Momento Hospitality has leapt to the aid of Sydney’s Hills community with operation of the Essentials Express service from its Bella Vista Hotel.
Essentials Express offers essential items, many of which have recently been missing from supermarket shelves. The most popular items so far have been (unsurprisingly) toilet paper, meat packs, and pasta.
The operation is set up as a ‘no-touch’ drive-through service. Customers do not get out of their cars, served by staff wearing gloves and masks. All payments are done by EFTPOS, with no handling of physical cash.
Essentials Express has already been operating for a week, and feedback from patrons has been extremely positive.
It has kept over a dozen staff employed, as well as running down goods in the cool rooms and moving stock for grateful suppliers.
Menus are posted daily on social media as new stock comes in.
Products on offer have expanded to include fresh made pasta, further keeping some of the chefs employed.
And the closed bar has given way to pre-batched cocktails, such as The Hills, and Espresso Martinis, which reportedly both sold out yesterday.
A release from Momento credits group executive chef Sam Youngs for the idea, relaying how he saw the opportunity and acted quickly. The operation was up and running in just two days.
“We believe that this is a vital role for hotels, bars and restaurants to play in serving their communities.
“It really is a win/win/win in these uncertain times.”
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Tips from Momento Venues for other closed venues
Think creatively
Hospitality is more than just serving food and beverages in your venue – it extends to helping your community enjoy your hospitality at home.
Asses your resources
You have kitchens, chefs, motivated staff and expertise – look at applying these resources differently to fit the need of the market right now.
Keep the energy up
Share what you are doing with your staff and community via social to help them see that positive things are happening so they stay hopeful and engaged with you and your business.
Focus on your strengths
Every venue or operation has things they are well known for so lean-in on these. If you are known for your chicken schnitzel, then sell the crumbed chicken schnitzel along with your special sauce etc. Package it together so customers can replicate your famous recipes at home.
Don’t be silly
We are still in the grip of a growing pandemic. Customer safety has to be the #1 concern.
Wear the PPE, limit or eliminate contact and don’t flout the rules – or you could ruin it for everyone and even costs lives.
