Mother’s Day is around the corner, and last year the occasion took top spot for Canada’s most popular day for dining, up 17 per cent, with experiences seeing a 52 per cent increase in celebrations over the previous year. This year, 50 per cent of Canadians are planning to dine out this Mother’s Day, but what’s the best way to attract Mother’s Day guests to your restaurant?
“Mother’s Day is one of the biggest dining occasions of the year, a golden opportunity for restaurants,” said Matt Davis, Senior Country Director, OpenTable Canada. OpenTable data reveals that 71 per cent of Canadian moms prefer to celebrate Mother’s Day with a family brunch or lunch with their children present. As well, if moms could design the perfect meal out to celebrate, 40 per cent would be dining near waterfronts and scenic views, and 26 per cent would like a chef’s tasting menu. Providing a pleasant, pretty environment and a unique experience is a great way to attract guests to your Mother’s Day celebration.
While many families book ahead – in fact, 43 per cent of Canadian moms have taken the lead and booked a meal to celebrate themselves for Mother’s Day – 23 per cent of Canadians confessed to panic booking a restaurant within 24 hours of Mother’s Day. This means that while there is a benefit to taking reservations to optimize operations, inventory, and labour, you may also want to leave a few tables open for walk-ins or last-minute bookings.
Hosting a variety of festivities over a few days may also help restaurants fill their dining rooms, as 54 per cent of Canadians will celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 11th, and 32 per cent plan to celebrate on Saturday, May 10th. So, restaurants may be able to capitalize on multiple days by offering a few different ways to celebrate to appeal to all sorts of guests and their schedules.
Get creative with your Mother’s Day celebrations this year to draw in a crowd and help families celebrate the important people in their lives with memorable dining experiences at your restaurant.
