3 Ways to stay on top of trends in the Bar and Restaurant Industry

Written by

Brianna LeCompte

I still remember attending my first Trivia night back in 2013. A group of my coworkers were discussing some options for happy hour venues and when we saw that a spot down the street was hosting a Trivia Night, we decided to go for it. I was instantly hooked. When the opportunity arose to join the Last Call team, I was ecstatic. Working with a talented and creative team to spread my love of trivia across the country-what could be better! I currently manage sales and outreach in our west coast areas. Outside of work, I love to travel and am also an avid equestrian and Disney movie lover.All Posts

In any service industry, clients want to feel valued and appreciated. One of the best ways to show that you care about your clients outside of just their Trivia Night is to stay up to date on industry trends. By keeping yourself informed, you are able to position yourself as a business partner, and show that you offer value to your clients on every night of the week.

There are a number of places you can find articles and information about the bar and restaurant industry. Below are the best ways to start on the path towards becoming an industry expert.

Busy bar owner proud strong

Follow Blogs Targeted to Bar Owners

Blogs are constantly growing in number and popularity, which means there is a wealth of knowledge available through this channel. Most blogs allow you to become a subscriber, so you will be emailed any new content as it is published.

Last Call Trivia offers blog with helpful articles for bar owners. This covers a variety of topics related to bar management. Other sites, such as BevSpot, offer similar blogs that post about a wide range of subjects relevant to the bar and restaurant industry.

It is also wise to seek out additional blogs focused on topics relevant to your clients. For example, if you host Trivia Nights at a craft brewery, you can follow a beer-specific blog, such as All About Beer, to keep up on more nuanced trends in the industry.

Podcast Episode 39 Round 1

Listen to Podcasts covering trends in the Hospitality Industry

Podcasts are a great option, because they offer more flexibility in when and where you consume them. Try switching out the radio on your morning commute, or the playlist during your workout for a podcast.

Even if you don’t offer specific advice from every episode to one of your clients, staying up to date on industry trends will help you build a foundation of knowledge that you can consistently reference.

Hedy Lamarrs Breakthrough Invention

Attend Webinars targeted to Bar Owners

Companies will often offer free webinars that dive deeper into specific topics or industry trends. 

While recorded versions of webinars are helpful resources, if you are able to register to attend one live, you are often granted the additional benefit of asking the host questions after their presentation.

Between the nuanced information, and the ability to interact with the experts, you should make an effort to attend any relevant webinars that fit your schedule.

By staying up to date on the trends and news within the bar and restaurant industry, you are able to position yourself as a business partner to your clients. This will increase the value of your service even more, as you are able to consult and advise on topics outside of Trivia.