Social media have permanently changed hospitality industry

The rise of platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Google Reviews makes a strong online presence essential for hospitality businesses. Whether it's a plate, bed, cutlery, the layout of the food, the interior, a wall or even the toilet; by playing with visual effects, you entice guests to spread the word about your hospitality concept. Horecava keeps hospitality entrepreneurs up to date online.

When the TV entered Dutch living rooms, something striking took place. The living room was decorated based on where the TV was. In a similar way, the rise of social media changed the layout of many hospitality businesses. 

Social media make it possible to quickly gain national or international exposure without a large marketing budget. Guests play the leading role in this. It works simply: by enticing your current guests to share their experiences on Facebook, Instagram and Google Reviews, you attract future visitors to your establishment. This helping hand from guests is very welcome in times of staff shortages and lower margins in the hospitality industry.

Horecava helps entrepreneurs develop 'Instagrammable' concepts. This branding can be reflected in things like a visually unusual wall, a beautiful layout of a plate or the colour scheme of the interior. Through social media, guests check the experience of other guests, thanks to photos, videos and comments. 

Distinguishing yourself and sensing the spirit of the times ensure that you stay relevant online in a rapidly changing market. Horecava therefore provides tips on how to use socials in newsletters and on the website. In addition, the fair features exhibitors who supply products that have offline and online appeal. You will find suppliers of Instagrammable interiors, design, wall plants, lighting, terrace furnishings, cutlery, plates and visually attractive ingredients, garnishes and drinks. 

The fair also features exhibitors who can advise entrepreneurs on social media. For example, they give advice on decorating your business and creating Instagrammable drinks and dishes. As at the last edition, there is a TrendLAB, where trends are made tangible and accessible. In the AI-LAB, you will learn how artificial intelligence can help with writing social posts and newsletters. 

The Restaurant Monitor 2020 showed that 83% of guests read reviews before making a reservation at a restaurant. Platforms like Google Reviews (as seen on Google Maps) are also causing guests to increasingly share their experiences online. It keeps entrepreneurs on their toes: they need to constantly deliver high quality, even beyond the visual aspects. One day of sitting back can cause your restaurant business to fall out of favour. 

This is another area where Horecava offers a helping hand. At the fair, suppliers of ordering systems will be on hand that allow visitors to make reservations online and invite them to leave a review afterwards. The review can later be used on socials.

Maintaining online popularity is uncertain. Like any love relationship, it requires you to work hard to keep the quality good-and the relationship exciting. Don't consider your popularity a given, but constantly change, keep surprising and follow trends. It is disastrous to trust that the online popularity you have today will always remain.

In the past, The Avocado Show, a restaurant entirely revolving around avocados, became a huge success. The founders came up with the idea, by seeing which hashtag was widely used on social media, where #avocado scored particularly high. The Avocado Show started off like a rocket, but has since gone out of business. 

The expensive big treacle waffle, a former Tiktok hype, also failed to live up to expectations. There was too much dissatisfaction because the quality did not outweigh the price. To make such an operation a long-lasting success, Horecava features the best suppliers from the bakery segment, who will help you buy or make the product you have in mind, so that you score online and there are thick queues in front of your business offline. 

Horecava has been the meeting place for professionals in the world of food, drinks and outdoor sleeping since 1957. The largest trade fair for the food service and hospitality industry in the Netherlands attracts tens of thousands of visitors each edition. They are looking for inspiration, want to network and have real heart for their profession. Horecava is the start of the new hospitality year. The fair features exhibitors divided into the following categories: food & wine, fast casual, cold drinks, coffee, tea & cocoa, bakery & patisserie, interior & design, mass catering and tech & services. There is a special focus on personnel challenges, innovation and sustainability, and visitors will discover the latest industry trends, developments and tastes at Horecava.