Food safety practices and Guest satisfaction: Examining the relationship between food safety practices and customer satisfaction in Indian hotels

Food safety practices and sanitation practices are essential in influencing customer satisfaction in hotel food and beverage operations. As consumer awareness of cleanliness and safety standards rises, hotels must have effective and transparent food safety procedures to fulfil guest expectations. This study investigates the correlation between food safety practices, cleaning and sanitation practices, and customer satisfaction in hotels. A quantitative, descriptive, and correlational study approach was utilised, and data were gathered from 200 guests residing in 3-star to 5-star hotels in India through a standardised questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation analysis were employed to analyse the data. The results demonstrate that food safety practices and cleaning & sanitation practices are significantly correlated with customer satisfaction, with both of them indicating a slightly stronger link. The research underscores the significance of systematic cleanliness management in enhancing guest satisfaction and offers practical insights for hotel managers aiming to elevate service quality and consumer trust.