The answer is simple really.....
Now is a great time to be building up material to use for next year. What better way to promote your Christmas parties and packages than to show people having fun, and your hotel or restaurant in all its Christmas splendor?
Here are a few simple ideas to get you started:
Photos
Take photos at every opportunity!
- Restaurant set for dinner - different angles, large tables, private dining areas - show what you can offer!
- Christmas parties - groups having fun to show the experience.
- Staff dressed in Santa hats - to show their dedication.
- Christmas tree, decorations and lighting to show the atmosphere.
- Winter scenes - frosty mornings or better still when it snows to show the Christmas feel.
- The food - Good clear shots, these can be staged at a later date if you are too busy with service.
- Guest Rooms - If you decorate your rooms for Christmas, show them off!
Video can be edited so don't risk missing a moment!
- Party nights
- New Years Eve (midnight)
- Kitchen preparation - Even some chefs Christmas food tips to share!
- Guest reviews
Be sure to obtain guest's permission before using video. Video and pictures can be used in all your online activity to promote Christmas 2010 for website, Christmas brochure, newsletter, blog, facebook and twitter links etc. They can also be used for offline activity too including printed menus, flyers, posters and of course editorials. If you are using photos for printed material please ensure they are of quality. I recommend using a professional photographer if your budget allows (or offer goods in exchange for their services).
Feedback
Use feedback forms or online survey. Ask your customers what they liked and disliked. Ask them for suggestions for next year and if they would return!
Testimonials
Customers who give you great feedback, ask them if they would give you a testimonial to use in your marketing literature. Real testimonials from real customers are credible. If business customers ask if you can include a link to their website. These can be used in your marketing for next year plus January's newsletter.
Follow up
Follow up as soon as possible. This will build relationships and increase chances of repeat business throughout the year and next Christmas.
Make notes
Keep a customer profile. A name and address is fine but better to expand on this by noting numbers, dates, times (lunch or evening), age range, preferences i.e. did they enjoy wine, cocktails or entertainment. Were they high or lower spenders? This can all be used for marketing throughout the year as well as next Christmas.
Your Team
Get feedback from your team. Ask them for ideas for next year whilst Christmas is still fresh in their mind. If you leave this until next August they will certainly have forgotten Christmas 09. Keep a staff ideas book in your staff area. Offer incentives for all ideas used.
And Finally...
Ensure you have all the details in your database and marked Christmas!
It's worth mentioning that probably 70% of customers who visit you during the festive season will not be regular customers. They may have been with a work party and never visited before. Will they visit again? Have you collected their contact details? Have you given them a reason to return? Will you start to build a relationship with them? Will you convert them into regular customers?
Too many Restaurant and Hotel managers seem to be so busy at Christmas that they forget one of the most important parts is to generate business for next year! Take this opportunity to build for the future.
Learn from your success and failures.
Plan early.
Generate a buzz.
Set targets and goals.
Budget and measure ROI.
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