We talked to Stephanie Hickford and Ben Baldwin at Border Biscuits about the importance of a complimentary in-room snack offering and how Border Biscuits can help.
How important is it for hoteliers to stock biscuits as part of their in-room offering?
Spokesperson: Stephanie Hickford – Border Biscuits Brand Manager for OOH
We know that in these tight financial times guests are looking for an enhanced experience from the moment they step into their room, so it’s important that operators go above and beyond when it comes to providing in-room refreshments. Our recent survey revealed that biscuits are the number one preferred snack that guests wanted to find in a hotel room, and 62% of hotel guests would most like to see Border Biscuits in their room1. Therefore, offering a selection of Border Biscuits in-room will not only help hoteliers elevate a guest’s experience, it will also leave them with a long-lasting memory of their stay.
With 60% of all biscuits consumed alongside a tea or coffee2, it’s key to include a range of hot beverages and a comprehensive biscuit selection in each room. At Border Biscuits, we know how special biscuit moments can be, which is why we provide a treat that is more than just an everyday biscuit. Our variety of mouth-watering flavours including Butterscotch Crunch, Divinely Chocolatey Cookies, Light & Buttery Viennese Whirl, Golden Oat Crunch, and Light & Buttery Shortbread Rings, means our biscuits are universally liked – from children to grandparents. Our individually wrapped biscuits are available in boxes of 48 and 100, perfect for any hotel size.
How can Border Biscuits help hoteliers?
Spokesperson: Ben Baldwin – Foodservice Channel Manager for Border Biscuits
As the UK’s number one premium biscuit brand in the OOH channel3, we are a go-to brand in the hospitality sector. Not only that, we’ve been operating in the channel for 30 years, which gives us a complete understanding on what flavours and formats are most popular. We know that customers want a biscuit that tastes great, especially after a long journey, so it’s key it doesn’t disappoint which is where our biscuits can fit. Featured in 90 million occasions per year, with 40 million of these taking place in OOH4, Border Biscuits provides operators with a trusted and well-known brand with a selection of individually wrapped packs that produce a perfect taste of pure quality that’s ideal for hotel rooms.
Our biscuits are specifically chosen in response to the most popular flavours we know guests love, whilst also holding well under different temperatures. For rooms with fridges, we also have a range of fully coated biscuit bars in three flavours: Dark Chocolate Ginger Bar, Dark Chocolate Orange Bar, and Milk Chocolate Ginger Bar – offering choices for everyone’s liking.
As well as enhancing the in-room offering, Border can also help operators increase profits across the wider business. For example, if there is a bar area or coffee lounge on-site, individually wrapped Border Biscuits can be added to beverage menus creating a package, to appeal to guests who look for a sweet treat to enjoy with a tea or coffee, increasing spend per head.
Are there any wider trends that hoteliers should be aware of?
Spokesperson: Stephanie Hickford – Border Biscuits Brand Manager for OOH
Staycations
We expect travel in the UK to remain prevalent for many, as an alternative to holidaying abroad. With staycations still on the rise, it’s important that hotel operators make the most of the opportunity to create a memorable experience by providing a warm welcome – which is where offering a complimentary hot drinks and biscuit selection comes into play.
Current Climate
With budgets and finances tight, consumers are looking for quality where they can, so it’s important that hotels maintain the little touches to enhance a guest’s experience. What’s more, with the increasing demands and challenges in the hospitality industry, such as tight turnarounds and pressure on hotel staffing costs, it is even more important to ensure efficient room management. Prepacked biscuits are a quick and efficient addition to the room during the turnover time and are easy to store in a compact and organised manner.
Memorable moments
Demand for accessible premium products also remains, with many people choosing more carefully as they look for biscuits that are ‘worth the calories’ when they do indulge. So, it’s important to provide accessible premium products that create a memorable moment that matters.
What three tips would you give to hoteliers looking to enhance their in-room offering?
Spokesperson: Ben Baldwin – Foodservice Channel Manager for Border Biscuits
- It’s important to provide a great first impression for guest upon arrival by offering a premium tea and biscuit selection in-room. You can elevate your guests’ experience by providing a quality selection of teas, coffees, and biscuits that create a lasting memory.
- Customers are always looking for trusted brands that they know won’t disappoint. For operators, this means stocking a range of well-known products that will deliver on taste, as we know that 62% of hotel guests would rather see Border in their hotel room than other brands5.
- Stocking a variety of popular biscuit flavours will help hoteliers cater to all taste preferences and minimise waste. At Border, our box contains the most popular biscuit flavours that span generations, meaning operators can relax knowing they have a biscuit for everyone.
For more details please visit border.co.uk/foodservice/
- Vypr Survey 9th August 2022
- Market Measures – Border Consumer research 2021 – Q20 % SHARE – Thinking about the last 20 occasions you ate a sweet biscuit, roughly what proportion of those fell into each
- Brakes SalesOut 52we 02.05.22; BidView 52we 02.05.22
- Border Biscuits analysis of sales vs frequency and Kantar June 2020 data
- Vypr Survey 9th August