Portrait of the Industry
The Wine Spectator Grand Award is the highest honor given to restaurants with outstanding wine programs. Awarded each year, this prestigious award recognizes restaurants that are deeply committed to quality, offering a wide variety of wines, excellent service, and proper wine storage. To earn the Grand Award, restaurants must have a wine list with at least 1,000 selections from different regions. The wine list must be well-organized and easy to read, with prices that encourage guests to try new wines without compromising on value. As of 2024, only 96 restaurants worldwide have received this recognition, setting the bar for the best in wine selection and service.
The Post Hotel & Spa
Located in the heart of Banff National Park in Lake Louise, Alberta, Post Hotel & Spa provides a luxurious getaway in the stunning Canadian Rockies. Blending rustic alpine charm with world-class hospitality, this 1 Michelin Key hotel offers an intimate retreat for travelers seeking tranquility, indulgence, and adventure. With a rich history dating back to 1942, the hotel seamlessly combines timeless elegance with modern amenities, providing guests with an unparalleled experience.
Post Hotel & Spa is proud to be a longstanding member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux association, exemplifying excellence in personalized service, culinary artistry, and guest experience. For 23 consecutive years, it has earned the coveted Wine Spectator Grand Award, highlighting its exceptional wine cellar, which boasts over 20,000 bottles and a carefully curated selection that rivals some of the finest collections in the world.
As one of the hotels within Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts (CRMR) family, Post Hotel & Spa is committed to sustainability, culinary excellence, and authentic mountain experiences, reflecting the values of its parent company. Whether savoring an acclaimed dining experience, unwinding in the serene Temple Mountain Spa, or exploring the surrounding pristine wilderness, guests are immersed in a world of refined luxury and natural beauty.
Renowned as one of Canada’s top luxury resorts, Post Hotel & Spa continues to set the benchmark for hospitality, culinary excellence, and curated alpine experiences.
Challenges
The property faced challenges in managing its extensive wine collection, particularly on gaining clear insights into its revenue potential and risk of loss. Although they used a well-organized spreadsheet to track inventory, it became clear that a more efficient system was needed. The team struggled to manage aging wines, decide when to serve or sell certain bottles, and train staff effectively. Manual counts were time-consuming and prone to errors, especially as the collection continued to grow.
The goal was to automate repetitive tasks, streamline operations, and access accurate, real-time data without needing to be on-site. Delaying the implementation of a more efficient solution posed risks, as valuable revenue opportunities were likely being missed. The hotel needed an intelligent solution to manage every aspect of their wine program more effectively.
Solutions
To ensure a smooth transition and successful knowledge transfer, Alfred sent an expert to work closely with the client’s team. Before the visit, Alfred’s team carefully processed the client’s detailed Excel spreadsheets, cleaning the data, linking it to our database, and importing it into their account. This preparation made sure the data was accurate and ready to integrate with our system.
Once on-site, our expert took charge of completing the setup. Every bottle in their inventory was added and correctly located in the system. The next step was customizing the account to match the client’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), making sure the solution fit their specific needs.
Our expert also provided thorough training for the designated "Power Users," ensuring they had the knowledge to manage the system efficiently. A customized wine list was created to match their offerings, and optimization strategies were discussed to improve efficiency and boost revenue.
This hands-on approach ensured a smooth implementation, allowing the client’s team to confidently manage their beverage operations while benefiting from Alfred’s AI-driven insights to improve their operations over time.
Results
The implementation of Alfred’s solution delivered immediate and tangible results for the client. Three key outcomes were highlighted:
- An increase in the market value of the total inventory by $2.5 million: Our system revealed a significant discrepancy between the actual market value and the cost of the inventory, allowing the client to capture this additional value.
- A potential loss of $60,000 exposed: Through Alfred’s detailed product data (POD), we identified inefficiencies and missed revenue opportunities, such as products that were underutilized or mispriced, leading to a potential loss that could have gone unnoticed without our insights.
- A large volume of inventory not available for sale: Around $1 million in cost value was tied up in stock that was not listed for sale, including aged products meant for maturation. By highlighting these gaps, Alfred helped the client better manage their inventory and reduce waste.
With these findings, Alfred’s solution provided the client with real-time visibility and actionable insights, enabling them to take immediate corrective actions. The rapid execution of the implementation helped unlock hidden value, optimize inventory management, and ultimately drive new revenue streams, reinforcing the importance of agility and data-driven decisions in today’s competitive market.
Tas Pereira, Senior Manager, Systems and Applications for both Post Hotel & Spa and CRMR shared: “As we worked thorough our inventory processes, since the acquisition of the hotel in 2021, it was evident that it was necessary to focus on a more streamlined approach for tracking, auditing and counting inventory. When it comes to a sizeable collection like ours, the pen and paper/spreadsheet approach leaves much to be desired. We knew from conducting spot checks and auditing our manual processes that a better solution needed to be in place to protect our investment, while also finding ways to increase our return. Alfred’s offering checked all the boxes and we are thrilled with what we have already accomplished in a mere 3 months since implementation. Special thanks to Emeric Bouyer and his team, for their demonstrated expertise and dedication. Their commitment and attention to detail is truly special and we appreciate their continued, unwavering support. Exciting times!!”
The client now enjoys a more refined beverage program, with products visible to customers and correctly priced, leading to increased sales, reduced waste, and an enhanced customer experience. Alfred’s turnkey solution, which provided immediate results, has given them a competitive edge and a clearer path to future growth.
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