Communication plays a crucial role in the tourism and hospitality industry. As service is everything here, good communication can get you loyal customers and improve your brand image. There are different players in this sector and being able to communicate in English with the tourists and service providers can give you an advantage over others. English is not only important for the regular operations of this business but also for cultural exchange and emergencies. If you are a tour operator, you might have to deal with multilingual groups. English is the best way to communicate with them. With English, you can reach global audiences. Tourism is one of the largest industries in the world which is still growing. This sector involves people from different countries. So, the importance of having a common language like English cannot be stressed more. Knowing the proper usage of English keeps customers satisfied. It also reduces the gap between tourists and local people.

Several functions are carried out in the tourism and hospitality industry. For example, booking flights and hotels, learning about the local attractions, finding local tour operators, asking for directions, and more. Here are some benefits of effective communication in English within the tourism and hospitality industry.

Greater customer satisfaction

If you are an English-speaking tour guide then your guests will learn a lot about the places they are visiting. They can also ask questions to soothe their curious minds regarding culture, food, people, places, history, and more. They can ask for directions and recommendations about restaurants, activities, and tourist attractions. As a tour guide, restaurant, or hotel owner, you can attend to the needs of international tourists, thus providing the best service possible. You can suggest different rooms and menus according to their requirements. You can explain to them about the amenities and special services that you provide. You can also get their feedback and act upon it where you feel your services can be improved.

Helpful in emergencies

In case of emergencies, like medical needs or currency exchange problems, you can help your guests in the best way possible. If someone gets lost, you can show him or her the way. You can guide them to a good hospital or doctor in case of medical emergencies. You can also contact their family members back home if needed.

Provide good resources

If you use English as a medium of communication in your hospitality and tourism business, then you can provide information about the destination, tour packages, hotels, airlines, or restaurants on your website, social media platforms, and travel blogs. So, interested tourists can use these resources to make informed decisions about their travel.

Facilitates business operations

If your workers and managers know English then it is possible to streamline various business activities. As English is the primary language of correspondence in the international market, you can do business correspondence, negotiations, and contracts easily without the involvement of any third party. You can set up offices overseas and conduct business smoothly. Different software that you use for running your business are in English. So, you can use them more efficiently if you and your workers have a good command of English.

Common hospitality expressions in English

By knowing these common expressions in English, tour operators and hospitality professionals can give a great experience to the guests.

Greetings

• "Good morning, welcome to our hotel!"
• " Good afternoon, how may I help you?"
• "Good evening, I hope you are having a good time here."

Offering assistance

• " May I help you?"
• "Are you looking for a local tour operator?"

Giving directions

"The elevator is on your right'"
"You will find the restaurant next to the lobby."

Developing rapport with guests

• "How are you finding the weather here?"
• "Is this your first visit here?"
• "Have you been to the big mall next door"?

Compliments

• "Hope your stay with us was pleasant."
• "If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to ask."

Take orders and make recommendations

• "Shall I take your order?"
• "Would you like to have an appetizer?"
• "For dessert, you can try the ice cream."

Apologies

• "We are sorry for the inconvenience caused."
• "Please accept our sincere apology."

Solving problem

• "Let's see what we can do about it.
• "Can you offer you something different instead?"

Departure phrases

• "Your room charges total to $100."
• "How would you like to settle your bills?"
• "Do you need a taxi to the airport?"

Farewells

• "Have a safe journey back home."
• "Thank you for choosing us."
• "We will see you again soon."

Improve your communication skills

In the hospitality and tourism business, you meet people from all over the world. They have different accents. So, even if they speak English, sometimes it can be difficult to understand what they are saying. So, pay attention to what the guests are saying. Take a few seconds to reply instead of drastically giving wrong information. You must always be polite to your guests. Don't hesitate to ask them for clarification if you are unclear about what they are saying.

English is used more frequently in the hospitality and tourism industry than in any other sector. Its widespread use impacts tour operators, hotel and restaurant management, and the transport sector as well. If you have a tourism business in a place where English is used for communication, then that place will become a favorite for tourists. You will find hotels and restaurants having English-speaking staff more crowded than the other places. So, if you work in this industry, focus on improving your English communication skills to better serve the customers and improve your career.