Playing With Food: Why Recreation Is An Asset To Foodservice

Today's foodservice businesses are quickly finding themselves a new ally: recreational activity. From mini golf to cornhole and arcade machines, interactive activities are becoming increasingly tied to food and drink. But why is this the case? Is it just a fad, or is it really a new frontier? In this article, we'll be exploring the possibilities.

According to Business Insider, the millennial and Gen Z demographics are looking to spend their hard-earned cash on experiences, not just simple purchases. While this includes dining out, it also includes travel, visiting tourist attractions like theme parks, and more. In a survey from Eventbrite, "78% of millennials prefer experiences over products." Of course, the experience economy is a pricey one—and yet, many are not dissuaded. Approximately 47% of Zoomers took at least one trip in the summer of 2023, according to a travel survey from Deloitte.

As the data shows, the demand for recreation and leisure is very prevalent. And in order to meet that demand with adequate services, businesses that specialize in those two fields are expanding their hiring operations. Entertainment hirings are projected to "increase by over 3%" this year, "driven mainly by an expected 4.2% uptick in amusement and recreation attendants," according to Business Insider. This hiring increase also is expected to extend to managerial and executive positions in those fields.

The big takeaway from all of this is that recreation, like food, is a hot commodity with consumers who want to get more out of their purchase and more for their time, Business owners can use that to their advantage by integrating that recreation into their foodservice. The ideal result is a fun, unique experience with engaging and delicious food to complement it.

The combination of recreation and foodservice poses a potentially lucrative option for business owners across the globe. It's just one more way that owners can enhance, upgrade, and redefine the guest experience.

Published by:
Christian Dantes

REWrite Blog