years. Websites encouraging guests to post reviews and feedback, like Yelp, Urban Spoon, and Open Table, have grown exponentially and are influential for many potential guests. This is the case anywhere, especially in cities dominated […]

Apr 20, 2015
•
4 min read

✉

Get hospitality insights direct to your inbox

Join our community of hospitality leaders and receive practical ideas, industry news and exclusive insights.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.

Popular Topics

Insights that drive hospitality forward

↗

Restaurant Growth

Strategies to boost profitability, optimise operations and scale successfully.

▦

Hotel Performance

Revenue management, distribution and guest experience insights that deliver results.

☷

Guest Experience

Practical ideas to create memorable experiences that drive loyalty and repeat visits.

◎

Brand & Expansion

Building strong brands and expanding into the right markets with confidence.

Ready to turn insight into action?

Our team helps hospitality leaders design smarter strategies, streamline operations and drive measurable results.

Let’s talk