Valentine’s day is approaching and it’s the perfect occasion to promote your restaurant and make a lot more reservations.

The popularity of Valentine’s day is not decreasing with the millennial generation as some media sources maintain, but increasing year on year. Statistics show, that people are spending more in experiences than in actual material gifts. This is excellent news for the hospitality business.

We know that the number of single people has also increased in the last decades but even this group of population is celebrating Valentine’s day their own way with friends.

The truth is that Valentine’s day remains a great opportunity to increase sales, especially for those businesses offering experiences, like your restaurant.

If you want to have more bookings for couples and friends that day you need to stand out from the crowd.

I have researched the net to bring you fresh ideas to offer an original Valentine’s experience and have more chances to become the most popular option in your city.

Let’s see them, shall we?

Offer a set menu including some aphrodisiacs

Since the ancient Greece some food has been considered to have aphrodisiac benefits, and you know, as well as me, that many couples are expecting to have some little intimate time after dinner.

So you can offer help as well on that 😊

This is the list with the ingredients that claim having aphrodisiac benefits. I need to add here that some of them are in this group more due to their shape (bananas, oysters) than for their real love making powers.

In any case, offering these ingredients will surely get your customers into the mood:

• Pistachios
• Brazil Nuts
• Saffron
• Chocolate
• Bananas
• Strawberries
• Asparagus
• Avocado
• Oysters
• Honey
• Hot chilies
• Ginseng
• Caviar
• And of course, alcohol 😊

Ally with other businesses

One great option in order to get more bookings is to partner with other businesses that offer other experiences like cinemas, spas or hotels.

Together you can offer a nice discount in order to provide your customers with an unforgettable Valentine’s day.

Who would say no to a night of love in that fancy nearby hotel you have never been to before?

Offer take away menus

You can increase your sales without having to increase the number of tables in the restaurant by offering the option of taking the Valentine’s menu home.

Many people like to stay cosy at home and enjoy a nice dinner with candles and watch a film afterwards.

You just have to make sure you have enough capacity in the kitchen to prepare more menus and offer people the possibility to collect them at the restaurant.

Create an anti-Valentine’s Day menu as an alternative

Many people nowadays are single and may want to make this day an excuse to go out with friends. You can put to work your funny side offering anti-Valentine’s menus with typical anti-kiss ingredients like onions or garlic.

You might want to offer special deals with prosecco and cava to celebrate being single and happy.

In order to promote your Anti-Valentine’s day special, you can come up with some funny quotes or memes on being single.

There are many ideas on the Internet to get some inspiration from, I copy some of them here:

“I like to be single, I’m always there when I need me”

“The best thing of being single is all that sleeping around, you can sleep all over that comfy bed of yours, left, right, middle, wherever”

There are plenty!

Bring in live music to enhance the mood

Bring some live romantic music if you are aiming for a truly Valentine’s spirit or some fun tunes for the Anti Valentine’s versions.

Music is always a good option if you have the space and the resources.

Come up with Valentine’s Day Funny Slogans

For the promotion, you can choose some funny quotes about love and food. Here are some of the most popular ones to inspire you.

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”  Virginia Woolf

“There’s no sincere love than the love of food” George Bernard Shaw

“People who love to eat are always the best people.”  Julia Child

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” Charles M. Schulz

“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” Fanny Fern

“My weaknesses have always been food and men — in that order.” Dolly Parton

I love that last one 😊

Promote your Valentine’s special on Social Media

I’m sure your restaurant is the best place to spend a romantic and fun evening but newcomers may not be aware.

Sharing original and compelling photos on Facebook and Instagram is the best way to introduce your brand to a new audience and to inform those who already know your restaurant that you are organising something special.

Set the scene with a romantic table or a snap of each course on the menu. The idea is that they picture themselves eating that delicious food with their chosen person.

And remember, try to always be gender neutral with your messages, you don’t know who is booking the table and for whom.😉

In Sharman Media, we have lots of great ideas for your Valentine’s day promotion on Social Media. Just call us!

Let’s celebrate love!