Cheers! Here’s to More Shared Successes in 2023
It’s hard to imagine, but 2023 is just around the corner, and with the coming of a new year, we’d like to take this time to tell you all just how grateful we are for every one of you. So, from all of us here at EMERGING, we wish you all a wonderful holiday and thank you for putting your faith in us. It’s been a pleasure partnering with you and helping you succeed in your short and long-term hospitality goals.
We know that the holidays and upcoming New Year are typically busy for you, so with the festive spirit in mind, we wanted to put together a few tips to inspire you and help you make the most of this busy time.
Preparing for the Holiday Rush…OR Not
Many of you may be the go-to in your area, the place to celebrate the coming New Year. In that case, make sure you are adequately staffed for the upcoming rush and keep your staff in high spirits. Reward systems that include sales contests help your team upsell, enhance motivation, and offer a better customer experience. One platform, Tipzyy, provides a mobile app that educates your staff and rewards them for a job well done.
Others, however, find this season to be a challenging time. They experience a summer rush and then find guests dwindling as winter arrives. For many, the slowest time of the year is immediately following the holidays. This is particularly true in areas with cold, harsh winters that drive people to linger by their fireplaces a little more.
Maintain your customer base by ensuring you have or develop a solid food delivery service with online menu ordering. Also, consider emailing regulars with special offers to let them know how much you appreciate their business.
Have you or your managers met with employees to keep everyone up to date on any specials you may be offering during this time? Strong communication is, after all, one of the hallmarks of a successful enterprise. Just make sure everyone is engaged. As George Bernard Shaw said, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
Gift Cards
Restaurant gift cards are one of the most requested items during the holiday season, so be sure your guests have easy access to them. Consider menu reminders or a small display at the host stand. These can be tracked through your POS system to see how they contributed to holiday sales.
Holiday Specials
A specialty cocktail is a great way to ring in the New Year. Try a unique twist on an otherwise classic drink, like a French 75. All you need is gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and champagne or sparkling wine. For those who can’t make it home for the holidays, add a comforting dish to the menu to bring a taste of home and familiarity.
Additionally, consider switching up your playlist this time of year. Celebrate the holidays with a classic such as The Christmas Song or party the night away on New Year’s Eve with Raise Your Glass.
An Experience
While we’ve discussed the importance of delivering your guests an exceptional experience this year, the holidays are a great time to take this sought-after detail to heart. Have a particularly jolly employee? Consider having them dress up as Santa Claus during the lunch shift to spread joy to your younger customers. Other options are a designated Cheer-Meister who delivers small chocolate and peppermint treats. There’s even a drink to honor them. The Holiday Cheermeister is a bourbon punch with pomegranate juice, freshly squeezed orange juice, and sparkling wine.
Decorations and twinkling lights are another great way to provide a festive atmosphere. If space allows, set up an outdoor area with blankets, heaters, and lights, creating a magical spot for guests to indulge in a hot toddy and warm appetizers or small plates. Most importantly, this is the time of year to thank your guests and staff for contributing to a successful 2022.
We hope these few tips helped get you in the spirit for the last stretch of what’s proved to be a challenging, rewarding, and inspiring year. At EMERGING, we consider our team and our partners one family, committed to working through challenges, rising to the occasion, and achieving goals together.
