PRODUCT NEWS
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| Defy the recession, survive and thrive |
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| 17 Apr 2009 . BY |
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As the recession bites, the leisure industry is bracing itself for changes in the spending patterns of its visitors. Most affected by the downturn are visitor attractions and leisure venues, who will be finding it more difficult to convince their patrons to part with their money.
Is there anything that can be done for them to not only survive this downturn but reduce costs, innovate and ultimately thrive?
Peter Watts, managing director of Leisure Support Services, a business that delivers Facilities Management (FM) services to sport and leisure venues, gives four practical ways to buck the trend and survive and thrive under these difficult trading conditions.
1. Contract out non-core activities
"Whilst there are many processes necessary to manage visitor attractions including, recruitment, training, health and safety and quality assurance, venue operators are predominantly concerned with the end result.
The benefit of contracting out FM services therefore means that venues can focus more attention on their core business, leaving the daily operational matters to us. Furthermore, if we do not perform, we jeopardise our contract, so there is always a motivation for us to do well and be proactive."
2. Take the opportunity to innovate
"Whilst visitor attractions and leisure venues are stretched and the outlook appears bleak, now is a better time than ever to shake things up and to look at innovative ways to prosper.
By communicating with your contractors and highlighting the urgency to save costs, novel solutions should be identified and pursued in partnership.
During the Wimbledon Championships in 2008, we worked closely with the waste suppliers and our client and managed to increase the waste recycling rate from 22 per cent up to 50 per cent, which reduced the amount of landfill tax our client had to pay. This is a positive initiative which cut costs but also reduces the carbon footprint and increases positive PR for our client."
3. Analyse the staff team
"Whilst there are a number of things that can be done to reduce costs outside of cutting staff, it is also important to ensure that the facilities team are operating as efficiently as possible.
Experienced contractors in the sport and leisure market can use their knowledge to suggest alterations to staffing structures, shifts and levels of supervision that may increase efficiency and reduce hours without negatively affecting standards.
As an FM contractor, we have experience delivering services to many prestigious sport and leisure venues up and down the country. If there are savings to be made within an existing operation, we are best placed to achieve them whilst maintaining high standards."
4. Ensure high standards
"Last but not least, it is essential to maintain high standards during tough times. Businesses are often too quick to focus on generating savings from their non-core activity.
At visitor attractions and leisure venues however, effective delivery of FM services is integral to achieving the high standards necessary to maintain customer loyalty and satisfaction.
If lights aren’t working, conference rooms are too cold or too hot, exhibits are littered with finger marks and access to the venue is restricted because of security cutbacks, the visitor experience is spoiled, potentially leading to reduced visitor numbers and less business opportunities in the future."
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