Serve the Best Hotel Breakfast
Tips for Great Breakfast Buffets
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It's a fact that travelers show a preference for lodging that provides a breakfast in the morning. This is no reason to simply set out boxes of cold cereal and carafes of milk. Offer a great hotel breakfast to your guests; they will thank you for it with good reviews and customer loyalty.
Breakfast buffets are easiest for travelers and employees. A good buffet offers a variety of fresh foods. Start the line with plates and bowls, of course. It is fine to offer cold cereals and instant oatmeal; consider including packets of instant miso soup as well.
Some people expect and even look forward to breakfast pastries. Don’t cut corners by offering pre-packaged or stale pastries. Whether you bake them yourself or purchase pastries from a supplier, make certain they are fresh.
Offer other breads, such as whole grain toasts and bagels. A toaster is a good investment for a hotel that provides a breakfast buffet. There are industrial toasters that roll the bread over the heat; because the toast is moving the next person does not have to wait in line to start their toast.
Scrambled eggs, hash browns, and bacon or sausage are staples of breakfast. Some mornings you may offer pancakes or French toast instead of potatoes. A bowl of fresh fruit and yogurt are musts for any breakfast buffet. To make your hotel breakfast the best in town, consider offering granola, homemade oatmeal, and pico de gallo next to the eggs. Of course, juices, coffees and teas should go without saying.
A buffet must encourage people to move smoothly through the line. The best way to do this is to allow guests to help themselves to everything they may need, including napkins and utensils. Have the napkins and utensils at the end of the line so that guests do not need to hold on to them while they are serving themselves food. Do put out a tip jar, as well, for the cooks, bussers, and any other helpers in your employ.
Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Hotel Breakfasts
Do not set tables ahead of time. Allow guests to gather what they need while they are serving themselves breakfast. Bussers may clear and wipe tables between guests. Do not expect guests to eat old food before you replenish. This is the worst cost-cutting measure that will cost you some happy customers. It is less expensive to throw away (or compost) stale food than it is to lose overnight guests.Do not set up breakfast as a restaurant. This takes up too much time, and guests staying during the week may need to get to meetings or other time-sensitive obligations quickly. Allow guests to stay at breakfast for as little or as much time as they like.
Do train your employees to be receptive to guests’ questions and needs. Lazy, uncaring employees will cost you business.
The quality of the hotel breakfast is a deciding factor for many hotel guests when they plan their next trip. Offer a clean room, polite employees, and the best breakfast in town to ensure your own success.
Written by: Beth Taylor
