You Can Shape the Future of the Hospitality Industry
By David Berman | November 10, 2023
I love working with all my clients. Every single one of them is extremely passionate about what they do. I can hear it in their tonality. The body language they use is exciting. It gets me fired up every time I have the pleasure of hopping on a video call with them. I think I understand why they are so passionate about what they do. They speak the truth. They are solving specific problems. They are having success with it.
You may be one of these people as well, but if you aren’t and are struggling to find what problem to solve for a specific demographic, you are in the right spot. The hospitality industry is full of opportunities to create exciting trends and meet the needs of thousands and even millions of people. I’m here to tell you how.
Start With Your Ikigai
Standing out in your industry isn’t about randomly selecting any underserved market. It’s about finding the intersection between your innate talents and interests and fulfilling an unmet audience need. The Japanese concept of Ikigai perfectly embodies this overlap: Your reason for being, found where your gifts and passions meet a market need. Build your niche on your existing strengths and you’re destined to excel.
Name and Claim Your Niche
This may not relate to you as you probably already have a name for your company. We will briefly cover as it’s an important step in dominating your industry. Have a sticky name that clearly defines the category you’re championing and associates your brand with your niche.
Examples:
- Shopify – Ecommerce Infrastructure
- Hotjar – Heatmapping and user feedback software
- Calendly – Appointment scheduling software
Once you have the name, claim it across all platforms: your website, social handles, etc.
Become the Go-To Resource
Create invaluable resources like case studies, testimonials, and courses that empower your niche audience. Distill your hard-won knowledge into frameworks and strategies. Share stories and insights from your experience. Your market will resonate with the true you and the values of your hospitality company.
Spread Your Influence
I would say this is one of the most important steps in dominating your industry. Expanding your reach and visibility is essential. Hop on podcasts, host live events, and speak at conferences. The hospitality industry is the perfect place to do these things. Strategically leverage partnerships and collaborations to expose your brand to new audiences. The more people you get talking about you, the more your brand becomes the “automatic” leader.
Stay Nimble and Agile
The hospitality industry evolves, new technologies emerge, and consumer behaviors shift. It’s imperative you stay ahead of trends and changes relevant to your niche. Experiment with new platforms and community-building strategies. Release product and service updates that match audience needs. Listen to your customers and community. They will tell you what they want, either directly or indirectly. Be the one to shape the industry’s future.
I hope you found this insightful. I can’t wait to see you lead the way in the hospitality industry in your own, creative way! As always, email me at danielzolinski@smarterthought.com for more tips and questions!
