Restaurant Holiday Promotions: Tips & Ideas

Nothing says “holiday” like coming together with your favorite people over a meal. For the savvy restaurant operator, holidays offer an opportunity to increase restaurant sales with unique promotions and marketing ideas.

We’ve collected some restaurant holiday marketing strategies and best practices that’ll help you find new customers and keep them coming back for more. From menu inspiration to tools that can help you drive demand, here’s how to delight diners and increase sales, no matter the holiday.

Which Holidays Are the Busiest for Restaurants?

Popular holidays for restaurants go beyond the traditional end-of-year holiday season. According to the National Restaurant Association, 4 in 10 Americans plan to dine out or order in on Mother’s Day alone. Other popular holidays include Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and Easter.

Even adopted or “unofficial” holidays can be a sales opportunity. Holidays like Cinco De Mayo or sports events can drive delivery orders and big nights out on the town. And don’t forget about fun food recognition days like World Tapas Day on June 18 or National French Fry Day on July 10. These can be great opportunities for themed menus or special promotions.

Marketing Ideas for Holiday Promotions

Holiday marketing doesn’t differ too much from your year-round strategies, but there are some best practices to consider when those big days are coming up.

1. Personalize the Holiday Guest Experience

A restaurant is nothing without its guests. But these days, developing a relationship with your guests means more than just remembering names. Guest insight tools are a way to personalize your holiday outreach and enhance the dining experience.

For example, Resy’s Guestbook feature consolidates your guest data and provides insights into previous dining history, allergies, and favorite menu items. That allows you to send personalized invites to your regular or VIPs with exclusive holiday offers or menu items they’re sure to love. Think of it as sending your most valued guests a holiday gift, just from you.

2. Drive Holiday Reservations Through Email Marketing

Making genuine, in-person connections with your diners when they’re in your restaurant is important. But knowing how to stay in touch with them outside your restaurant is crucial, too. An email newsletter is an essential tool for introducing yourself to new customers and keeping your regular guests updated on new promotions and menu items.

Holidays are great opportunities to reach out to your subscribers via email and let them know what’s happening. Try including celebratory images and copy that align with the season. Be sure to highlight any special promotions like prix fixe menus or live entertainment. Consider an email referral campaign where your regular subscribers get discounts or perks for adding their friends as subscribers. Resy has a ton of ideas to help you get started on your email newsletter, no matter the time of year.

3. Engage Diners With Holiday SMS Campaigns

Reaching out to your guests by text can help spread the word about special offers, remind them of upcoming events, and provide updates on their reservations. According to marketing platform Constant Contact, most people read a new text within five minutes of receiving it, and texting campaigns have on average a 98% open rate. That means it may be a good option during busy holiday seasons when people might not be checking their email as often.

Be sure you have consent to send text messages first and make a schedule for your promotional texts so you don’t overwhelm your guests and push them to unsubscribe.

4. Use Social Media for Holiday Restaurant Promotions

Social media is an excellent way to amplify your reach during the holidays. These platforms allow you the chance not just to tell your story, but to show your audience how you’re celebrating the holiday season. Here are some quick ideas:

• Create a short social video showing how you’re prepping your new holiday dessert step-by-step.
• Launch a “secret” holiday promotion for followers, featuring an exclusive item or discount if they refer to your post.
• Create a post celebrating a long-time staff member. Ask them about their holiday memories and their favorite dish.

Remember to keep your posts festive but not overly pushy about sales. Try to develop an authentic voice that speaks to your guests without feeling like an ad. Check out our guide to promoting your restaurant on social media for more tips and tricks.

5. Turn Your Restaurant into a Holiday Destination

Stand out during any holiday season by turning your restaurant into a full holiday experience. Create an environment that guests simply can’t find anywhere else.

Here are some ideas to bring the magic of the holidays to your dining room:

• Christmas brunches with appearances from Santa Claus himself.
• Live holiday music from a wide range of artists and musical genres. Think romantic classical music around Valentine’s Day or a classic rock cover band on Father’s Day.
• Pitch your restaurant as a unique venue to watch parades or fireworks shows.

Combine these events with your social media strategy to draw eyes to your business and drive demand.

6. Secure Holiday Bookings by Offering Prepaid Experiences

One great way to ensure full tables is to turn your holiday promotions into full prepaid experiences. For example, you could offer a classic multi-course Thanksgiving meal and require payment up-front to secure a reservation. This helps cover costs, prevent empty tables, and determine how much staff you’ll need during the event.

You can even use Resy’s Exclusive Groups feature to give your most valued guests early access to your holiday events. This will help these guests feel in the know, solidify customer loyalty, and create a sense of urgency to make a reservation now.

7. Keep Your Info Current During the Holidays

The holiday season can often bring confusion about hours of operation. Part of your planning should involve managing expectations and being clear about your offerings. Make sure all of your online business profiles are correct and updated with your holiday closures, extended hours, and exclusive menus so your guests don’t miss their chance to make holiday memories.

Frequently Asked Questions About Restaurant Holiday Promotions

What holiday marketing tips help restaurants during peak seasons?

Effective holiday marketing tips include creating festive menus, offering dining packages, promoting gift cards, and using multi-channel outreach (email, SMS, and social media) to engage diners.

What restaurant holiday marketing tactics boost repeat visits?

Tapping into your regulars and VIPs may help boost repeat business. For example, if you have multiple events during the winter holiday season, you could consider sending personal invitations for each one, rather than one single seasonal invite that might get lost in the mix. You could also feature custom holiday menus for specific holidays like Easter, Valentine’s Day, and New Year’s Eve, rather than just one standard menu for each season.

How can restaurants personalize the holiday dining experience?

Using a platform like Resy’s Guestbook can help you collect personalized data on each guest to customize their experience. For example, if you host a meet-and-greet with Santa during the holiday season, you could make sure he knows each kid’s name before they reach the table, creating even more magical moments.

What are low-cost holiday promotion ideas for restaurants?

Social media posts that don’t require a lot of up-front investment—for example, those that use your existing staff and supplies—can get the word out without breaking the bank. Share behind-the-scenes content, create videos of festive menu prep, post image carousels of holiday dishes, or feature staff member spotlights. These touchpoints can engage your audience and drive reservations during the season.

How do I run successful promotions without disrupting operations?

Laying out clear responsibilities for your staff during the holidays can help avoid operational issues. Have one person whose job is to handle decorations, or designate a dedicated server for musicians or special guests to avoid orders getting lost. And take time well before the holiday season to ensure the flow isn’t disrupted if you rearrange tables in the space.

The Takeaway

Holidays are a great time to market yourself to new guests and celebrate your regulars. Don’t overthink it. Add a holiday twist to your standard marketing channels and have fun with joyous holiday dishes and décor. That festive energy can impress your customers and spread the word about what makes you unique.

Help turn the holidays into opportunities. Book a demo to discover how Resy helps boost revenue and delight guests, no matter the season.