Hospitality is a broad term that refers to the act of providing a friendly and generous reception as well as entertainment for guests, visitors, or strangers.
It’s mostly associated with the service industry which includes hotels, restaurants, and event planning. But what about bartending?
In this post, we’re going to explore the role of the bartender within the hospitality industry and answer a question that often comes up when discussing which sector bartending belongs to. “Is bartending hospitality?”
Yes, bartending is considered part of the hospitality industry. Bartenders play a crucial role in being the primary point of contact for guests in bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. They’re responsible for providing exceptional customer service and ensuring guests have a wonderful time.
Is Bartending Hospitality?
Hospitality is the business of providing food, drink, entertainment, and accommodation for customers of restaurants, bars, and many other establishments.
Within the hospitality sector, there are many different types of businesses that fall under its umbrella, including hotels, cruise ships, event planning, restaurants, and much more.
Bartending is considered hospitality because it involves providing excellent customer service as well as creating a positive experience for guests of a bar, restaurant, or nightclub.
The role has a focus on going above and beyond for customers to ensure they have the best experience possible which helps the returning customer rate and ultimately the business.
Not only do bartenders serve drinks, but they may also be responsible for recommending and suggesting menu items to the guests, answering questions about the menu and establishment, and handling customer complaints.
Bartenders are also responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the bar as well as handling cash and credit card transactions.
Why Is Bartending Hospitality?
The hospitality industry is one that places a high value on the quality of service as this can be the difference between a customer returning and spreading the word or a customer leaving a bad review.
It’s a competitive industry that requires only the friendliest and service-orientated staff in order for the business to thrive.
Oftentimes the businesses with the most hospitable staff succeed, and that goes for most businesses within hospitality including bars, hotels, and restaurants.
Let’s look at some of the reasons why bartending is hospitality.
1. Interaction with customers
The interactions between bartenders and customers are vital for the success of any establishment.
Bartenders need to be friendly, welcoming people that are keen to provide excellent services to those looking to order from the bar.
Greeting customers upon entry, taking orders, and making suitable recommendations are all part of the bartender’s role, as well as handling customer queries or complaints.
This interaction with customers is the difference between a good bartender and a great one, and those that can strike up conversations with customers often make a LOT more money in tips.
2. Bartenders work in hospitality businesses
Hotels, restaurants, bars, and clubs are all businesses within the hospitality sector, therefore, bartending is classed as hospitality work.
These businesses have a primary focus on providing a positive experience for their customers and this passes down to every member of staff that works there, including the bartender.
3. Bartenders create the atmosphere
Bartenders and bar managers are responsible for creating a fun and welcoming atmosphere for their guests.
They do this through means such as chatting with customers, decorating the bar, and having themed nights, as well as playing music or hiring a DJ.
The atmosphere in any hospitality business is crucial and makes all the difference when trying to attract new and existing customers.
Hospitality vs Customer Service
It’s easy to confuse hospitality and customer service as the two as very much related, but it’s important to note that they are not the same thing.
Customer service refers to the act of providing support and assistance to customers before, during, and after they have made a purchase.
This can be anything from answering questions, handling complaints or issues, and providing guidance and information to customers.
Hospitality refers to the industry that involves providing accommodation, food, and drink to travelers and tourists.
This encompasses a wide range of businesses that includes hotels, restaurants, and bars.
Both hospitality and customer service are important for ensuring that customers have an enjoyable experience and are satisfied with the products or services they receive.
That said, customer service is a much broader term that can be applied to any business, whereas hospitality refers to a particular industry that is focused on hospitable service.
How Do You Describe Bartending On A Resume?
If you’re reading this post then there is a good chance the reason you’re wondering if bartending is classed as hospitality is that you want to put it on your resume.
Adding bartending experience to any resume is a GREAT idea that has many benefits, but you’ll want to make sure you describe it the right way.
Firstly, you should add the name and location of the establishment where you worked as a bartender as well as a brief description of the type of establishment it was, i.e, bar, hotel, restaurant, etc.
Be sure to be specific with the job title as perhaps you were a “flair bartender” or “mixologist” and list in detail your responsibilities whilst working in the role.
Ensure you add any achievements or accomplishments to your resume no matter how big or small, and it’s always a good idea to include any positive feedback from customers you may have had or ways you increased sales for the business.
Finally, you’ll want to add any relevant skills or knowledge you gained whilst bartending such as beer, spirits, or wine training to show the employer you know your stuff.
>>Read more: Is bartending dangerous?
Final Thoughts
Thanks for reading this post and learning the answer to “is bartending hospitality”. I hope now It’s clear that bartending is a crucial part of the hospitality industry.
Bartenders an important role within the industry of interacting and providing excellent customer service for the guests of the establishment.
They have diverse roles that involve keeping guests entertained, serving drinks, recommending menu items, and being responsible for keeping the bar clean and tidy.
Whether you’re working in a hotel, restaurant, bar, or club you can be sure that the experience you’ve gained is classed as hospitality experience.
Use the guidance above to add this experience to your resume and I wish you all the best in your job search.