Tourism has an exponential impact on the global economy, boosting the gross GDP by 2.7% in the United States, and much more elsewhere. For operators, tourism has a palpable effect on the restaurant industry, generating a sales increase of up to 30% at fine dining establishments, 16% at quick-service restaurants, and 15% at fast casuals. That’s about one in four dollars attributable to tourism and travel spending. Knowing how to increase tourist traffic in your restaurant can offer a tangible increase in your bottom line, and drive your growth.
Soorten toeristisch verkeer
Out of town traffic come in all shapes and sizes. Some of that traffic is from travelers who are en route from destination to another, and looking for a place to grab a quick bite. Tourists, on the other hand, are deliberate in their goals: they came to your city for a recreation. In the United States, these tourists have spent around $150,000,000 annually, since 1900, excluding during World Wars. That money travels both inside and out of the country, spreading commerce on a global level at a steady clip. While mileage varies on why people travel, modern tourists are looking for honesty, space, and experience. Staying knowledgeable of your location and considerate of travelers’ needs can put you ahead of your competition, and improve your guest experience.
Ken uw geschiedenis
Whether it’s history or natural splendor, there are a host of reasons for people to come through your town, and you probably already know some of those reasons. Is there a famous person or event in your town? Does your city have the World’s Biggest Ball of Twine? Is your restaurant near a Kabouterreservaat? Knowing a little about the locale that you want to put your restaurant can give you a marketing advantage. In doing so, you can tap into whatever it is that attracts people to your area.
Overweeg een leuke gimmick
Als je weet waar je regio ligt, kun je de demografie in kaart brengen en inspelen op dat beeld. Als je in een landelijk gebied langs een snelweg zit, kun je misschien een beroep doen op de rustieke kwaliteiten van de regio. Meer specifieke voorbeelden zijn het opnemen van iets over de locatie in het thema van je restaurant of menu-items als logisch gevolg. Ben je in de buurt van die grote bal garen? Gebruik touw om je bestek vast te binden. Zet kabouters in je menu-items. Door je aan te sluiten bij die locatie kun je stilzwijgend of direct de ervaring van je gasten tijdens hun bezoek aan het gebied verbeteren.
Locatie
Picking your location is no small task. Not only do you have to consider the cost involved in choosing a spot, but you must balance that with the potential for traffic. If you’re too far off the beaten path, you may encounter some challenges, although there are plenty of modern options that can enhance your sales.If you already have a spot, take the immediate location into account and build out from there. If you’re near an industrial park, for example, you may consider abbreviated menu items to accommodate for the lunch rush. Either way, use your location to your advantage to drive sales.
Houd het lokaal
Sourcing your ingredients locally environmentally healthy and a great selling point for travelers looking for a taste of native fare. Irrespective of what type of restaurant you operate, using foods unique to your area can enhance your customer appeal. Studies indicate that consumers are willing to pay more for fresh, local foods, and an opportunity to network with the local farming community. Additionally, consider sourcing local brews, wines, or spirits, which further incentivizes travelers to stop in and experience your location.
Bewegwijzering
Finding a good sign is integral in standing out in a crowd. There are a few options that you have to your advantage that looks at the color and motif to draw the eye. Whatever the case, a large sign outside of your business can grab attention, enhance your business, and serve as a primary branding tool. If you can localize the concept, you can do some work towards making your restaurant signage instagrammable.
Interstate bewegwijzering
For weary U.S. highway travelers, there are few better resources that the blue signage that prefaces each stop in your route. If you’re a restaurant looking to capitalize on interstate traffic, there is a lot of criteria that you have to meet. Mileage varies as to what you need to qualify to get your restaurant’s name on a sign, as that is broken out state-by-state. Generally speaking though, your eligibility is contingent upon a few factors: your proximity to the exit, hours of operation, and seating capacity. These are all factors that can make a difference to travelers who’ve spent hours on the road and are just looking for a place for a little rest without a lot of fuss.
Altijd een netwerk
In contact blijven met je lokale gemeenschap is essentieel om zaken te doen. Er zijn veel manieren om dat te doen, maar een effectieve manier om de meeste mensen te bereiken is via je Kamer van Koophandel (KvK) of een vergelijkbaar bestuursorgaan. De KvK is een netwerk van bedrijven die de belangen van hun achterban behartigen en samenwerken om de gemeenschap te versterken. Of je nu lid wordt van het bestuur of gewoon een relatie opbouwt met de KvK, je kunt ervoor zorgen dat je naam in de hoofden van prominente zakenmensen komt, evenals in stadsgidsen, die suggesties doen aan reizigers.
Kom in contact met nabijgelegen hotels
Onderzoek je omgeving en ga op zoek naar hotels en overnachtingsmogelijkheden in de buurt. Door relaties op te bouwen met het personeel kun je ervoor zorgen dat je naam wordt voorgesteld aan reizigers die op zoek zijn naar iets te eten. Wees niet bang om het personeel af en toe te verwennen als blijk van waardering. Deze relatie is uiteindelijk symbiotisch, want zowel restauranthouders als hoteliers profiteren van het toegenomen verkeer dat een verrijkt aanbod aan attracties met zich meebrengt.
Ontwikkel een relatie met beïnvloeders
You have likely encountered top 10 lists unique to the culture of your location. These listicles attract attention by offering quick, easily digestible bites of information for your audience. Because of that, they get a lot of traction in search inquiries on Google, making them an especially findable way for travelers to get to know you. Find the people who help make these trends in your cities and put together a strategy to entice them to want to know more.
Zorg voor een sterke aanwezigheid in sociale media
One of the reasons that listicles and influencers are so important is that the content that they create and promote is often tailor-made to share through social media. Giving potential patrons insight through social media can help create a buzz. Keep a schedule by using tools like Hootsuite or Sprout, and post routinely. Make it interesting, and engage with your guests; tell their story too. Curate your aesthetic and stay on brand, but tie it into local trends when possible. Of course, social media is more than just platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The undisputed champion of search engines is Google, which serves around 63K search requests per second every day. Considering that the search “restaurants near me” gets millions of hits per month, Google has refined their algorithms to help businesses. You can use Google My Business to give guests critical information about your restaurant. Recent integrations allow restaurants can also take advantage of the Reserve with Google feature that enables guests to get on your waitlist or reserve a table quickly and efficiently.
Follow-up met feedback
By and large, avoiding the comments or review sections online is an excellent way to improve your mental and emotional health. In this case though, be thoughtful with your responses and use them to your advantage. Foster community wherever possible by responding with kindness when appropriate. Beyond that, learn from what your guests and patrons have to say. Learn what people are saying about similar restaurants and build on that. Take notes, especially on how tourists engaged with the business and apply them whenever it makes sense.
Lokaal inhuren
By knowing how to increase tourist traffic in your restaurant, you can increase your revenue and put that back into the community. During the summer months, the restaurant industry employs up to 500K additional workers. Hiring local staff is beneficial for a number of reasons, including having a staff of trained professionals who know and represent the area of your restaurant. Not only can you drive sales, but you can bring those efforts home. Hiring locally can help foster a positive and welcoming environment for travelers, who are greeted by people knowledgeable of and invested in their community.Wil je alles weten over restauranttechnologie, marketing, nieuws uit de sector en meer? Wij dekken je. Abonneer je op onze bekroonde blog voor wekelijkse updates over de populairste onderwerpen in de restaurantbranche.
Syd is een contentmarketingspecialist, wat mooie woorden zijn voor mooi schrijven om een goed verhaal te vertellen. Hij schrijft graag over eten, drinken en muziek. Hij is zelf muzikant, vader van twee kinderen en houdt heel veel van zijn vrouw.
Laat een reactie achter