Sam Mustafa, CEO of Charleston Hospitality Group discusses his insights in regards to the hospitality industry in 2022.

There is no denying that there have been a lot of unpredictable changes across many industries. As a restaurant owner in our third year of the pandemic, what we are realizing is that all industries affect one another- and this isn’t something that can be avoided! If there’s one thing we’ve learned, as a heart of the nation and hospitality group, it’s to adjust to these changes as they come and learn from the past. From labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, shifts in technology and ever changing consumer trends, it can be hard to keep up and change internal operations on a whim.

Fortunately, in 2021, Charleston Hospitality Group experienced their best year and was able to shift operations to prioritize our guests and employees needs by learning from the unexpected hit we all experienced in 2020. As we enter our first month in 2022, Charleston Hospitality Group and myself are predicting trends for the upcoming year, backed by our successes in 2021 and internal statistics.Read on for insights from Sam in a mini-interview.

What restaurant trends will stick in 2022?

Here at Charleston Hospitality Group, we’ve conducted extensive research and analyzed numerous trends generated by new technologies. Here is a list of restaurant trends that many guests will be seeing more of this year within our restaurants and across the industry.

1) More Plant-Based and Locally Sourced Menu Options
2) The Rise of Review Platforms
3) Implementation Of New Restaurant Technologies
4) More Loyalty Incentives To Retain Loyal Guests
5) More Emphasis With Global-Inspired FlavorsHow do you think restaurants can survive this pandemic?

In an era where our industry has great assumptions of failing, the glue that’s been holding Charleston Hospitality Group together is the incredible resilience of our employees. From our restaurant support in our headquarters to our hardworking associates in our restaurants, our guests can feel that our employees genuinely enjoy their jobs and want to give each guest a memorable, personalized experience. This ties directly to our mission and vision at Charleston Hospitality Group- to provide a personal and unique experience for everyone from sunup to sun down.

My advice to all restaurant owners, who may be experiencing closures, or may want to expand their offerings or locations within their franchise or group is to provide all guests with an experience that includes exceptional service that guests can’t wait to come back for. Other things that are necessary for restaurant success is to stay current with consumer trends and stay innovative. One of the greatest innovations within our restaurants is the new technologies we implemented within our restaurants that have increased the speed of our service and internal efficiencies.

How is your hospitality group reaching new guests and retaining loyal ones?

Charleston Hospitality Group has quite the loyalty program! What sets our loyalty programs apart from others is our rewards program. Included in our rewards program, our guests have the opportunity to save money and earn points for future visits. Every time you spend $100 you get $10 added to your account to use for the future. The more you spend, the more points you accumulate. You’ll also receive exclusive invites to special events, try new menu items before anyone else, and get special perks! Monday – Friday you are able to earn triple points anytime from 4pm-7pm. Not only do you get points every time you spend money but you get 25 points just for signing up for the program!

Sam Mustafa is the the CEO of Charleston Hospitality Group and Toast! All Day Franchise. Named one of the nation’s 100 most influential CEOs by Nation’s Restaurant News and frequent speaker on Joe Pardavila’s Podcast on ForbesBooks Radio.  He has also been featured on Medium, Authority Magazine, describing his version of the American Dream. Sam is one of the leading voices in the Restaurant Industry.