add_action('wp_head', function(){echo '';}, 1);{"id":2233,"date":"2015-03-27T00:36:56","date_gmt":"2015-03-26T21:36:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sevengenerations.co.ke\/?p=2233"},"modified":"2015-04-23T00:04:43","modified_gmt":"2015-04-22T21:04:43","slug":"hotel-restaurant-industry-news-kenya-why-do-hotels-restaurants-fail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sevengenerations.co.ke\/7gs-news\/hotel-restaurant-industry-news-kenya-why-do-hotels-restaurants-fail.html","title":{"rendered":"Hotel & Restaurant News Kenya: Why Do Hotels & Restaurants Fail?"},"content":{"rendered":"
As Hotel Consultants in Kenya, we are passionate about meaningful, successful and sustainable hospitality, through our daily life, we come across hotels, restaurants and other such hospitality establishments, that close prematurely, on the fast lane to failure, or simply open but not just making it, and it certainly pains us to see the potential available and opportunity lost. Which leads us to why do hotels fail?<\/p>\n
Some Hotels & Restaurant establishment\u00a0still open for business have actually retired, and some of these are known to you, think about it! when the hotel \/restaurant doors opened, everyone seemed to notice it, and most likely you\u00a0visited and experienced some services, or products and or you heard about it, but what happened, it no longer has the enticing feel in fact, now that you think of some of these former seemingly well to do establishments, it surprises you that you don\u2019t even remember the last time someone mentioned to meet up there or spend the night. Your kids used to nag you to take them to that popular hotel or restaurant, today you all forgot about it, you can\u2019t even go back there to refresh old sweet memories, This reminds you of some of those that opened and shut down, bought out or leased out, only memories remain.\u00a0 But why?<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 Is it because the founding owner is absent? or operates behind the scene and unaware of the real issues? Did the competition swallow it? Did they stop marketing? Or did their standards just drop or did they have any standards to operate by? Was it because of a fire? Maybe it\u2019s the economy? Or they couldn\u2019t keep up with changing times? Someone said the staff drained it to the ground? The questions and theories are just many, the facts are real and surprisingly most of these hotels and restaurant failures were avoidable.<\/p>\n The Hotel Industry in Kenya and as well in East Africa has been said to be highly profitable, to some however, it has been short lived or a dream waiting to come true, yet some under the same economic conditions have thrived through the years and still common household names.<\/p>\n It\u2019s astounding that a hotel is not making profits? The average cost to turn over a room, to keep it operational per day, is between 400\/- and 2,000 Kes depending on Category and size. Let\u2019s talk of the budget hotel scenario, If you\u2019re paying 3,000 Kes a night, the approximate cost to turnover that room runs close to 400 Kes. That 400 Kes turnover cost includes cleaning supplies, electricity, and hourly wages for housekeepers, minibar attendants, front desk agents, and all other employees needed to operate a room as well as the cost of laundering the sheets.. Now compare that with an average room rate, and you can see why it\u2019s a profitable business.\u00a0 The same applies to restaurants if you take the allowed % cost standards to revenue not making profits is unreal, so why do many fail anyway.<\/p>\n \u00a0To understand how to open a hotel or restaurant in Kenya \/ East Africa<\/a> and keep it vibrant, with sustainable growth, it\u2019s good research why many fail unreasonably.<\/p>\n We have done this research for you taking one of the highest Hotel & Restaurant Population and leading in the highest tourism % in the world for this purpose ;-<\/p>\n \u00a0According to a post reference:\u00a0 Statistics\u00a0 by Wikipedia<\/a> as quoted below<\/p>\n \u201c90% of new restaurants fail in their first year,\u201d,[1]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0was an interesting statement made by Chef Rocco of a reality show called \u2018The Restaurant.\u2019 The number is very intimidating, yes, but hardly factual. \u201cAfter the first year 27% of restaurant startups failed; after three years, 50% of those restaurants were no longer in business; and after five years 60% had gone south. It was reported by Dr. H.G. Parsa, Ohio State University. His research is titled “Why Restaurants Fail?” was published in the Cornell Quarterly (2005). At the end of 10 years, 70% of the restaurants that had opened for business a decade before had failed,\u201d.[2]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Although these numbers are still alarming, they are not as appalling as those stated by Rocco. The top six reasons why restaurants fail include no unique selling point, too large of a menu, all talent but no brains, poor pricing strategy, no marketing skill, and bad negotiation skills,.[3]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0This is where a Hospitality Consultant comes in to play.<\/em><\/p>\n Another extract reads ; –<\/p>\n American Express has estimated that 90% of restaurants fail in the first year. A study by Parsa, Self, King and Njite (2005) showed that the restaurant failures are in fact under 30% during the first year of operation, and although individual failure rates may rise by the third year of operation, they do not achieve the levels 3 reported by American Express. Other studies by Self (2004) using data from California have shown that restaurant failures are also less than 30%. The National Restaurant Association of US recognizes a 30% failure rate as the norm in the restaurant industry. Even the well established and commonly accepted 30% failure rate during the first year of operations is still unacceptable as it has significant economic impact. Restaurants are a significant part of American life. According to the National Restaurant Association (2009), total revenues for the restaurant industry exceed $580 billion with nearly 1,000,000 operating restaurants in the US; providing jobs for over 13 million people. The sizeable economic impact of the restaurant industry can be measured by the 4% contribution it makes to the Gross Domestic Product in the United States. In addition, the restaurant industry has been expanding at a steady rate of 2 to 4 % over the past three decade.<\/p>\n In Kenya<\/p>\n According to WTTC report<\/a>\u00a0 on tourism in Kenya, The direct contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP was KES183.4bn (4.8% of total GDP) in 2013, and is forecast to rise by 2.9% in 2014, and to rise by 5.2% pa, from 2014-2024, to KES314.1bn (4.7% of total GDP) in 2024. The total contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP was KES462.8bn (12.1% of GDP) in 2013, and is forecast to rise by 3.1% in 2014, and to rise by 5.2% pa to KES791.4bn (11.8% of GDP) in 2024.<\/p>\n Domestic travel spending generated 49.2% of direct Travel & Tourism GDP in 2013 compared with 50.8% for visitor exports (ie foreign visitor spending or international tourism receipts). Domestic travel spending is expected to grow by 4.6% in 2014 to KES163.5bn, and rise by 5.3% pa to KES274.1bn in 2024<\/p>\n Clearly there is great potential in Kenya and a Market, So why do many fail anyway?<\/p>\n There other reasons not discussed e.g poor marketing strategy or its absence, poor start up and planning. \u00a0Wrong business concepts simply “Enjoy success from the start, begin with the Experts”<\/p>\n As Seasoned Hotel Consultants Kenya, we urge that you research carefully and seek professional assistance before starting, see tips to opening a hotel or restaurant<\/a> establishment in Kenya. YES it is enjoyable and profitable if done right.<\/p>\n\n
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\n<\/strong><\/strong>In Kenya areas that have been reported with several instances of\u00a0insecurity, despite them being popular destinations, will \u00a0experience lower revenues\u00a0and may even lead to closure. Tourism in Kenya has had its share of downs in the past 5 years, some of the most affected areas are now hanging signs for closure. Engaging the local authorities and participating in security meetings with authorities can be very helpful.<\/li>\n