Chief Executive & Founder – Gates Hospitality
There has no doubt been a drastic shift in the way in which the restaurant and culinary industry perception has suddenly changed after the COVID-19 pandemic. From the physical delivery of a meal experience – the stage has transformed into an e-zone of its own.
The Gates Hospitality Sales & Marketing, Business Development, Videography and Photography, PR, and Social Media teams have quickly adapted well to the challenge and we’re aggressively pursuing all online avenues to keep in touch with all our stakeholders and loyal customers. People are getting more time at home and spending that much more of their hours in front of a screen be it the computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile as they would otherwise do.
It’s a hugely negatively charged atmosphere globally and we at Gates Hospitality would like the positive surge through our efforts online. It’s not a commercial pursuit, but more of a giving back to the industry and society which have helped nurture our brands for the past eight years.
Be it the Home Schooling, or Quiz and Bingo online, all are targeted more with our brand ethos of Engaging, Enriching, Belonging and Innovation. We feel that every effort of ours is keeping in spirit of these brand pillars: these are all applicable in our endeavors.
The key is to stand with the audience and loyal customers in times of the biggest crisis ever faced during this lifetime. So, on a daily basis – even multiple times – we engage frequently, create a window of opportunity to enrich their knowledge, make them realise that they truly belong, and get the innovative adrenaline flowing to unleash a positive vibe all around.
We did greatly benefit given the size of our organisation as we could adapt quickly and with a great deal of agility with our Business Development, Sales & Marketing, PR, and Social Media teams – very ably supported by our in-house group videographer and photographer, as well as the Design Graphics team – who work in great synergy and ensure a strong, remarkable brand presence online with unique content, on-brand and with an accent on humour.
The Gates Hospitality Home Schooling initiative has been very well-accepted – available online on our social media channels such as LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. These sessions are on different topics and videos are posted every day at 3pm with professionals from across different industries, sharing their experience in these times of pandemic.
The topics aren’t heavy and focus more on the lighter perspective of the topic. The purpose is to engage the loyal fan base, audience and industry workforce who wish to enhance their knowledge on different aspects of the business in general: it’s more of an information-sharing platform with absolutely no commercial costs or interests.
The Roast on Delivery option is a clear example of how Gates Hospitality has been at the forefront of creative innovation. Other brands have now started following our footsteps and walking the same path with similar offers, however they’re yet to meet our value propositions.
There’s no doubt that customers will certainly remember who stood with them through the thick and thin of the pandemic and be an eager catalyst through their arduous support of the brand in the journey towards revival in times to come.
