**Are you asking for the order?**

Are you asking for the order?

Wherever we work and whatever we do in the Hospitality, Tourism and Travel industries we are all sales people. Think about it. Nothing happens until someone sells something. Yet, perhaps the simplest yet most overlooked part of our job is remembering to ask for order.

One of my mentors, Winston Marsh (see http://www.bgrowth.com.au), recently reminded me of this in an e-mail he sent to the subscribers of his outstanding Newsletter. He wrote “The reason most people never make the sale is they forget to ask potential customers to buy. Recently I was very impressed by a young ice-cream seller at the movies. Toting his tray of goodies, about five minutes before the session began, he walked to the front of the theatre and announced, “My name is Joe and I sell choc tops. You’ll need one to munch on during the movie, so come and see me now.” Immediately he was surrounded by people ready and willing to buy his choc tops.”

The point of Winston’s story is simple. If you forget to ask for the order you are going to miss a lot of sales. Does everyone in your organization ask people to buy at every opportunity? If not, try working with them and remind them of this essential skill.

I wish you a week of asking for the order.

Max Hitchins - The Hospitality Doctor - with Secrets, Tips, Tonics and Remedies to fill your Rooms, Restaurants and Bars - - http://www.HospitalityDoctor.com

PS.We are assembling a PubPolls.com.au web site in order to slipstream on all the media space given to the upcoming Federal election in Australia. If you have a hotel, pub, tavern or club in Australia and would like to participate (and it will cost you NOTHING!) hit the reply button, include your name, the name and address of your hotel, pub, tavern or club and your e-mail address and I’ll send you the details for you to peruse.