Hospitality guru sees good times ahead after lockdown lifts
A Perthshire hospitality expert sees a “more resilient” industry emerging from COVID-19 lockdown.
Nikos Matsikas, who served the likes of Barack Obama, Johnny Depp and Jennifer Aniston in his career, also believes mental health in the workplace will be given more focus in the restaurant business going forward.
The Auchterarder-based restaurant manager spoke of his hopes for the sector’s recovery having recently launched his own consultancy company, Restaurantology.
Nikos, who has worked at a three Michelin star restaurant in Chicago and for Gleneagles Hotel, said: “It’s not all doom and gloom at the moment.
“As a sector, hospitality is going through a rough transformation, which will mean continuing job losses in some cases.
“But there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel.
“I’ve been very fortunate to work in some amazing establishments in my career so far.
“The hospitality sector can open so many doors and lead to a very rewarding career in beautiful locations.
“Unfortunately, there have been many redundancies, coupled with senior people leaving the sector.
“This will clearly have left a skills gap. “New restaurants launching to market may turn to consultants to work on special projects.”
Looking forward to the future, Nikos then went on to add: “I also expect to see better hygiene practises across the board for all types of hospitality venues, together with hospitality staff being much more aware of a better work/ life balance.
“Tech savvy solutions may now help cut down on unnecessary long hours which are so damaging to mental and physical wellbeing.
“The pandemic has taught us to value mental health in the workplace, especially one so busy and challenging as ours.
“We’ll also see more alfresco dining and indoor/outdoor bars and cafes.
“And there will be a real appreciation for more face-to-face interactions.
“Let’s face it, we are all pretty much Zoom-ed out and want to resume face-to-face contact as soon as we can.”