In the world of hospitality, Christmas can be an especially important time of year. In some cases, takings during the festive season can be considerable, and help to keep the business afloat for the other eleven months of the year. Getting your strategy right and doing the right preparation can, therefore, be vital.
Strategic staffing and training
The staff you hire should be able to deliver an exceptional quality of service. They should also have the knowledge and skills they need to operate equipment, handle orders during busy periods, and hold themselves and their colleagues to high standards.
Doing all of this effectively means recruiting early. Find the best candidates for the positions you’re looking to fill, and make sure that you have a robust and effective process for onboarding.
Menu planning and inventory management
Your menu will have a big impact on the success of your business. If it’s not of the required quality, you’ll struggle to attract customers. If it’s too expensive, then your margins will be poor. It’s difficult and disruptive to change a menu midway through the season (though some flexibility can help you to fine-tune your offering). You’ll also need to consider the problem of having too much, or too little, stock.
Shortages and waste can be damaging – and they tend to come about when specialist ingredients are being used in just one or two products. When you’re mostly making everything on the menu from a handful of core ingredients, you’ll find it much cheaper and easier to manage your inventory.
The best approach is to devote as much energy as possible to getting the menu right, and to ensure that all of your ingredients can be provided by your suppliers. Forging good relationships with those suppliers is critical.
Compliance and legal considerations
If you’re selling food in the UK (or indeed, in most countries), you’ll be subject to a variety of health and safety regulations, as well as licensing and employment law. Getting on the right side of the rules often means consulting pre-emptively with lawyers specialising in hospitality. This will help ensure that you don’t run into problems during a crucial busy spell.
Marketing and promotions
Drawing in customers means spreading the word. You might seek to generate excitement by running special promotions for Christmas. Do this via every channel available to you, including digital and physical ones. Local newspapers might be a great way to promote a deal at a hotel restaurant – but email, social media and word of mouth can all play a role.