Lodging operator? Try these ideas for warmly welcoming more Asian guests

Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI) is in full swing!

Inspired by this annual happening, we’re sharing ideas on how hospitality operators can leverage their hotel supplies and services to include décor and food tied to Asian culture, as well as leverage Asian-related celebrations to appeal to Asian guests and consumers.

Many resorts and hospitality operations successfully incorporate Asian elements within their hotel purchasing, including :

• Hotel décor and design:
  • Breathe elements of feng-shui into guest rooms and lobbies to create harmony between guests and their environment.
  • Heighten sensitivity: for example, certain colors, numbers, animals and objects can be associated with good or bad luck.
  • Consider tones of red, which are synonymous with happiness and good luck. For Lunar New Year, for example, paint an accent wall or two in a bold red and consider serving a special selection of festive-themed snacks and fruits.

How Entegra helps: Our vetted FF&E suppliers can brainstorm design ideas and help you implement them within your property. Respected paint companies like Entegra supplier Sherwin-Williams can be counted on to find paint colors that synch with any event (and are easy enough to revert back to hotel brand colors).

• Food: Hospitality operators ensure that easy comfort food is always readily available for Asian guests. Consider adding:
  • Classic Asian comfort foods to your menu — think ramen noodle soup with fresh veggies, shoyu eggs, tofu and steamed or fried dumplings.
  • Yogurt drinks are popular for breakfast in the Asian community according to Technomic’s Menu Insight report.
  • Get creative with chicken breast – consider Hainanese Chicken Rice, Singapore’s national dish, served as a shared dish or tasty side.

How Entegra helps: Entegra’s experienced culinary consulting team can help you add classic Asian dishes to your menus and help you plan them seasonally. Specialty food purveyors like Wismettac Asian Foods can effortlessly provide Asian ingredients, specialty produce and even non-food items like chopsticks. 

• Service: Just like any guest, Asian travelers expect warm, interpersonal service that surpasses expectations. Consider adding bilingual front-desk staff and restaurant servers to provide guests a sense of familiarity.

How Entegra helps: Entegra’s vetted staffing solutions provide an easier way for you to staff up, and can add “bilingual preferred” as a hiring feature in their recruitment efforts on your behalf. 

• Asian-themed celebrations: A few of the most popular Asian celebrations and festivals are not only a sign of respect for Asian guests — and fun for every guest — but get media attention as well. A sampling includes:
  • Lunar New Year (Jan/Feb)
  • Holi Festival of Colors (March)
  • Songkran Festival (Thai New Year)
  • Mid-Autumn Festival (mid-September-early October)
  • Diwali (October)

How Entegra helps: Our culinary experts love partnering with Entegra clients to create attention-grabbing celebratory recipes and menus.

In addition to meals, consider cocktail-hour bar snacks, Grab ‘n Go ready lunch and breakfast treats, Asian beverages (Vietnamese Iced Coffee, anyone?) and other fun and fabulous F&B opportunities to attract — and delight — Asian guests.

Call 833-977-1765 or contact us to get more information about how Entegra can diversify and grow your business while saving you money!