5 Hospitality Trends to Focus on in 2023

Try these ideas to help your business grow in the new year​

We’ve been following changes in the industry, and here are a few ideas to keep your eye on as you evaluate new revenue streams that you should consider implementing in the new year. 

1. Speakeasies​

The speakeasy trend — a hidden bar with a distinctive vibe —  is hot right now. In fact, the winner​ of The World’s 50 Best Bars is a Barcelona-based speakeasy. Whether they’re a separate space in your restaurant or a pop-up you set up in a partnership with another local business, speakeasies will undoubtedly attract attention in 2023. 

The best speakeasies are hidden spots, where customers enter through an unexpected door, a bookcase, a phone booth, or a secret location at a nearby shop. Their design is typically different than the restaurant or store that houses them and usually has a lounge feel. The menu is essential: think specialty cocktails and small bites for customers to enjoy in this tucked-away space. 

2. Street food​

Favorite dishes from international carts and stands are making their way to the dining room. Street food is an alternative to traditional restaurant menus and provides customers with the chance to sample new flavors and cuisines from around the world. 

Asian street food​, in particular, is taking off in popularity. Take the time to explore dishes from Cambodia, India, and Vietnam. Some of these dishes include sandwiches and snacks like spring rolls that are usually eaten on the go but can be prepared more elaborately for a sit-down meal. Customers also seek​ vegan options, West African cuisine, Venezuelan dishes, Japanese fried chicken, and sweet snacks such as churros and gelato. 

3. Emerging cuisines​

As the global community becomes more interconnected, new cuisines and traditions are emerging more into the mainstream dining options. Research from Bidfood’s 2023 Food and Drinks Trends​ showed that over one in three people now say that emerging world cuisines have replaced more established ones. Cuban, Sri Lankan, and Pan-African cuisines scored highly when consumers were surveyed about different cuisines that they would like to try but can rarely find restaurants that serve those kinds of cuisines. 

Many UK consumers are eager to try cuisines that can transport them to a new place simply by the delicious meal in front of them. A new generation of chefs are willing to take on these flavorful dishes with a unique combination of ingredients that excite diners. The great thing is that you can start with a familiar dish and put a global twist on it to entice eaters. As Mintel reported​, familiar dishes with a twist have encouraged 46% of world cuisine eaters to to further explore the cuisine from which the ‘twist’ originates. ​

4. Customer-friendly tech​

Younger customers are well-versed in using technology to make purchase decisions. They want to make these decisions quickly and customize them to their preferences. We’ve seen that reflected in the rise of hospitality technology, such as QR code menus for ordering and payment, takeaway apps, and reservation systems. 

It’s time to bring that technology to all aspects of your business, especially events. Self-booking options​ that allow customers to choose the date, capacity, meal options, and amenities for their events and catering make it easier for the patron and the business to manage these services. Consider implementing more customer-friendly technology tools in 2023 that will make it easier to drive revenue. 

5. Cultural halls​

Everyone is familiar with food halls at this point, but a newer collective experience is popping up that you should keep on your radar. It didn’t take long to realize that people love to gather in food halls and have a shared dining experience while sampling and tasting a variety of food and beverages together. Now we are seeing wider cultural halls popping up — more than just a place for food and drink, these venues have live music, DJs, comedy shows, film — you name it! There is an incredible opportunity to host events in these spaces for both corporate events and social gatherings. 

Often these spaces take over abandoned industrial projects that can revitalize an area and put money back into the community. It's also an opportunity to bring new revenue streams to established restaurants that are looking for another avenue to promote their business. 

Start now for a profitable year​

As your business prepares for the final months of 2022, explore adding one or more of these trends for the new year. The quiet winter months will give you plenty of time to sort out the details and perfect the trends that will attract more customers. 

Booking events for this holiday season? If you manage events at a venue in the UK and are wondering how you will handle the volume of event business for this year, here’s why you should get started with Tripleseat event management software. By using Tripleseat, you can streamline your event planning process, increase event enquiries, manage customer communications and save time while increasing your revenue.

Tripleseat is a catering and event management platform used by more than 18,000 venues each day, enabling them to streamline the planning process and increase sales. To date, the Tripleseat platform has helped venues book over 6 million events and capture £13.5 billion in event leads.

To learn more about Tripleseat or to schedule a demo, please visit https://tripleseat.com/restaurants-uk/​.