Hospitality

Managing independent and global hotel chains

With combined experience of more than 100 years, our teams are led by directors who possess a robust understanding of hospitality projects, and their unique challenges and requirements.

From managing independent sites to providing consultancy for global hotel chains and developing new aparthotel offerings, we are well-versed in bringing an elevated approach and best practice standard to every asset type.

Asset management

Our solutions-driven methodology has been proven to boost profits and build value for shareholders, with a centralised team working in collaboration to maximise returns.

Commercial management

Offered within the Hotel Management programme, or available as a standalone service, our Sales, Marketing & Revenue teams produce and deliver strategies for asset owners that are bespoke to their brand and business requirements.

Capital investment

We control Capital Expenditure budgets on behalf of asset owners, and use Switch’s proven purchasing expertise to ensure best value is procured, without any compromise to quality.

Budgets and key performance indicators

Following a detailed analysis and leveraging our specialist industry knowledge, we work to ensure that there is a realistic and measurable budget in place.

At the start of any project, KPIs are agreed using industry-standard reporting, and reviewed on a weekly or monthly basis, as required.

Hotel management

When a hotel becomes part of our management portfolio, we work in close partnership with the existing team to conduct a comprehensive asset review so we can develop a detailed action plan and implement our specialised systems across all departments.

Profit delivery

When operating on behalf of a hotel owner, we assume all P&L responsibility, including full brand management.

By merging contracts into our central management system, we can make significant savings for the asset, while boosting revenue and delivering enhanced results.

Commercial strategy

Following a detailed operational review, we will make recommendations to increase efficiencies and leverage additional opportunities as required.

This includes an immediate commercial overlay plan to cover Sales, Marketing and Revenue Management; team restructuring and payroll reviews, using the Switch infrastructure and implementation of the Switch purchasing system to procure new suppliers, wherever the financial benefit is clear.

Financial analysis

Using the Switch IT system, we can provide full accounting and reporting services, obtaining detailed insights across the asset. We will conduct monthly financial and operational performance reviews, and prepare ambitious annual budget plans.

Through HOTSTATS and STR reporting, a full set of key performance indicators will be agreed with the hotel owner to monitor and optimise the financial results.

Operational management

We conduct full operational audits throughout the business to ensure the highest standards are delivered across our clients’ assets, including supplier reviews and implementation of a maintenance and asset protection system.

Providing peace of mind when it comes to compliance, our Health & Safety partners, Shield Safety will provide expert resources to help manage and minimise risk. As part of our commitment to working towards a more sustainable future, we can engage our energy partners to conduct a full review of energy performance and consult on implementing greener, more cost-efficient operations.

Support services

In addition to asset and hotel management programmes, our breadth of expertise means that we can provide specialist consultancy for individual projects of any size.

Revenue management & commercial health check

We devise strategies that increase total revenue across your entire business – not just bedrooms.

Whether it’s increasing reservations for meeting rooms, restaurants or golf courses, or growing bookings for spa treatments and car parking spaces, our commercial team can analyse trends to inform a data-driven strategy that maximises returns.

Our robust revenue plans include full systems reviews, management of third-party agents and industry-leading reporting against KPIs to demonstrate the impact of any investment.

Sales and strategy support

Switch Hospitality is underpinned by a strong and successful sales-driven approach, ensuring all market opportunities are maximised. When you work with our team, a bespoke and measurable sales plan will be agreed to ensure demonstrable growth across all areas.

Over the years, we have cultivated an enviable network of clients across the UK and overseas. Your property will form part of our established portfolio and global distribution channel, enabling us to assist you with routes to market, navigate buying and negotiation cycles, plan RFPs and identify consortia and third-party travel programmes that align with your asset.

Brand and marketing services

Our marketing experts will not only establish and uphold a strong brand identity for your property, but also manage its reputation – one of the most important considerations for any hotel.

From consistently high-quality branding, to engaging social media campaigns and management strategies for Revinate and TripAdvisor, our marketing services will ensure your property is one to remember – for all the right reasons.

We always advise marketing spends in the region of 3% – 5% of total revenue and PPC returns of 3 to 1, and ensure all spend is measurable.

HR, training & development support

With more than 300 employees working across the Switch group, our people strategy supports and develops the very best talent. Using the Evolve system, we can help to retain your star members and become an employer of choice, so that your team and business can grow together.

Our people plan is carefully designed to create an inclusive, profitable, safe and fun place to work. This system would be overlaid to your existing business to produce a full HR strategy that covers Employee Wellbeing and Engagement, Recruitment, Learning and Development, Legal Compliance and Complex Employee Relations Support.

What’s more, we will always provide measurable annual payback, through recruitment, development and retention.

Asset protection & maintenance systems

We understand that regular and proactive asset management drives forward customer satisfaction and operational efficiencies. That is why we have a strong team of experts and robust systems in place to protect assets.

A preventative maintenance programme is implemented in every hotel, including deep cleans of bedrooms every six months. Our Group Asset Director manages multi-site operations and has one dedicated set of trusted contractors to provide planned preventative and reactive maintenance.

Financial & purchasing management

A central system for all businesses means we can optimise profitability for your asset using a comprehensive suite of financial management tools.

Our capabilities span monthly P&Ls, budgeting, forecasting, KPI analysis & benchmarking, debt collection, cash flow forecasting, industry-leading reports, and much more. We will provide clarity and visibility on all of your costs and performance, operating a completely “un-emotional” review and onward management of all hotels’ performances.

We have also developed a series of reports that can be relocated across multiple properties, giving you the security that your hotel’s finances are in complete control.

Each of our partners, no matter the size, should benefit from the same set of group prices.

All purchasing is managed by Switch’s dedicated Group Purchasing Manager, who utilises the Procure Wizard system to provide prices, nominated suppliers and costs, restricted purchasing and regular stock takes across our entire asset portfolio.

Operational consultancy

We have the best managers leading all our departments, and won’t limit an individual’s consultancy to a single asset.

Our Regional Housekeeper, Chief Engineer and Front Office Manager manage multi-site operations. Our F&B operational team currently boasts the prestigious TripAdvisor Traveller Awards in all our hotels.

We employ the “best regional managers”, which is why we are happy for hotels across our portfolio to utilise their services. If an asset owner has a specific requirement that they need advice on, no matter how big or small, we can always assist.

System integrations

When a hotel management contract is agreed, it is crucial that Switch’s systems are integrated. This will allow the property owner to benefit from the significant efficiencies that our teams have developed.

Our IT Director will review each business to ensure that all systems are adopted with minimal cost and disruption to the business owner. This includes:

“bridge in the cloud” software, allowing any programme to be converted in our reporting system – from Front of House to POS. This minimises the cost for owners, and enables our team to manage data without changing any existing systems;
Procure Wizard implemented in all units to drive purchasing efficiency across all hotels. Stock taking via an external agency would no longer be required;
Opera, which is utilised across the group for maintenance planning and would be implemented to include time & attendance software;
Delphi, the preferred meetings & events platform. Any other system will be adopted to Delphi;
Flow Human Resources;
SAGE, our recognised accounting system; and
Premier Spa and Protel are utilised across all operations.