It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, and with the silly season heading into full swing, it’s important to make sure that you are making the most of the holiday rush.

The holiday period is the perfect opportunity to attract new customers, and encourage past customers to visit again. In today’s competitive market, there is always plenty of competition for Christmas bookings, but there are also plenty of ways to entice people to your venue.

Here are some of our top marketing tips to help boost your bookings this holiday season:

1. Get into the Christmas spirit
   

   There is no better time of year to have some fun with your décor. Put on some festive music, decorate a Christmas tree, hang some lights, add festive accents to your tables, or have your staff wear Santa hats for the month of December. This is a simple yet effective way to entice customers through your door, and it’s sure to make their experience more enjoyable at this time of year.

2. Promote your Christmas specials and packages
   

   Let your customers know that you are celebrating the festive season by updating your social media profiles with Christmas and New Years’ themed posts, and share any holiday specials with your followers. Send out Christmas themed eDMs and flyers to boost your venue for the holiday season and leverage potential Christmas and New Years’ party bookings.

3. Gift vouchers
   

   Customers who love your dishes will love the thought of treating someone with a dining experience this Christmas, which is why it’s a good idea to start selling gift vouchers if you aren’t already. If you are selling gift vouchers this season, don’t forget to let people know about it! Promote your gift vouchers through your website and social media.

4. Corporate packages
   

   December is the perfect time to attract bookings through your local businesses. Whether it’s to wine and dine with their clients, or to let their team wind down with an end-of-year celebration, local businesses will be on the look-out for a venue. Create a special corporate package or offer, and send out pamphlets or Christmas cards to local businesses to let them know about it.

5. Beat the post-holiday blues
   

   The festive season is an expensive time of year, and often results in a slump in business throughout January. But the holiday rush doesn’t need to end with the holiday season. Generate bookings throughout the slower weeks by offering Christmas and New Years’ diners a special gift voucher that is redeemable during January only. You can also promote January offers in your eDMs and on social media.