Restaurant dining in UAE and why your washroom matters

  DUBAI – A new survey has revealed that it’s not just what’s on the plate but what’s in the washroom that could determine whether you will win or lose a diner in the UAE. A survey by Fine Solutions highlighted the importance of washroom hygiene in restaurants, with 89 percent of customers saying they will not return to restaurants with a dirty washroom. The survey was created to understand the customer perspective and the correlation between loyalty and restroom hygiene. The survey of 500 respondents was conducted online across different nationalities, affluence levels and cities. The main findings show that customers placed more importance on cleanliness in the washroom (50 percent) than in the kitchen (48 percent) or interior - the area including tables, chairs, floor and billing counter (47 percent) - when it comes to hygiene factors that matter most in a restaurant. Elsewhere, cleanliness and operational condition (62 percent) were found to be the most important hygiene factors in a restaurant restroom. "This survey comes at an important time for both consumers and brands as we navigate the new normal of everyday life in the time of the Covid pandemic. Operators and brands are still adjusting to life post lockdown, implementing new protocols and adhering to new directives, and tackling the realities of business and life while re-engaging with their core customers,” said James Michael Lafferty, CEO of Fine Hygienic Holding. "We understand the importance of hygiene, it drives everything we do as a business. And this study emphasises how highly customers and consumers place these considerations when it comes to their choices and their behaviour," Lafferty added. The survey has uncovered some interesting findings on consumer preference towards hygiene and cleanliness, in an era when business can be affected by poor customer reviews and social media coverage. Although customers expect high hygiene standards across any outlet, the cleanliness of the dining area and restroom stand out. Customer perception of washroom hygiene is influenced by several attributes including the cleanliness and overall operational condition of toilets and handwashing area, dryness of floors, and availability of sanitation products.
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