Blogs
HGEM’s Business Development Manager Matthew Smith attended The MCA Managed Pub Conference at the Honourable Artillery Company London on 20th June. The event featured a range of great speakers from across the industry sharing their knowledge and insight. Matthew offered his top takeaways from the event:
Craft beer is big business – With drinking habits changing and increasing numbers shunning alcohol altogether, is it time to rethink the idea that beer is the backbone of a pub? Many guests are looking for an increased soft drink offering, while the popularity of craft over traditional beers shows no sign of slowing. A keynote from Ken Stout of craft beer company Goose Island looked at its success in the US and whether UK drinks trends are following suit.
Embracing tech – We’ve seen tech advances affect every aspect of our lives – including guest experience. Clive Watson of the City Pub Co. discussed the City Club App, which helps collect guest feedback using elements of social listening and sentiment analysis, while creating a link between their 50 pubs to encourage guest loyalty.
Catering for Generation Z – Author Chloe Combi spoke on the importance of acknowledging Generation Z’s changing habits – with fewer drinking alcohol or feeling that pubs are too rowdy, venues should be conscious of creating spaces that will appeal to this audience.
Experience is everything – Brandon Stephens, Founder of Tortilla Mexican Grill, discussed the app REVL which aims to provide a curated ‘what’s on’ guide based on preferences and location, creating a personalised experience for the user. ‘Experience’ was a key topic of discussion throughout the day, with the rising popularity of escape room games, street food events and immersive dining experiences reflecting a new interest in venues providing something extra for guests.
