Suggestions Restaurants Need to Know for a Successful Christmas Season
The last quarter of the year is no doubt the busiest for the hospitality industry, with customers relying on restaurants as part of their holiday celebrations. Many restaurants have prepared their exciting new menus — with and without Brussels sprouts.
The mood to celebrate
After two years of cancelling or scaling back holiday celebrations for pandemic precautions, we are eager to observe the season with friends and family. Many say they are putting more effort than normal into celebrating this year.
Planning started early
A survey in September revealed that people were already starting to make holiday plans. Out of the 18% that said they were working on holiday plans, 17% have been invited to celebrations at the homes of family and friends, 13% have already invited people to their house, and 9% have already made a reservation at a restaurant or pub.
Restaurants are included in holiday plans
With several holidays as part of the season, customers have multiple opportunities to visit restaurants. 1 in 10 intend to visit a restaurant or pub on Christmas Day. Here’s a look at the percentage of people who are making restaurants or pubs part of their 2022 holiday season:
- Christmas Eve 13%
- Christmas Day 11%
- Boxing Day 17%
- New Year’s Eve 24%
- New Year’s Day 14%
Tuesdays and Sundays are popular for bookings
Be prepared for an influx of bookings, but also keep these preferences in mind when receiving enquiries— suggest alternate or slower days to prospects when your venue is sold out on popular dates.
Food makes a great gift
Food and dining is a popular gift on Britons’ wish lists. These are the purchases that consumers have made during past holiday seasons:
- Gift card for a pub or restaurant 35%
- Branded merchandise from a hospitality business 23%
- Retail products from a hospitality business 23%
- Pre-packaged dining experience 18%
Experiences are in
Younger demographics (particularly Generation Z) prefer to buy their friends and family an experience instead of a physical gift. Some popular dining experiences include a dinner for two, a wine-tasting experience, or a cocktail-making class.
Technology can make it all happen
Customers embrace technology, and the technology is available for restaurants to provide a better, faster, convenient experience for their customers. Event enquiry forms, self-booking or ordering, event management, and online payments are just a few of the ways that restaurants can make their business run smoother for the holiday season.
Timing is everything
Customers can’t make bookings or purchases if they don’t know what’s available. Promote offers via email, social media, your website, and digital ads as soon as they’re ready. Share the information multiple times a week — it might not make an impact on the first try, but seeing your content will make an impression over time.