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December 11, 2024

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Restaurant Marketing Strategies for the Holidays - 2024 Guide

Holidays are around the corner and there is no better time to bring in some festivities to increase restaurant exposure, entice new guests, and retain loyal customers.

A cozy holiday market booth decorated with wreaths, Christmas lights, and festive ornaments, featuring a vendor in a red sweater.

The holiday season is peak consumerism time which includes dining out, catering, and gifting.

As it gets closer to Christmas, Hanukkah, and the New Years, potential customers will be searching for the perfect restaurant to celebrate the holiday cheer and by leveraging these marketing strategies, you can attract all the jolly customers looking for a fun and spirited holiday.

For the holidays, people often gather and celebrate in large groups, making it a perfect time and opportunity to reel in large orders and showcase yourself to new and returning customers.

Creative holiday promotions and events can help your restaurant stand out and fun social media campaigns can expose you to a larger audience, increasing awareness and engagement.

Especially for the holiday season, food gatherings evoke a feeling of warmth, generosity, and togetherness where guests are able to create lasting memories at your restaurant, creating an emotional connection with your space and food.

Here are 24 marketing strategies for the first 24 days of December leading up to Christmas!

Dec 1: Festive Holiday Menus

Festive holiday items are a must for any restaurant wanting to celebrate the holiday season with their guests.

This can bring an uplifting holiday mood to all the diners and make it a more memorable experience when it might just be a quick lunch time break.

By highlighting unique holiday desserts and drinks, you can excite your guests and get them ready for the upcoming holidays.

Seasonal items not only attract foot traffic and exposure, it also encourages repeat business to try new options.

This can be done by creating Christmas or holiday inspired desserts and beverages by using holiday flavours and adding holiday decorations to make them visually in line for the holidays.

For example:

  • Peppermint Mocha with a Candy Cane hanging on the Cup
  • Gingerbread Shaped Cookies decorated with Holiday Cheer
  • Eggnog Ice Cream with Red and Green Sprinkles

Dec 2: Holiday Combo Meals

Offering curated combo meals featuring festive flavours and themes can cater towards families or individuals looking for a convenient and joyous holiday meal.

These holiday combo meals create value both physically and psychologically, as well as increase the average ticket size for your restaurant.

For Example:

  • “Christmas Feast for Two” with turkey, cranberry sauce, and a holiday dessert
  • “Holiday Snack Platter” featuring themed appetizers and drinks

Dec 3: Ticketed Holiday Events

Ticketed events can not only increase profits, it also allows for new customers to spend at your restaurant that doesn’t require a food purchase.

These events can help you attract a wider audience pool and build brand awareness.

The ticket price covers the event itself, and attendees are often encouraged to purchase food and drinks during the event, further boosting revenue.

Offering a festive and memorable experience helps set your restaurant apart and creates opportunities to connect with your community during the holiday season.

For Example:

  • Holiday Wine and Cheese Pairing Night
  • Gingerbread House Decorating Workshop
  • Christmas Trivia Contest with Prizes

Dec 4: Daily Discounts Leading up to the Holidays

Create a festive advent calendar of deals!

Each day can feature a new discount or promotion to encourage daily visits and build excitement and curiosity among your customers.

This can be highlighted on your social media platforms as a way to reach a wider audience, as well as a quick and easy way to inform your most loyal customers of the upcoming holiday deals.

For Example:

  • Dec 1: “Buy One Get One Free” on holiday drinks
  • Dec 2: 10% off your total bill
  • Dec 3: “$5 Special Holiday Lunch Set”

Red and gold Christmas ornaments spelling out "SALE" hanging on a festive string.

Dec 5: Holiday Party with Live Music

Holiday parties are a must if you want to draw in a lively crowd and create a festive atmosphere.

This can turn a regular evening into a memorable holiday meal with entertainment.

This can give your guests a feeling of added value to their dinner by only paying for food, but receiving much more.

For Example:

  • Jazz Christmas Night featuring a local band
  • Carol Singing and Candlelight Dinner

Dec 6: Holiday Gift Card Specials

Gift cards are the perfect gift for food lovers as they are a popular, easy-to-purchase gift option, especially during the holiday season.

Selling restaurant gift cards is a great tactic to generate immediate revenue, as well as attract new customers and build brand loyalty.

When customers buy or receive a gift card, they are more likely to return several times to finish using the gift card, and end up spending more to use up the gift card.

For Example:

  • Buy a $50 dollar gift card, get $10 extra for free
  • Buy a $100 gift card for $80

Dec 7: Loyalty Rewards

During the holiday season, it is an opportunity to show your love and appreciation for your loyal customers with extra points or exclusive holiday perks.

This puts your restaurant back into your customer’s mind and encourages them to choose your restaurant during the busy holiday season.

For Example:

  • Double points for every visit in December
  • Early access to holiday menu items for loyalty members
  • Free holiday drink with a purchase

Dec 8: Charity Drives

If you host charity events throughout the holiday season, it not only gives you good exposure in the community, it also is a way for your business to give back, building your brand image and goodwill.

This will attract customers who value community involvement and contributing to a good cause.

For Example:

  • Donate a toy, get a free appetizer
  • In store canned food drive
  • Donate and our restaurant will match your donation up to $100

Dec 9: Cross Promotions with Local Businesses

By partnering with local businesses in your area, you can create mutually beneficial promotions that can feel more fresh and exciting to your customer base.

This can be a chance for your customers to explore other local businesses and their customers to come try what you have to offer.

It can also be a chance to connect with your fellow business owners and show your support and admiration for them.

For Example:

  • Pair your holiday menu with a local bakery’s desserts
  • Offer discounts for customers who shop at participating stores
  • Offer a pop up shop in your restaurant

Dec 10: Giving Back Night

Dedicate an evening where a portion of proceeds goes to charity or any other cause your restaurant wants to support that is in line with your goals and vision.

This can attract diners who want to make a difference during the holiday season.

For example:

  • Dine for a Cause: 20% of tonight’s sales go to the local food bank

Dec 11:  Social Media Contests

Engage your audience by running a fun holiday-themed contest on social media.

This can encourage user generated content which can increase traffic to your restaurant.

This will also make your restaurant seem more relevant and internet savvy to appeal to the younger crowds.

For Example:

  • Post your holiday meal at our restaurant with #HolidayEats for a chance to win a $50 gift card
  • Take the cutest picture with our holiday drink and winner receives a free mug

Dec 12: Influencer Collaborations

If you have special holiday menus or promotions, inviting local influencers to experience them can increase your visibility.

These influencer’s follower reach can bring new diners to your restaurant.

Pay attention to the influencer’s follower base and check if they align with your target customer base.

For example:

  • Partner with a foodie influencer for a holiday menu tasting
  • Create a special holiday menu item with an influencer named after them

Dec 13: Festive Hashtages

Create a catchy holiday-themed hashtag for customers to share their experiences and build online buzz.

For example:

  • #JingleEats
  • #FestiveBites
  • #holidaysat[restaurantname]

Dec 14: Social Media Holiday Countdown

Posting daily updates or special deals leading up to Christmas or New Year will keep your audience engaged and excited.

For example:

  • “12 Days of Christmas Specials” featuring a unique dish or drink each day
  • Showcasing a different dish each day of December as a countdown to the holidays

Dec 15: Holiday Decor

Transforming your space into a festive wonderland with holiday lights, ornaments, and themed table settings will enhance the dining experience and encourage customers to share photos online.

Having a designated viral photo spot is a sure way of increasing customer engagement and traffic.

For Example:

  • Small christmas tree at restaurant entrance
  • Holiday lights around restaurant
  • Holiday themed corner with fun mascots and decor

Dec 16: Holiday Themed Ordering Systems

Ordering systems and POS systems should be decorated with holiday cheer along with the rest of the restaurant.

Upgrade your Holiday festivities with MenuSifu

➡️ Dress up your restaurant with holiday attire and activities with MenuSifu

➡️ Come up with limited edition food items and drinks for the holidays

➡️ Design holiday packaging to bring up festive spirits

➡️ Set up holiday set menus for large groups

➡️ Transform MenuSifu products with customized holiday screens and menus

➡️ Personalize holiday messages to your loyal customers

➡️ Use marketing and social media services by MenuSifu to upgrade customer engagement

➡️ Holiday and event posters and advertisements provided by MenuSifu

Dec 17: Holiday Catering Options

Offer catering packages for office parties, family gatherings, and other holiday events to increase sales during the holiday season.

Try to have a few options for feasting size and various dietary needs.

For example:

  • Festive Feast Catering for 10 featuring an array of seasonal dishes
  • Christmas eve food bundle for a family of 5
  • Vegan New Years Eve Dinner for 2

Dec 18: Extended Hours

Cater to the increased demand during the holidays by staying open longer or opening earlier.

Adjust based on your customer needs and schedule.

Changing pricing of your items can also be a way to increase customer flow and satisfaction.

For example:

  • Early brunch service for holiday shoppers
  • After 10pm bites for late night celebrations

Dec 19: Flash Holiday Sales

Hosting one day only promotions encourages immediate action from new and existing customers.

Think about bigger bonuses for your customers since it is a one day special that won’t affect yearly profits tremendously.

For example:

  • 20% off all dine-in orders today only
  • First 10 customers gets a free custom tote bag
  • New seasonal items on sale only today till sold out

Dec 20: Santa Meet and Greet

If your restaurant is family oriented, inviting Santa to your restaurant is a fun event to explore as it brings in larger dining groups and creates a lively mood.

Kids can meet Santa while parents enjoy a meal, making it a fun experience for all.

A cheerful Santa Claus standing beside a decorated Christmas tree with ornaments and a golden star on top.

Dec 21: Holiday Cocktails

If your restaurant has a cocktail menu, creating holiday spinoffs on the classics could be a fun way to showcase something new and celebrate the holiday season.

For Example:

  • Cranberry Margaritas
  • Mulled Wine
  • Candy Cane Martinis

Dec 22: Custom Holiday Merchandise

Designing and selling branded holiday-themed merchandise like mugs, hats, or t-shirts can create an additional revenue stream that will also serve as a marketing tool to continuously remind customers of your presence.

If you have the budget, giving them away is also an option that will make customers happy and increase your marketing reach.

Dec 23: Holiday Market Pop up

Host or participate in a local holiday market, featuring your dishes alongside other vendors.

You can also invite non food businesses to create a more well rounded market that can pull in various customer groups.

Dec 24: UGC Content Campaigns

Encourage customers to share photos or videos of their holiday experience at your restaurant.

For example:

  • Post your meal with us using #HolidayEats and tag us to be featured on our page!
  • Post a 5 star review on Yelp and Google and get a free appetiser

Illustration of people using data and analytics tools to optimize restaurant operations, with a QR code to learn more about MenuSifu's offerings.

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