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Customer service and hospitality are often used interchangeably. While they might seem synonymous, understanding their subtle distinctions can dramatically alter the resident experience. Let’s dive deep into these concepts.
The Bedrock of Customer Service:
At its core, customer service is transactional. It’s the necessary foundation upon which multifamily communities operate. Consider customer service as the diligent employee ensuring all community amenities function correctly, quick responses to maintenance requests, or the systematic leasing and resident management approach. It’s about addressing needs, solving problems, and ensuring operations run smoothly.
Customer service is the baseline. In the multifamily space, customer service ensures resident satisfaction at the most basic level. The community’s amenities may be top-notch, the grounds may be immaculate, and the apartments may boast the latest finishes. But if customer service falters – if maintenance requests go unanswered or community policies are applied inconsistently – resident trust erodes.
The Magic of Hospitality:
Now, here’s where the magic happens. Hospitality goes beyond mere transactions. It’s about crafting experiences, building relationships, and making residents feel at home. Hospitality represents the soul of a community, where every interaction is a chance to create memorable experiences.
Will Guidara, an influential figure in the hospitality sector, aptly describes hospitality as the art of making someone feel seen and valued. This might manifest as a personalized welcome package for a new resident in the multifamily space, remembering residents’ birthdays or even acknowledging their day-to-day triumphs and challenges.
Multifamily communities aren’t just about buildings and amenities. They’re about people, emotions, and the essence of ‘home.’ Hospitality, in this regard, is about the heart – the human connections that transform a mere residence into a cherished community.
Striking the Right Balance:
While customer service ensures that the multifamily community functions effectively, hospitality ensures it thrives and resonates on an emotional level. Both are integral, but they serve different purposes.
For instance, a resident might renew their lease because the community offers consistent customer service – their maintenance requests are always addressed promptly, and community policies are clear and fair. But what if we could elevate this experience? What if, on top of excellent customer service, the resident felt a deep connection to the community and valued and cherished every interaction with the team? That’s the difference hospitality makes.
Crafting Memorable Experiences:
The insight here highlights the importance of viewing communities not just as properties but as ecosystems of relationships. Realizing every touchpoint, from leasing to daily interactions, is an opportunity to go beyond the expected and venture into the realm of the unforgettable.
The overarching point is that while a community needs to ace its customer service game, hospitality differentiates one community from another. Hospitality fosters resident loyalty, crafts a vibrant community culture, and sets a property apart in a saturated market.
In Sum
Understanding the interplay between customer service and hospitality is the difference maker in multifamily. While customer service forms the foundation, hospitality is the secret sauce that turns residents into passionate advocates. Multifamily operators and professionals have an opportunity to craft experiences that satisfy residents and truly enchant them.