The holidays are coming. Fast. It’s the most profitable time of the year. It’s also the most chaotic. You have to navigate inclement weather, staff vacation requests, and the unpredictability of holiday foot traffic. It’s a lot. But you can handle it. You just need a plan. Here are six ways to streamline operations and maximize revenue.
1. Engineer a seasonal menu
You don’t need a massive overhaul. Supply chains are still tight. Inflation is real. So are tariffs. Focus on high-margin items you can execute consistently. Look at your reporting data. See what sold last year. Check current ingredient costs. If a dish is too expensive to make, cut it. Pair holiday classics with high-margin upsells. Keep it simple. Your kitchen will thank you.
See our menu engineering blog post to learn more and use our free menu engineering template below to do the number crunching.
2. Streamline reservations
Some guests want a private party. Others just want a booth for two. You need to accommodate both without wrecking your table turns. Use a reservation and waitlist platform to manage everything in one place. Forecast covers. Schedule staff accurately. You can also reduce no-shows with 2-way text confirmations and reminders, as well as a cancellation policy with deposits to encourage guests to follow through with their plans.
3. Sell gift cards
Gift cards are immediate cash flow. They are interest-free loans from your guests. Put them everywhere. The host stand. The bar. Your website. Your social media channels. Train staff to mention them. Run a promotion. Buy $50, get $10. It drives sales now and brings guests back in January when traffic slows down.
4. Schedule your staff efficiently
Holiday scheduling can be stressful. From time-off requests to increased foot traffic and a change in guest expectations, you need to ensure you’re staffed efficiently for the holidays. Plan your holiday schedule using data to stay organized and efficient. Be clear about PTO and sick leave policies so employees know what to expect. Use past data to predict busy times and adjust staffing levels. Use labor management software that integrates with your POS system to forecast staffing needs and minimize labor costs. These tools allow you to optimize shifts based on predicted demand, creating a well-prepared team ready for the festive season. Thoughtful scheduling helps balance employee satisfaction and operational efficiency during this season filled with holiday spirit.
5. Promote loyalty sign-ups
You are going to see new faces. Turn them into regulars with a custom loyalty program. As an incentive, offer an instant reward for signing up. A free appetizer. A discount on their next visit. Make it easy. Integrated loyalty on your handhelds or guest-facing display on our POS stations works best. Speed is key. Do not slow down the checkout process.
6. Grow your customer database
The holidays are the perfect time to build a customer database for your restaurant. Collect emails at every touchpoint, including reservations, loyalty sign-ups, digital receipts, and online orders. Building up this list now gives you the opportunity to send marketing campaigns once the holiday season is over and drive off-season traffic.
The holiday rush is tough. It's loud. It's messy. It's exhausting. But it's also your best chance to bank revenue for the slower months ahead. Tighten your operations. Watch your margins. Take care of your team. You have got this.
