With the holidays top-of-mind, it’s the perfect time to plan a New Year’s celebration at your restaurant. This year, 33 per cent of consumers plan to order food for takeout or delivery for the holidays and 22 per cent plan to celebrate by going out for food and drinks. Get creative with your celebration this year to raise revenues and draw a crowd for the new year.
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New Year’s Eve
Ring in 2025 with an event to remember! Host a themed party, offer an early family-style event, or keep it simple with a special happy hour that doesn’t require you to stay open all night. Craft a special menu, create cool cocktails and mocktails, and get guests celebrating with a fun and unique experience. To better manage the traffic, consider adding seatings to turn more tables and manage labour and kitchen operations efficiently.
If you have event space, consider renting it out for the evening, rather than hosting. Many groups are looking for a place to hold an event, and that may be an avenue you an explore.
New Year’s Day
Many people are looking to avoid cooking after a late night out, so New Year’s Day offers the opportunity to connect with your guests and get people through the doors. Host a champagne breakfast, brunch buffet, tasting options, or a prix fixe menu for the day. This is a great time for families to connect, so plan ahead for larger groups by taking reservations, adding more staff, and making the most of ingredients for simpler kitchen processes.
Off-premise dining
Whether your guests are looking for a caterer for their house party, a romantic dinner for two at home, or a family night in, don’t forget off-premise diners in your New Year’s planning. Think about offering dinner, brunch – or both – and ensure that your menu and packaging are on point, delivery times are managed, and the menu is translatable for a to-go application. Also, consider asking people to order in advance to be able to manage operations efficiently and provide excellent customer experience.
The holidays are a busy time, but don’t miss the opportunity to ring in the new year at your restaurant!
