Holiday Hospitality

It is hard to believe but we are now in December. The official Holiday Season is in full swing as we close out the last period of 2025. Finish the year strong and set yourself up for success in 2026 by pouring on the hospitality this holiday season.

There is a common connection with your guests this month as everyone is celebrating the holiday season. They are in a celebratory mood, sharing holiday cheer with family and friends. The sound of clinking glasses is in the background of your dining room. Capitalize on this opportunity by providing excellence in execution and genuine hospitality for your guests’ experience.

The month of December is the absolute best marketing opportunity of the entire year and how you treat your guest will benefit you in the upcoming months. Take a moment and think about all your current offerings: Holiday Gift Card Promotion, Increase Large Party Traffic, Private Party Rooms Booked, Offsite Catering Opportunities, Increase in Take Out Orders, Christmas Eve and of course, New Year’s Eve Celebration. All of these are opportunities to continue to impress current guests but also create a terrific opportunity to win over new guest that are experiencing your restaurant for the very first time. Many of the guests may be attending a private function or group catering that their company is paying for. Your goal should be to make an impact that compels them to return to your restaurant and bring their friends.

In my experience, I have learned that this is a time to be giving to the guest by offering special holiday touches to enhance guest engagement and create a memory. I believe this is not the time to increase profitability by increasing prices, offer expensive specials or promote a New Years Eve Celebration with a prix fixe menu that is 2 to 3 times more than your current menu pricing and per person average. It is an opportunity to be true to your concept, deliver an excellent product, pour on the hospitality and give to your guests. The goal for this period should be to develop loyal guests for 2026. Remember the Reason for the Season. HO! HO! HO!

To learn more please reach out to me at david@therestaurantclinic.com.