S-1, Ep - 2 | How Restaurants Can Reset To Thrive In The Next Normal | Featured Guest - Koen Theunis

11/13/20 • 28 min

The Food & Beverage industry in the UAE particularly restaurants are undergoing a massive reset. From unsustainable restaurant to customer ratios and a short supply of talent affecting the service experience; lack of understanding and aligning a brand's DNA to operator or owner's goals; lease negotiations and high rents, to diversifying revenue streams and the case for online food aggregators. What changes should restauranteurs and owners or operators make to thrive in the next normal?
In Episode 2 of ARKcast, host Aseem Kapoor catches up with KoenTheunis - Founder & Partner of RBnH Solutions; a Food & Beverage consultant and industry professional for 18 years in Dubai with popular casual dining brands under his belt including - Yamanote Atelier, Atisuto, Wise Kwai, Ostro and The Fish House. Tune-in as we discuss how the restaurant service industry can impede these challenges; and what key steps must be taken by the industry to build a deeper community connection to address the changing future of the restaurant industry, enabling us to come out of this stronger and better - together!

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S-1, Ep-1 | Surviving The Corporate Crash | Featured Guest - Laura Garton

COVID-19 has caused a shake-up so sudden, that it defies comparison. But amidst the chaos, there's always a silver lining. #Upwork's recent 'Freelance Forward: 2020 Report' highlights some interesting findings on how a significant number of Americans continued to #Freelance amid the pandemic and contributed $ 1.2 trillion to the economy. The increase was partly fueled by an influx of young, highly-skilled professionals transitioning from full-time jobs to full-time hustling or freelancing and seeking alternatives to traditional employment. On this maiden episode of ARKcast, we chat with Laura Garton - an independent Learning & Development professional whos' journey from a full-time corporate role to an independent freelance consultant, has been nothing short of inspiring!

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S-1, Ep-3 | Guest Experience As A Competitive Advantage | Featured Guest - Paul Bridger, Rove Hotels

At one time, organizations could compete heavily based on product differentiation. A better, more luxurious, efficient and sleeker product could create its own niche and build its identity; that may well still be true for some industries. In reality though, for most, it's a crowded marketplace today. For one product, you have multiple options available in the market with marginal differences only. This leads to confusion and decision paralysis for a customer.
Many hospitality and service brands also compete on the basis of price, product, location, etc; with the recent battlefront being "delivering a great Customer or Guest Experience". But whilst many brands claim or leaders believe in this, it seems to seldom translate.
As #RoveHotels now gear up to open their 7th hotel in Dubai, ARK's Chief ARK-itect Aseem Kapoor catches up with Paul Bridger - Head of Operations for Rove Hotels. Paul came on board in the early stages of the brand development and plays a key role in how the brand is positioned today, within its own white space in the mid-market segment.
Right from the start, it was clear - what would help a brand like Rove to leave a mark, would be the experience they deliver. Again, typically whilst having a great product is crucial, mapping a great experience takes a lot more than just looking at all your touchpoints and seeing the world as your customers would. The glue that holds it together is your People - something that's often overlooked. But for Rove, or "Rovesters" as they proudly call themselves, is that secret ingredient that would bind the whole experience together.
Tune in to our latest episode as Paul Bridger chats with host Aseem Kapoor about how his team of Rovesters 'Go Beyond Borders', which sets the brand apart and hold its own ground, in a market place that has a plethora of options for travellers to choose from.
#CustomerExperience #Dubai #Travel #hospitality