UMS Consultancy’s Post

I was shown the house of Arthur Guinness which is now a tourist attraction. I have been reflecting on what makes such businesses live on and even grow stronger long after the founder is either aged or even deceased. I am planning a visit to the house and shall share update with you in due time. I also have a visit planned to Jameson Distillery. It was mid last year when I had to be away from the office for prolonged periods and my team had to move to a new office in my absence, I appreciated the level of independence I had given to the firm. They coordinated the move entirely on their own including ensuring that everything in my own office was handled with utmost care with nothing missing or damaged. Sometimes we bury ourselves too deep into our business that it never stands a chance of running without us, but there is a different dimension to control that comes with letting certain things go. Think of a chef who runs a restaurant and always want to oversee what happens in the kitchen, how will that person cope with having ten branches of the same restaurant? You must have to change your approach to maintaining standards and retaining control. That approach is to systemize and not to personalize your business model and processes. Putting sustainable structures in place for your business takes time and it's best you start now. As you grow older each year, your physical energy will keep dropping and you won't be able to hold things together for that business. Learn from the experience of others, don't wait for it to happen to you. You shouldn't work forever for your business, the business should begin to work for you at some point. Got questions? Leave a comment or DM. #DoBusinessBetter Your Co-Traveler, Mister Maple

Your business isn't growing because you keep pocketing the profits. Last week, I had lunch at a five-star hotel nearby. The parking lot was nearly empty, yet seven staff members stood at the front door, ready to open it, even though I might have been one of only 20 guests that day. Inside, the restaurant was almost empty, but five servers were ready to wait on our table. 💡 This hotel maintains its high level of service and forward-thinking attitude, no matter what the environment. They’re always reinvesting—hiring staff, upgrading facilities, and keeping their standards high, even on slow days or off-seasons. Let's face it: They don't HAVE to. They can say, you know what, one valet guy is enough. One waiter is enough. Now, compare that to businesses where the CEO or founder pockets the profits instead of pushing for growth. We can call these Lifestyle Businesses, as they maintain the lifestyle of the founder and leaders, but are not working towards becoming a real enterprise. The difference is clear. Companies that consistently reinvest in their people, technology, training, marketing, and client experience—regardless of the #economy—are the ones that don’t just survive or pay a lifestyle bill, but thrive into an enterprise. If your business is plateauing, ask yourself: How much are you reinvesting in growth versus what’s going into your pocket?

Are you a bar, café, restaurant, or nightclub owner? 🥂☕🍴 Running a hospitality business can be tough. That’s where UMS Drinks Consultancy comes in. We’re here to make your life easier with: ✅ Cheaper drinks – thanks to our relationships with suppliers. ✅ Free funding assistance – let us help you access the support you deserve. ✅ Expert legal advice – from licensing to compliance, we’ve got it covered. ✅ Staffing solutions – find and keep the right team. ✅ Marketing support – from social media to websites, we help you attract more customers. ✅ Tailored advice – every business is unique, and so is our approach. With over 20 years of experience, we know how to solve the challenges small hospitality businesses face. Let us help you thrive! 🚀 📩 Message us to learn more

#Hospitality hinges on building and maintaining personal #relationships among various #stakeholders. A crucial bond that #hotelmanagementcompanies must honor from the outset is the one with #hotelowners. From #myexperience, it's vital for a management company to #cultivate a robust, #mutuallybeneficial relationship with the owners. #Leadinghotelmanagementcompanies have identified three key practices for fostering successful business relationships between owners and management companies. First and foremost, #transparency is the bedrock of trust and success. Open, honest, and transparent communication is essential from the initial meeting through to the annual planning conference. Second, #understanding the owner’s #investmentstrategy is crucial, as it often extends beyond the #managementcontract's standard terms. Recognizing these strategies enables more targeted management and achievement of #KPIs. Based on my interactions with various owners, there are three common investment strategies: "The #PassionateHospitalityHobbyist": For these owners, the hotel is a status symbol rather than their primary income source. They prioritize finishes, reviews, and PR over the bottom line. "The #InstitutionalInvestor": Their focus is on profitability above all, with reputation also playing a significant role. "The #FamilyLegacy": These owners see the property as a heritage to be passed down through generations, valuing both profitability as a prime income source and as part of the family’s legacy. Lastly, it’s important to understand the owner's #motivations, which often encompass longer time frames and broader aspirations than those of a corporate entity. While not all owners are driven by money, they all appreciate making a #profit. Taking the time to understand their motivations, pain points, and concerns is key. By focusing on transparency, understanding investment strategies, and grasping owners' motivations, a management company can build a successful business relationship with hotel owners. While #success is not #guaranteed, these practices can lead to stronger relationships and increased #profitability.

𝐓𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲: There are two hotels on my street sharing a fence. I’m going to call them Hotel A and Hotel B. They are similar in size and nightlife offerings: drinks, grilled fish, and more. But there’s nothing similar about both hotels at night when it’s peak time for their businesses. Cars are parked on both sides of the road, and a designated parking area is filled with cars owned by people trying to get into Hotel A. Hotel B, on the other hand, usually appears uneventful during peak times. Just the same two to four guys sitting in front of the bar, probably bored employees. These hotels are similar and side by side, but there’s nothing similar about how they do business. Hotel A is active. Every evening, they have an MC or hype man in the bar making those “dorime” chants that their target market finds attractive. They also have a robust security team. They have a good number of people making grilled fish and other vendors inside the bar, creating healthy competition. They have a lineup of performances every evening. These things cost money. Technically, THEY SPEND MONEY every night to keep that business running. Hotel B does none of that and SPENDS LESS. But guess who makes more and gets more customers? Yeah, the one that SPENDS MORE. If you run a business, you really can’t scale and create something meaningful as a penny pincher. You’ll always remain in one spot, a comfort zone. To GROW, you have to INVEST in marketing, hiring the best people, and gaining knowledge. These things are not always cheap, and if you can’t let the money go, then you don’t deserve the growth you desire, you’ll stay stuck! Abundance is not for penny pinchers!

Recent news reports have painted a grim picture for hospitality businesses for the coming year. Most concerningly last week Credit Watch predicted 1 in 11 hospitality businesses could fail within the next year. The trifecta of a pandemic hangover, increased overheads (staff, utilities and rent) and decreased discretionary spending by consumers is taking its toll. I would be interested to hear your thoughts and experiences of what steps can be taken to protect your hospitality business.

Understanding the Break-Even Point: A Key to Business Success in Hospitality As hospitality professionals, grasping the concept of the Break-Even Point (BEP) is essential for driving profitability and ensuring sustainable growth. What is the Break-Even Point (BEP)? The Break-Even Point is the pivotal moment when your total revenue equals your total costs. At this point, your business is not making a profit or incurring a loss—it's simply covering its expenses. Key Components of Break-Even Analysis: • Fixed Costs: These are expenses that remain constant regardless of your business activity (e.g., rent, salaries, insurance). • Variable Costs: These expenses fluctuate in relation to your operation levels (e.g., food and beverage supplies, utilities, housekeeping supplies). • Contribution Margin: This represents the amount each unit (like a room or meal) contributes toward covering fixed costs after accounting for variable costs. • Break-Even Point: This can be expressed in terms of units sold (e.g., the number of rooms sold) or sales revenue. Formula for Break-Even Point (Units): BEP (Units) = Total Fixed Costs / Contribution Margin per Unit Example: If your fixed costs total $20,000 and each room contributes $40 toward covering those costs, you will need to sell "500 rooms" to break even. Why is the Break-Even Point Important in Hospitality? • Pricing Strategy: Understanding your BEP helps in setting room rates and menu prices that ensure profitability while remaining competitive. • Sales Forecasting: It aids in predicting the volume of bookings or sales needed to achieve specific profit targets, essential for budgeting and planning. • Cost Management: Identifying fixed and variable costs allows you to pinpoint areas where expenses can be reduced without compromising service quality. • Risk Assessment: Evaluating how changes in costs (like rising food prices) or sales (like a drop in occupancy rates) impact your BEP helps in making informed strategic decisions. Visual Representation A visual breakdown of these concepts can enhance understanding and facilitate discussions with your team or stakeholders. By mastering the Break-Even Point, you empower your hospitality business to make strategic decisions that drive profitability and foster sustainable growth. #BreakEvenPoint #HospitalityManagement #FinancialPlanning #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy

Success in the hospitality industry is all about relationships. It’s not just about numbers, transactions, or bookings. It’s about people. Hospitality, at its core, is a relationship business. The connections you build with your guests, your team, and the wider community are what truly define the success of your venue. Let’s start with guests. When someone walks through your doors, they aren’t just looking for a product or service. They are seeking an experience, and what makes that experience exceptional is the human connection. A smile, a friendly greeting, remembering their name, anticipating their needs—all these small actions build trust over time. Guests want to feel valued, and when they do, they will not only return but also advocate for you. Then there’s your team. A strong team doesn’t just happen overnight. It requires a culture where integrity and authenticity are the foundation of leadership. Leading with these values ensures that your team feels supported, trusted, and motivated to give their best every day. When employees feel connected to their leaders and to each other, they naturally create better experiences for your guests. Lastly, the relationship with your community. A Club doesn’t exist in a vacuum. You’re a part of a broader community, and the relationships you build with that community—through sponsorships, partnerships, and engagement—enhance your reputation and strengthen your brand. People support businesses they feel connected to, and that sense of connection comes from consistently demonstrating integrity and care, both inside and outside your venue. At the end of the day, the most valuable currency in the hospitality industry isn’t money. It’s trust. And trust is earned through relationships—by leading with integrity, being authentic, and staying true to your word. What relationships have shaped your career in hospitality? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

Why you should care about hospitality in any business 👇🏽 (Especially if you're in a service industry) For most of America's history, we were a manufacturing economy. Now we're a service economy, with over three-quarters of our GDP driven by service industries. Globally, it's more than two-thirds. Statistically speaking, if you're reading this, you and I are in the same business: serving others. Here's the key: You might sell different products, but we're all in the business of serving people. And if you approach your work through the lens of hospitality, you'll be more successful. Here's what I’ve learned: Service vs. Hospitality Service is what you do. In my world, it's getting the right plate of food to the right person at the right time. Hospitality is how you make people feel when you do it. Why "Unreasonable Hospitality"? The most successful people are relentless in bringing the best version of themselves or their product to life. They are unreasonable in their pursuit. Unreasonable hospitality means being as relentless in making people feel valued as you are in perfecting your product. The only true competitive advantage Someone will always come along with a better product or a stronger brand. The only lasting competitive advantage comes from investing consistently and generously in relationships. Because well-built relationships create loyalty that takes a long time to erode. How to practice Unreasonable Hospitality Be present: Care so much about the person you're with that you stop caring about everything else. Take what you do seriously, but take yourself less seriously: Don’t let self-imposed standards prevent you from doing what makes your stakeholders happy. Treat people as unique individuals: The best form of hospitality is bespoke, creating stories that people will share over and over. Takeaway Invest in relationships through hospitality. It’s not about what you serve, but how you make people feel. Repost this ♻️ for your network. Thank you! P.S. What’s one thing you can do today to practice unreasonable hospitality?

Did you know that The Corinthian can host your next business meeting? Whether it's an all day workshop or retreat or a couple of hours, we can help you plan breakfast, snacks, lunch and even dinner! Whether at our location or your place, we will provide superior service. #businessmeeting #venue #businessvenue