Ordering and payment platform me&u has launched a national initiative to support hospitality workers with announcement of Tip To Hospo day, set to take place Thursday.
On 22 April me&u pledges to match every tip raised on its platform – dollar for dollar – in appreciation of workers and the sector.
The past year has been incredibly tough for hospitality, punctuated by restrictions, shutdowns, closures and reopenings, and the end of JobKeeper has found plenty of staff facing reduced shifts and uncertainty. The ABS in March revealed hospitality still the industry most affected by job losses since the start of the pandemic.
Tip To Hospo day aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by the industry and directly support the teams on the frontline. The initiative is designed to help diners show their gratitude for the people who serve their meals.
Through the pandemic, me&u has been an advocate for hospitality, helping patrons and venues adjust to the new COVID landscape with its contactless ordering and payment facility.
While data from its system initially saw tipping figures decline, increased uptake and new features of the app – notably the addition last June of the tipping feature – see the trend reversed.
As in-venue dining continues to get back into full swing, me&u sees Tip To Hospo as a way for patrons to get out and say thanks to all the workers who make hospo tick.
The company was founded mid-2018 by entrepreneur Stevan Premutico (formerly Dimmi), offering an ordering and payment platform that works on a patron’s mobile phone, without downloading an app, and with no need for any physical menu or contact with staff.
It equates to a faster and easier way for customers to order and pay in pubs, restaurants and cafes, aiming to take care of the ordering and payment basics so staff can spend more time on stuff that matters, such as service, hosting, upselling and building relationships.
The system is already being used in hundreds of venues around Australia, including the stables of Merivale, Rockpool and Solotel.
“Hospitality staff need our support. They have been some of the hardest hit during the pandemic, and yet we’ve relied on them to keep us safe and well fed,” explained a statement from me&u.
NOTE: Data shows Victorians are easily Australia’s most generous diners when it comes to tipping, outperforming New South Wales by 11 per cent, and double the rates in Queensland.
