Viewpoint: keep your business close to home

Logistics, carbon reduction or suppliers – there are no downsides to living it local, says Paul Brown, managing director at Hillbrooke Hotels

 

Supporting local suppliers can present an array of opportunities for hoteliers to not only enhance their sense of place within the community but also to contribute to the local economy, while reducing carbon emissions within the supply chain. Local products are flexible, diverse and above all, represent the area you operate in, which can be very appealing to your guests.

 

Keeping it flexible

 

Liaising with a business on your doorstep is often far easier and more efficient than dealing with larger national suppliers – with a level of flexibility that hoteliers can really use to their advantage. Not only is the transportation of goods simplified, but reactive deliveries can be organised a lot quicker if there is an unexpected rise in demand for a certain product.

 

Forging lasting relationships is the cornerstone of hospitality and this is often much easier to achieve with local suppliers. The ability to meet face-to-face can really help humanise the relationship, as opposed to consistently going through to voicemail trying to get through to larger national distributors. With local suppliers, relationships can be nurtured into one of mutual benefit, with them being inclined to offer you the best price and latest products in return for your loyalty and custom.

 

Improve your brand image

 

Hotels that are adorned with local touches are becoming increasingly marketable and sought after by prospective guests. It can really help echo the locality of the area and in some cases, this alone can act as a unique selling point (USP). If a guest is staying with you because you are located within a picturesque location, you have the opportunity to capitalise on this by providing products that represent the culture of that given area.

 

With sustainability becoming an increasingly pertinent term in all of our lives, using locally sourced ingredients and products is becoming widely regarded as a carbon-conscious decision. When a guest is scanning a dinner menu, they will often choose locally sourced dishes, as decision that is becoming increasingly driven by environmental motives. Guests now increasingly understand the link between shortened supply chains and the carbon footprint of their meals, and will be captivated by words with local connotations.

 

Reduce your carbon footprint

 

As previously mentioned, there is a direct correlation between shortened supply chains and reduced carbon emissions. Fundamentally, the less distance your produce has to travel, the less carbon enters the atmosphere through transportation vehicles. With sustainability entering the agenda of more and more hotels – and the increased sense of urgency for climate action across the world – now is the time to consider the climatic impact of your supply chain. Hoteliers can also cut carbon emissions by reducing the amount of produce they have in storage. With local suppliers being more accessible, you can reduce the size of your deliveries and subsequently the energy needed to keep it cold.

 

Once again, this can act as a USP for your business as guests are increasingly seeking a ‘green hospitality’ experience. Marketing yourself as a sustainable business will enhance your image and provide a level of transparency that is becoming sought after.

 

Sourcing locally is cost-effective

 

Many hotels are being forced to tighten the belt following the pandemic and you may be surprised at just how significant the price of logistics can be. Paying to transport your goods across the country comes at a premium and localising your network can be a great step towards limiting this cost.

 

You may also begin to form a reputation among the community and having a condensed network can help make your hotel attractive to local suppliers. This will not only provide you with the flexibility to choose which products suit your business, it will also ensure you pay a fair price. More often than not, guests are willing to pay a premium for locally branded goods which can further help increase revenue margins in exchange for an authentic experience.

 

Whatever your motivations for supporting local suppliers, there are many benefits. It can help build your brand, increase revenue, and above all help support the community you operate within. At Hillbrooke we pride ourselves on supporting local businesses and this is something we intend to continue to do. The climate crisis is here to stay and this represents a simple step in the right direction that will also benefit you as a business.