The holidays are a time of celebration and parties! Restaurants can host a cocktail party where people can bring in their families and friends.
However, the catch is that it can be challenging to host a successful cocktail party, especially if your restaurant isn’t prepared to handle an influx of people coming for the celebration. Preparation is key to hosting a successful cocktail party.
Here are quick and easy preparation tips to be a successful cocktail party host during the holidays.
1. Improve automation in your operations
Weeks ahead of the cocktail party, restaurants can have an across-the-board preparation by increasing automation in their operations. A menu QR code can improve your online ordering processes, inventory management, bill payment processing, and more.
Cramming all the preparations just days before the party can lead to many things going wrong. There may be circumstances where you forget to contact supplies or haven’t received successful customer RSVPs.
Improving automation can also streamline other aspects of your restaurant operations, such as staffing, preventing delayed orders, and more.
2. Know what your customers like
Of course, the goal of a cocktail party during the holidays is to boost your sales. But for the most part, it’s also to engage with your customers and gather more potential customers in your restaurant — so create a party your customers like!
To know what they’d like in a cocktail party, restaurants can initiate gathering customer feedback strategy both in-store and online.
For in-store customer feedback gathering, restaurants can include them in a QR code menu or a paper form given along with their receipt. Incentivizing with a discount or vouchers can be effective in encouraging more feedback.
On the other hand, restaurants can send out a customer feedback form through email, text blast notifications, social media posts, and more. Similarly, you can offer them a promo code to encourage them to leave feedback after signing up.
3. Launch a good promotion strategy
One of the best metrics for a successful cocktail party is having plenty of attendees. More attendees yield better sales, more engagements for your restaurant, and better visibility across online and offline platforms.
To gather more attendees, a good strategy in online and offline platforms is crucial for restaurants that want to increase their attendees. In the long run, it can boost customer engagement and improve your brand’s reputation.
Here are restaurants that can promote their cocktail parties:
- Open an event page where you can post updates or customers can ask for feedback
- Post a poster in your storefront with a QR code leading to your event page
- Join groups and forums within the community to promote your party
- Offer perks and benefits to encourage customers to join the party
- Hype up the party with special guests and entertainers
While some restaurants would likely launch their party promotions on social media or websites, actively participating and boosting popularity on offline platforms can effectively attract attention to your restaurant’s cocktail party.
4. Prepare your staff for their tasks
While improving automation processes can boost efficiency in your operations, having reliable staff to cater to guests and party-goers are just as important. With a more human approach, staff can interact with guests for a more enjoyable party.
Before the party, have a rundown with restaurant employees on things to do, expectations, and how the environment can change in the next few days. Holidays are a busy period, where employees may not even have time to spend with their family and friends.
It can be mandatory to work overtime but ensure restaurant employees are well-compensated. Giving them bonuses can also boost your chances for their confidence and value that they did a job well done.
Host a successful party at the most wonderful time of the year!
Hosting a successful cocktail party can be difficult, but using the right tools can improve your preparations significantly.
Use a menu QR code to bolster your parties during the holidays!
