About the Hospitality Industry

The hospitality industry includes any company that provides leisurely products and services and focuses on customer satisfaction. This includes:

• Travel and tourism: Cruises, passenger railroad services, airplanes and other modes of transportation that move people from one place to another
• Lodging: Hotels, resorts, campgrounds, hostels, motels and other places that provide sleeping accommodations
• Recreation: Amusement parks, movie theaters, museums, zoos, spectator sports centers and other activities that provide entertainment
• Food and beverage: Restaurants, cafes, diners, bars and other places serving food and drink

The goal of hospitality services is to provide customers with an enjoyable experience. While the industry has existed for many years, it has seen many changes. Industry trends include:

• Providing the latest technology for guests to use at your facility
• Keeping websites and apps updated as customers research and plan their trips
• Receiving a higher amount of international visitors, creating the need to tailor experiences to different needs and cultures
• Implementing more services dedicated to well-being, such as fitness centers and healthy foods

Success in the hospitality industry depends on the quality of customer satisfaction, disposable income amounts and quantity of leisure time.

Challenges in the Hospitality Industry

The hospitality industry was one of the most affected during the coronavirus pandemic. Limited traveling, quarantine practices and public space shutdowns affected restaurants, hotels and other hospitality businesses. As coronavirus cases decrease and more businesses open again, the hospitality industry will need to demonstrate to its customers that health and safety are priorities. The coronavirus pandemic’s effects will continue to be apparent in hospitality, meaning businesses will need to address and overcome these changes to return to pre-pandemic figures more quickly.

Some other challenges in the hospitality industry include:

• New technology implementation: Many new technologies are available for the hospitality industry, including self-check-in, online ordering and payments through apps. Customers expect interactions with both people and technological systems. Hospitality businesses need to implement technology and understand its operational parameters and troubleshooting techniques to provide a better experience. Customers also expect accommodations such as flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, which hospitality enterprises need to provide.
• Environmentally friendly practices: Customers value companies that make an effort to adhere to sustainable practices. Hospitality businesses need to assess their products, systems and practices to ensure these are environmentally friendly.
• Security integrity: Sociopolitical and economic challenges shape traveling patterns, which affects the hospitality industry. These businesses need to make their customers feel comfortable and safe in their facilities. Hotels, resorts and similar companies also store sensitive employee and customer data that needs protection from cyberattacks.
• Employee retention: Though the hospitality industry is expected to grow, it struggles with high turnover rates. These businesses must implement methods that will attract quality talent and retain them for many years. This aspect means the hospitality sector will need to be competitive in the job market.

Hospitality Industry Standards Supported by NQA

The most common certifications for the hospitality industry include:

• ISO 9001: ISO 9001 is the leading quality management systems standard and is the most widely used of its kind in the world. It outlines a framework and set of principles that hospitality companies can use to manage their organization practically. As a result, you can gain effective employees, processes and services.
• ISO 14001: ISO 14001 is a global environmental management systems standard. Its principle management system defines requirements for forming, implementing, improving and maintaining an environmental management system and its principles and support techniques. This standard controls environmental aspects to reduce impacts and ensure compliance with regulations.
• ISO 50001: ISO 50001 is an international standard for energy management. It outlines a framework to achieve optimal energy efficiency in organizations like hospitality facilities. This standard helps companies reduce their carbon footprint and operating costs. If you are already certified to ISO 14001, certification to ISO 50001 will be easy to obtain.
• ISO 45001: ISO 45001 is an occupational health and safety standard that protects workers and customers from accidents and illnesses. Certification to this standard creates a healthy environment by controlling factors that could harm individuals’ physical and mental well-being. It is compatible with other health and safety standards, such as OHSAS 18001.
• ISO 27001: ISO 27001 is the international standard for information security management systems. Its framework keeps sensitive information confidential and secure and aids in legal compliance, and it is compatible with other standards like ISO 9001. Hospitality companies can use this standard to protect private information like employee and customer data. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is not covered by this standard.
• ISO 22000: ISO 22000 is a food safety standard that standardizes food safety management requirements throughout the supply chain. This guideline provides a framework for the development, implementation, oversight and innovation of food safety management systems. The goal is to create a system that is more integrated and streamlined beyond legal requirements. It supplements elements of HACCP and ISO 9001.
• FSSC 22000: FSSC 22000 is a certification scheme that acts as a standard to audit and certify food safety management systems. It is based on specific prerequisite programs (PRP) from ISO 22000 and additional requirements from FSSC. It guarantees product safety during production and manufacturing of various animal and vegetable products.
• ISO 22301: ISO 22301 is a business continuity management standard to help enterprises prevent and respond to incidents that disrupt business. The goal is to help hospitality companies minimize damages and continue operating as normal.

Benefits of Hospitality Industry ISO Certifications

Achieving ISO certifications for the hospitality industry will position your business to be efficient and competitive, improving customer satisfaction. Compliance can give your hospitality business these benefits:

• Improve property value: Careful financial planning results in more revenue available to invest back into your property. A facility that is well taken care of is more valuable and will make a positive impression on your customers.
• Promote the best practices: Being certified to hospitality industry standards will allow you to use best practices in your business for management, sustainability, information technology and other areas.
• Increase productivity: Some ISO standards for the hospitality industry, such as ISO 9001, require you to analyze your business processes to identify vulnerabilities. Implementing principles will increase your efficiency and improve your company.
• Enhance the customer experience: Hospitality industry ISO certifications will improve the quality of your products and services. Your customers will have a better experience with your business, reducing the need for complaint management and ensuring their loyalty.
• Increase revenue: Certifications to ISO standards demonstrate a commitment to improved operations, which results in cost savings.

Why Work with NQA for ISO Certifications for the Hospitality Industry?

NQA is a global certification body that strives to provide quality audit and certification services for hospitality clients. We have years of experience in the hospitality industry and have worked with clients such as Costa Express and Glenmorangie. NQA also works with several other industries globally, having issued 50,000 certificates in more than 90 countries.

Our goal with all hospitality clients is to certify your business to hospitality industry standards that will improve your products and services and increase your customer satisfaction. NQA will also help you meet the standard requirements using a supportive and pragmatic approach.

NQA offers:

• Valuable auditing services: Our comprehensive service offerings, including auditing and certification, have global coverage. Getting certified to ISO certifications for the hospitality industry promotes efficient work processes.
• Practical expert guidance: We will simplify and explain the complex technical requirements and certification process steps.
• Transparent pricing: NQA certification services are the best in the industry. Our competitive rates have no hidden fees.
• Improvement focus: In addition to assessing your compliance to ISO standards for the hospitality industry, we will also identify improvement opportunities for you to consider.
• Updated industry knowledge: Our expert network extends worldwide and contains professionals who participate in writing the standards and join numerous technical committees. Being at the forefront of standard developments allows us to keep you up to date with changes.
• Various training methods: NQA helps you learn technical skills in your preferred format. We offer courses in online, in-house and classroom styles.

Request a Quote for Hospitality Certification Audits Today

A healthy environment, safe food, reliable services and data security are essential for success in the hospitality industry. NQA performs certification audits to accredit your business to hospitality industry ISO certifications. As a result, you can meet the requirements of your chosen standard, improve your company’s efficiency and success and minimize and manage risks to daily operations.

Request a quote on our website today to start your hospitality certification and auditing. You may also contact us online to request more information or ask questions.