Elegance is “IN”
World-class chef and restaurateur
Charlie Trotter once said: “All
four elements were happening in
equal measure – the cuisine, the
wine, the service, and the overall
ambience. It taught me that dining
could happen at a spiritual level.
Both the service and the physical environment
together affect the overall ambience.
After all, if a guest consistently experiences
bad service, he may become irritated and this
would affect the mood at his table and possibly
at surrounding tables too. So too, will an uncomfortable or unsuitable physical environment.
Pretty as a picture
When you are decorating or redecorating an accommodation establishment there are so
many essential expenses that art for the walls is
often a matter of scratching around and using anything available.
This is not a professional solution and
can really let your establishment
down. In fact, the calibre of art on the
walls is one of the factors that strongly
indicates the quality of your establishment.
Lighten up!
Creative and
practical lighting, if
used effectively,
can transform any
room from a dull
and plain affair to
one that has style,
grace and plenty
of character.
Effective lighting creates
atmos phere and can enhance the mood you are
trying to achieve in a room. It
will go a long way towards
setting the scene, whether it
be romantic, calm, practical
or lively. That said, using
lighting in a haphazard and
thoughtless manner can
have the opposite effect – in
fact it can wreak havoc with
a guest’s senses!
1 Minute and 47 seconds to more bookings
If internet statistics
are anything to go
by, that is the
average time a
prospective client
will spend looking
at your site or
hospitality
website listing.
You have 1 minute and 47
seconds on the internet to
make an impression and get
the booking! If internet statistics
are anything to go by,
that is the average time a
prospective client will spend
looking at your site or hospitality
website listing. If nothing
grips them, they click out and
are gone forever, leaving you
twiddling your thumbs on the
porch of your dream guest
house investment!
The internet has made the
hospitality industry accessible
to tourists all over the world but has also
made the industry that much more competitive.
Expert advice in Hospitality Decor
“A hotel room has
to be nicer than
home. You have
to create an
environment
where people
want to be, one
they are driven
back to time and
time again.”
These are the sentiments
echoed by David Jossel,
retailer and decorator extraordinaire.
Known for the legacy he
created and left behind at
Loads of Living, Jossel who
sold his share in the upmarket
chain of retail stores in
2006, has moved on to take
up a new challenge. Lula
Concepts, his new brainchild,
specialises in the hospitality
industry and offers a
complete turnkey solution
from design to installation..
Dare to Decorate
“An exquisite space –
tasteful and tranquil”
“Modern and stylish, yet
warm and welcoming”
“If my home were
this beautiful I’d never
leave it!”
These comments were
taken from the guest
books of 3 establishments
in South Africa.
These properties have
only three things in common
– they offer accommodation
to paying
guests, they didn’t use
professional decorators
and their establishments
are breathtaking!
Eco-smart lighting
One thing the South African power crisis that disrupted our lives at the beginningof this year taught us was that nothing should be taken for granted – particularly the “basic” things like electricity.
Although the crisis now seems somewhat abated, it really did have an impact on how we view resources, and how saving electricity boils down to not only saving money, but on a more moral note, about saving the environment.
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