What if I told you that a tiny, seemingly insignificant daily habit in your hotel or restaurant could be costing you over €50,000 a year?
It might sound like an exaggeration, but in the world of hospitality, pennies quickly become pounds, and seconds bleed into hours.
I learned this foundational lesson early in my career, working under insightful leaders who understood the power of compound savings. They taught me to see the big picture in the smallest details—how a single euro saved on waste today could become a thousand saved by the end of the year. It was a masterclass in financial discipline.
This ethos became my guiding principle when I started managing my own establishments.
“Keep it tight, don’t get sloppy, and always mind the pennies” wasn’t just a motto; it was the difference between thriving and merely surviving.
So, how does this philosophy translate into practical, day-to-day action?
It starts by tackling one of the most significant and controllable costs in any hospitality business: payroll.
The Slow Tuesday That Costs You Thousands
A classic, and often overlooked, opportunity is managing your staffing levels during unexpectedly quiet periods. Let’s take a slow Tuesday lunch service as an example. You’re overstaffed, the energy is low, and your team is under-occupied. The decisive move is to send people home early.
Of course, this requires knowing your team. Depending on the makeup of your staff, some will jump at the chance for an early finish—students, for instance, are often glad to save on travel costs and gain back study time. The key is to present it not as a punishment, but as a smart operational decision. That quiet lunch with just a few too many staff members might seem trivial, but it can easily cost you between €50 and €100 in unnecessary wages.
Now, let’s apply the lesson from my mentors. If that happens just once a week, you’re looking at an annual loss of €2,600 to €5,200.
That is the €50,000 lesson in action—a small, daily decision that accumulates into a significant financial impact over time.
Hire for Attitude, Train for Agility
This nimble approach to staffing is only possible if you have the right people on your team in the first place.
Your hiring philosophy is paramount. You don’t necessarily need a roster of seasoned superstars; instead, prioritize hiring individuals with a great attitude who are genuinely coachable. A positive, willing employee is an asset that will pay dividends long after their initial training is complete.
Once you have these people, the next step is to empower them through cross-training. A team where roles are fluid is a team that can handle anything. Think of a bartender who doesn’t hesitate to run luggage upstairs when reception is busy, or a waiter who can confidently jump in to plate desserts during a dinner rush.
Versatility is Your Secret Weapon
This versatility is your operational superpower. It allows you to operate with a leaner team without sacrificing service quality. More importantly, it fosters a collaborative, “all hands on deck” culture that drastically reduces guest complaints stemming from delays or overwhelmed staff.
Instead of hearing “that’s not my job,” your guests experience a seamless, responsive service where their needs are met promptly, no matter who they ask.
The Takeaway: Don’t Cut Corners — Cut Waste
This isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about tightening operations without tightening the guest experience. It’s about creating a culture where every euro counts, every minute matters, and every team member pulls in the same direction.
Hospitality is a margin business — and the operators who succeed are those who respect the small numbers, long before the big ones show up.
If you’re in hospitality management, or hoping to step into it, start paying attention to what might seem insignificant — the half-hour of dead time, the over-rotation of staff, the untrained team member who could be so much more.
Because in hospitality, success often doesn’t come from doing more — it comes from doing the basics, better.
Want More Insights Like This?
At Aspire English, I help hospitality professionals build the communication, soft skills, and interview confidence they need to thrive — whether you’re hiring, training, or getting hired yourself.
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