New restaurants and cafes come and go in the UAE, so to make sure your restaurant has the best start, check out our top 5 tips to a successful restaurant launch, bound to put your new offering on the map.
Tip 1 – Always give a plus 1
Some of the most important people that you want to encourage to your event will be bloggers, influencers and writers and although a lot of the bloggers, influences and writers know each other, it’s always nice to include a plus one on their invitation. They are more likely to come to your opening (and stay for longer) if they can come along with someone they know.
Tip 2 – Give them a discount
Another way to increase your attendance rate is to offer a complimentary or discounted hotel room rate. This will help to attract guests living in a different city and works especially well if the restaurant is in a hotel. It will also encourage them to stay longer if they aren’t concerned with a long drive home.
Tip 3 – Choose the right date
When you are looking at the date of your opening event, make sure it doesn’t clash with any big events that are likely to attract the same guests. Don’t just limit this to thinking about other restaurant launches, but consider other events going on in the city such as major sporting, cultural or entertainment events, as a number of the bloggers, influencers and writers don’t just cover food events and are likely to be involved with these larger events.
Tip 4 – Think about your offering
It’s always nice to have some sort of entertainment to encourage guests to attend. Try to make this as theme specific as possible and keep in mind it doesn’t need to be over the top. The guests are ultimately there to try the food and see the venue, so the food and menu should be the showcase focus, not the entertainment.
Tip 4 – Give a Gift
Often restaurants and cafes don’t give a departing gift on their opening night, however we feel that a departing gift is a great touch to any successful launch event. Try and consider giving something that has meaning to your restaurant. Maybe your signature sauce in a nice jar? Or a knife with the restaurant name engraved on it, this way every time they use the item they are likely to think of the launch and the excellent time they had.
Tip 5 – Bring in the Professionals
Like any event, having professionals plan and manage the event on your behalf can free you up to mingle with your guests. Get in touch, we would love to help you make your next launch a success!
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