The effective and practical way to improve the productivity and competitive advantage of a business is to ensure that the employees have the right skills to do their jobs effectively.

Hotels is a people industry as we all know, but most front line hotel staff, whether waiters or reservationists, also have the hotels reputation in their hands. The staff team is the vital product ingredient for any hotel.

Trained food and beverage staff will not only encourage repeat business, but can have the immediate effect of increasing sales by 25%.

An effectively trained hotel receptionist can also increase room sales by 20% or more, and hence the bottom line profits of the hotel.

If time is in short supply for off-job training then we can without doubt help you.

The cost of a days training or consultancy can be recouped in the first week alone in increased sales or cost savings.

The other edge of the sword is the management systems in place, which effectively dictates the efficiency of the business.

Having in place correct food and beverage control systems and management tools will guarantee food and beverage profits are achieved.

Accounts systems should be practical and meaningful - directors and owners should be able to take immediate and effective action - not when it's too late.

To summarise, any hotel, regardless of stars, with 20 or more bedrooms should be producing a trading profit of 25-35% of total sales net of of VAT (this is before directors/partners earnings and mortgage payments).