Are you planning a Mother’s Day celebration at your restaurant?  Research shows over half of Canadians (51 per cent) plan on dining out for Mother’s Day this year so it’s a great time to get people in and raise revenues. Mother’s Day brunch is a classic way to celebrate our favourite moms, bringing together families for a delicious meal and quality time – but that’s certainly not the only way to commemorate the occasion. If you are looking to host a unique Mother’s Day experience for your guests, get creative with your celebration to offer a new and exciting way for your guests to gather on this special day.

Mother’s Day eve

Getting together can be a challenge for families when coordinating schedules, celebrating multiple moms, and managing separate families. A Mother’s Day eve event may help guests simplify their lives, while filling your restaurant on a slower night. Decorate for the occasion, create a specialty drink or dessert, heat your patio to welcome guests outside – create an atmosphere at your restaurant that will make moms feel special and sell out for the evening.

Live action

If you are looking to add some excitement to your celebration, consider adding something to engage families and get them to try something new. Live music can get people in the mood to celebrate, a magician might keep kids interested, a cooking class could offer an interactive element to the day. You don’t have to go all-out but a live element can encourage more reservations to fill up those seats.

Off-premise dining

These days, many moms just want to relax at home to celebrate, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to enjoy food from their favourite restaurants. Get creative with takeout specials, prix fixe meals, dishes to share, or even a picnic-style menu to offer something fresh for the day. Think about the final product  – include flowers, a card, or use the picnic basket as part of the gift for mom.

Get attention

Promote your event with email marketing, to your visiting guests, on your website, and any other way you can think of to let people know. Spreading the word about the event and taking reservations will help you manage your labour for the best possible guest experience.

You may also want to partner with a local business. This can allow you access to a broader audience, may mean you can give away prizes or free gifts, and allows you to support another local business.

Whether you are looking to mix it up or you prefer to offer the traditional brunch, remember what’s most important on the day: offering guests a memorable and delicious way to celebrate special people in their lives.