Significance of Grooming & Etiquettes in the Hospitality Industry

Grooming reflects elegance and professionalism. The best clothes, expensive jewels, or shiny shoes only count once you are well-groomed. In the hospitality industry, a polished presentation is vital for professional and business success.

From cabin crews working in the aviation industry to front-desk receptionists attending to guests, most employees in the hospitality world need to face new people daily. Simultaneously, travellers and visitors expect hospitality professionals to be presentable and well-mannered while addressing them in public places.

Hence, hospitality professionals must adapt hygiene practices and essential grooming standards to enhance customer experience and attain career success in this lucrative industry.

In this article, we will highlight the significance of grooming and how it helps a candidate to climb the ladder of success. Also, we will state some grooming tips for both males and females working in the hospitality industry.

What is Grooming?

Many misinterpret grooming as looking smart and attractive. In fact, grooming is all about keeping ourselves presentable and maintaining good hygiene. It is a blend of style, discipline, and professionalism.

Maintaining a good grooming standard also affects individuals' work life. Professionals who maintain the highest level of neatness and are well-groomed appear to be highly organised and serious about their work and reputation. Employees who don't take care of themselves are considered unprofessional, and nobody takes them seriously.

It's imperative to pay good attention to the following things for creating an everlasting impression.

• Tidy Dress/Uniforms
• Good Hairstyle/Haircut
• Limited Make-Up
• Polished Nails
• Good Breath
• Fresh Body Fragrance
• Positive Expression & Body Language

Importance of Grooming in the Hospitality Industry

From cabin crews to hotel managers and travel agents, grooming creates a professional image of the person. It enables these professionals to be confident, bold and motivated while interacting with other people in their respective fields. At the same time, customers and colleagues of the representative feel comfortable, building trust among them.

Grooming enhances networking opportunities for professionals in the hospitality industry. A neat & tidy dress code, polished shoes, and well-trimmed hair can help them create a good impression among customers and colleagues. Hence, building trust and long-term professional relationships.

In a nutshell, grooming influences the overall personality of individuals working in the hospitality world. And hospitality professionals must adhere to grooming standards and stay within them.

Hospitality professionals must never eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum while guests are around. It gives a wrong impression, and customers might feel uncomfortable while staff members are around them. Hence, avoiding such ill-mannered behaviours is equally essential to maintain healthy professional-customer relationships.

Grooming Tips For Males

• Hairs must be perfectly groomed above the collar.
• Jewellery should be limited to a wedding ring or a simple bracelet. Avoid wearing earrings on the premises.
• Professionals can wear simple wrist watches or any religious band.
• They must be clean-shaven. Also, a well-trimmed beard is appreciated on the premises.
• Wear mild perfumes or deodorants. Avoid strong fragrances as they might irritate other people.
• No visible tattoos
• Wear only black, navy blue, or dark colour socks that go with pants.
• Only wear black shoes without laces. Keep them clean and polished.
• Always iron the clothes/uniform. Crumpled attires look very unprofessional and untidy.

Grooming Tips For Females

• Makeup items like foundation, lipstick, and mascara must be worn in a presentable manner.
• The nail varnish should be clear.
• Jewellery should be limited to a wedding ring or a simple bracelet. Avoid wearing costly jewellery on the premises.
• Wear simple wrist watches and bands.
• Always wear black low-heeled non-slip court shoes. Shoes must always be clean and polished.
• Wear black, navy blue, or skin-toned pantyhose only—no ladders in stockings.
• Keep the natural colour of the hair. If hair falls below shoulder level, tie them back with plain black or dark-coloured elastic bands.
• No visible tattoos
• Wear mild perfumes or deodorants. Avoid strong fragrances as they might irritate other people.
• Always iron the clothes/uniform. Crumpled attires look very unprofessional and untidy.

To Conclude:

'First impression is the last impression.'

The very cliche works wonders in the hospitality world. More than a profession, it's a lifestyle that requires personality, charm, a positive attitude, and enthusiasm. Hence, a professional needs to be well groomed and maintain good hygiene to leave a good impression on their customers.

Apart from grooming standards, there are other skills a candidate needs to undertake for attaining a lucrative career. To upskill or gain in-depth knowledge about the hospitality industry, the aspiring candidate should pursue a hospitality management course from a reputed hospitality management institute in India.

To know more about the hospitality management course, connect with us today.