14 keys to a packed restaurant this holiday season 🎄✨

The holiday season is upon us! How can you maximize your reservations, boost your revenues and deliver the best to your clients.

Here are 10 tips to help you succeed and stand out from the crowd.

✨ Also read: 8 tips for your restaurant this Christmas

Why should you prepare your restaurant for the holidays?

According to a study by the National Restaurant Association, 78% of Americans will take advantage of the holiday season to dine out.

Christmas meals are usually served at home. However the holiday season(from late November to mid-January) is also the time for a number of events that are likely to draw large crowds to your restaurant :

• Meals, brunches and Thanksgiving drinks ;
• Pre-Christmas meals or brunchs ;
• Christmas drinks with friends and colleagues (eggnog, "Christmas beers", mulled wine, etc.);
• Christmas markets in Europe(foodtrucks, takeaway, drinks);
• International events and festivities (winter solstice in China and Scandinavia, Canadian lights, the 7 days of Kwanzaa, etc.);
• New Year's Eve and the day after (detox brunchs)
• Winter Sales ;
• Dry January, Veganuary...

These 3 months of festivities are among the best seasons for bars and restaurant owners.

To increase your restaurant's margins and ensure the success of this season, it's essential to be prepared!

14 ideas to boost your restaurant's holiday sales

Dress up the menu

Smoked salmon or trout, truffles, foie gras, frozen desserts, chocolates... People tend to spend a little more to enjoy more refined dishes.

Examples: our customers Augustine - la table du château or Origines by Adrien Descoul are highlighting exclusive menus on Instagram.

Be smart: revise your menu accordingly! The most important thing: keep your roots and add festive elements that match your concept.

For example: foie gras ramen from Yatai Ramen or truffles from Francette truffles.

You can offer a special menu, made up of more noble products, or a short-lived menu to create exclusivity .

Avoid high average ticket prices

A 2023 study showed that people are increasingly in favor of responsible purchasing, even during Christmas.

To increase your average bill while satisfying your customers you should :

• Offer expensive ingredients as extras on your menus (ex: +9$ supplement for foie gras);
• Add starters or special dishes on request (turkey to share, truffle velouté...);
• Use drinks to build higher profit margins (champagne or bubbles, cocktails, Christmas beers, eggnog, etc.)
• Pay attention to portions, take advantage of seasonal products.

Off-peak hours: use snacks and drinks

When it's cold outside, comforting hot drinks are just the thing.

It also allows you to fill your off-peak hours!

When it comes to snacks, establishments that are open all day have every reason to offer special Christmas treats to attract customers who are strolling the streets in search of gifts. Christmas teas, gourmet coffees, pumpkin spice lattes, gingerbread, cucpcakes, nougats (using cinnamon and Christmas spices).

In addition to the famous Christmas drinks (beers, mulled wine), you can be original with oyster bars, cheese tastings or foie gras.

Example: our customer Comptoir du caviar which offers an aperitif experience around caviar and champagne to celebrate the month of December.

And also, the special "champagne month" offer for Indiana Café.

Keep children happy, keep parents loyal,

The holiday season is a family time. ‍

Offering a special children's menu and associated areas is absolutely key to being a kids friendly restaurant.

Parents will love spoiling their kids while treating themselves at the same time.

💡Update your Google My Business! Use the keyword "kids friendly" in your establishment listing, Google posts and review responses from October onwards!

Don't forget the experience and the decorations (we'll come back to this later): wrapped presents, a tree, anything that will appeal to children.

Finally, go all the way: provide highchairs and a changing station in your toilets. Parents will thank you!

Offer a brunch

When restaurateurs are working, others usually enjoy a vacation.

This is the perfect timing for brunches and late breakfast activities. 

Why not invite customers to linger over a post-holiday hangover brunch on December 26th, January 1st or 2nd, or to suggest a healthier, lighter offer, a detox from big meals?

Our customer OFF Paris Seine invites Internet users to come and enjoy a comforting brunch the day after New Year's Eve!

Embrace the magic of Christmas

Christmas is all about decorations. Streets, stores and even homes - don't underestimate the power of tinsel!

Bringing the magic of Christmas into your restaurant is the best way to attract customers.

No need to invest too much:

• ‍‍A few decorative touches are all you need (mistletoe, lights, sequins or candles to warm up the  atmosphere);
• Original ideas and goodies : wrapped gifts, Christmas socks, Santa, trivia evenings... 

Once again, try so stand out, use and abuse of DIY ideas and stay focus on your restaurant's concept.

Example: cosy chalet atmosphere, vintage ski decorations, fireplace, Christmas trees at our customer's home Quai Ouest has gone all out for the festive season, when the restaurant is renamed Quai Ouest 1200.

For quality content around the festive season, organize a photo shoot on this theme, as our customers have done Biba Brunch or Manteigaria.

Think business to business

The festive season is also a time for celebrating... with colleagues!

Many companies organize Christmas meals just before the break.

If your establishment is in an office-friendly neighborhood, it's a great opportunity to fill your restaurant with large tables for both lunch and dinner, and make yourself known to the office clients in the surrounding area. You can offer take-away menus with a "Christmas at work" theme, catering services or secret santas for coworkers.

Use social media for gifts

There are several advantages to giving your community the chance to win gifts on social media. Not only does it get your community intothe Christmas spirit, but it's also an opportunity to set up collaborations with other brands and reach their audiences. Your could offer : -50% off a meal, cocktail, coffee, free drinks... There are numerous possibilities ! Happy customers shall also leave a happy review, which great for e-reputation.

‍Our customers Chouchou Hotel, Deia Coffee, Cali Sisters created their own Advent Calendar with great prizes in collaboration with top brands. This calendar will also help them generate new followers in just 30 days! 

When offering gifts, make sure you ask followers to like and subscribe, or even tag a few friends. This will do wonders for you Instagram page.

Two birds with one stone: you keep your followers happy and your Instagram on point!

Follow the December calendar

December is marked by a number of important days.

Dates you can use to bring customers in or boost your social media.

For example : the International ugly Christmas Sweater Day or the International Climate Day. Find more dates in  our restaurant marketing calendar!

Another good idea would be organizing a contest for your followers. Anyone who shows up wearing a Christmas sweater gets a cocktail for free! 

In terms of results, you'll generate higher engagement rates and encourage subscribers to visit the restaurant.

Place gift (tickets) under the tree

Vouchers for a meal out are always a great gift.

You can either go for the artisan paper voucher (great for Christmas), or use an electronic gift card.

The Camondo  restaurant   offers a variety of gift vouchers  for different menus.

Organize a Christmas charity event

In December, some restaurants offers free meals to the underpriviledged in exchange for a small donation. $1 per menu, for example. 

These actions are only effective if you make them known to the widest possible audience! Use social media to get volunteers and donations.  

Communicate, communicate, communicate

All the work you do during the holidays is lost if you don't communicate on it!

The holidays are a great opportunity to fill up on photos for your establishment, invite new clients, imagine new dishes, generate positive reviews...

New dishes, new menus, ephemeral decoration, gift cards... You need to show them off to attract clients! Use social media (insist on Reals and Stories for maximum impact) and don't forget to post content on your Google My Business page (Google Business Profile) so you'll move up in Christmas-related  keywords and search results.

‍Ourcustomer the restaurant Martin République communicates via Instagram (stories, highlights, posts) but also on its website (pop up, dedicated space), from December 1 on its end-of-year festivities.

Sponsor strategic content

When done correctly, sponsorship can maximize your impact and help you reach news clients. 

By investing a few dollars on a Facebook or Instagram post, this will allow you to reach a much wider target.

You can also target your fans. Take your 20 best customers and send them a Christmas card or an email. Make sure to include a gifts and/or a promotional code.

Schedule your email or letter campaign in advance. You can send a first shipment a few days before each event (Black Friday, Christmas...) then a second shipment in January. Be sure to estimate the delivery time required during this busy period!

Appeal to influencers

Influencers remain valuable partners to boost your offers and content.
These players have a strong power of recommendation. Make sure you invite the most relevant influencer (someone who will love your food and matches your values, for instance). I
If they like something about you, they'll share the experience with tens or even hundreds of thousands of potential customers.

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Has this article given you any ideas? With 1 to 1.5 months to go, you're right on schedule!