Restaurant Promotion Ideas #30 – Valentine’s Day Picnic Baskets

Incremental Revenue with Romantic Valentine’s Day Picnic Baskets

This year other than the usual Candle Light Dinner in the Coffeehouse, I will also be selling Romantic Picnic Baskets. One reason as mentioned in my previous post is that the hotel that I am attached to has a pool in every room. Therefore the idea of having a romantic picnic “Just the Two of You” by your very own pool will surely catch people’s attention. Thus giving us another avenue to increase our revenue.

The equipment I plan to use will be disposable as I am not expecting the things to come back. Nowadays there plastic plates and glassware that look very nice and expensive. As for the food you need to make it pretty simple and shareable. In my Picnic Baskets, I will add a battery operated lamp, so the couples can switch off the lights to create the ambience. Here are four different Picnic Baskets I plan to sell.

Champagne Picnic Basket

I plan to purchase a nice white basket, put in a bottle of sparkling wine or champagne, 2 nice disposable champagne glasses, a box of chocolate coated strawberries and a cute battery operated lamp. You can purchase a cooler bag to keep the champagne cool. But as I will be selling to the customers that take our rooms, I got those disposable ice buckets that you will find in motels and send the baskets together with ice. If your restaurant is located in a hotel or very close by to a hotel that has bathtubs in the rooms, you can add a TLC (Tender Loving Care) Box. In it you can put bubble bath salts or soaps, lavender scented candles, a disk with romantic songs, some rose petals, and a picture frame with your logo on it and so on. This gift will surely make people remember your restaurant.

Gourmet Picnic Basket

Another Picnic basket will be A Gourmet Picnic Baskets. I plan to have different options for people to choose. The food items will be shareable and mainly finger foods. In it I plan to put items like smoked salmon sandwiches in a freshly baked Baguette for two, mixed fruit tartlets, assorted fruits including strawberries, shrimp cocktails, a veggie tray, cheese and crackers, mini-sandwiches, nachos with salsa dip and a bottle of non alcoholic sparkling wine or alcoholic sparkling wine. Most of the food will have minimum usage of cutleries. For the plate ware and cutleries, I will be using a disposable type. As mentioned earlier, nowadays there is very nice disposable plastic dining ware in the market.

Wine and Cheese Picnic Basket

Similar to the Champagne Basket, I will get some nice disposable wine glasses; add a cheese platter, some cheese crackers, and some strawberries too. Don’t forget to put in a wine opener into the basket.

Valentine’s Day Breakfast Picnic Basket

I found this idea while searching for ideas on menus for my picnic baskets. It’s very interesting. It’s always romantic to have breakfast in bed or by your pool and what better way, if it was a surprise by your love one. So I felt these ideas would catch on. The menu that I am planning is very simple and not messy. I don’t the Housekeeper to come after me, when someone drops tomato ketchup on her sheets. I am putting freshly brewed coffee or tea, some bakeries like (bagels, croissants, Danish Pastries), some fruit, pancakes, cereal and some nice bottle juices. Not forgetting a red rose.

To make it more memorable add a small booklet or flyer with some romantic games ideas that the couples can play while having their picnic. Here’s a website that have some romantic games ideas that you can add to your basket. Please Click Here Romantic Game Ideas

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Restaurant Promotion Ideas # 29 – Valentine Specials

Valentine’s Day, the single most celebrated celebration in the world and is also the second busiest holiday for restaurants. Its not a public or work holiday in any country that I know off. But its an important holiday to pay attention to especially if you are in the restaurant business. Here are some statistics taken from Retail Advertising and Marketing Association on consumer spending habits on Valentine’s Day. This is to give you an idea on the importance of promoting Valentine’s Day.
– Average spending is $13.19 billion
– Percent of consumers who celebrate Valentine’s Day is 61.8%
– 34.6% of those celebrating Valentine’s go out for dinner.
Combine this statistics and the fact that Valentine’s falls on a Saturday in 2015, you will have money practically falling from heaven if you properly market your Valentine’s Day Specials. Below are some Restaurant Promotion Ideas that you could use this Valentine’s Day. To know more, please CLICK HERE

Article Source :- Restaurant Promotion Ideas #30 – Valentine’s Day Picnic Baskets

Restaurant Promotion Ideas # 29 – Valentine Specials

Some Restaurant Promotion Ideas to Increase Revenue on Valentine Day

 Valentine's Day, the single most celebrated celebration in the world and is also the second busiest holiday for restaurants. Its not a public or work holiday in any country that I know off. But its an important holiday to pay attention to especially if you are in the restaurant business. Here are some statistics taken from Retail Advertising and Marketing Association on consumer spending habits on Valentine's Day. This is to give you an idea on the importance of promoting Valentine's Day.

 - Average spending is $13.19 billion

 - Percent of consumers who celebrate Valentine's Day is 61.8%

 - 34.6% of those celebrating Valentine's go out for dinner.

Combine this statistics and the fact that Valentine's falls on a Saturday in 2015, you will have money practically falling from heaven if you properly market your Valentine's Day Specials. Below are some Restaurant Promotion Ideas that you could use this Valentine's Day

Host a Facebook Valentine's Day Contest
Running a contest is a fun way to get people into your restaurant. People love winning something. Here are some ideas on contest that you can hold using your Facebook account which is very cost effective. Hold a "Why I am so in love with my other half" picture contest. With the picture with the most likes will receive a bottle of wine when they dine at your restaurant. Please click here to have other Facebook Contest Ideas, Share the Love: 14 Last-Minute Valentine's Day Facebook Contests [Infographic]

Sell Extras
Upsell, add add-ons. People are normally very generous during this kind of special event and they normally would like to impress their other half. Create special desserts, cute chocolate boxes, candies that the customer can purchase for their loved ones. Make sure its memorable and is seen to be of value for their money. You will surely increase your revenue by a few more dollars. After all, Valentine's is only a one day event. So you need to get whatever sale that you are able to get.

Target Families
Don't only think Valentine's is just for couples, you can make Valentine's a family affair. Do a Brunch on Valentine's Day where the kids can join in. Give out little chocolate or sweet boxes to the kids and moms. You could even set up in a corner special Arts and Craft table where the kids can make Valentine's Day cards or gifts for their parents. Your restaurant will be booked with couples for dinner and its already decorated. So just open for lunch and you will have additional revenue.

Partner with a Local Business
Work with local business to come out with a special packages where both of you gain. You can partner with a local hotel or inn to come out with a dinner and room package. Maybe with transportation from the hotel to your restaurant. You can also partner with a local tour agency and created a package where the guest goes for a romantic river cruise, only then they come for their dinner. You can even partner up with a spa to come up with a spa package for two that includes dinner. The list is endless. There's the candy store, florist and jewelers that you can partner up to.

 A Cupid's Corner
Nowadays for any special event, I like to create photo booths to suit the event. This is so people will take photos to remember the great time they had at our place. If its within your means hire a professional photographer, get their contact information and send them copies of the photos along with a special discount for having their Valentine's at your restaurant. Another way is to get one of those portable photo printers that can support memory cards or using bluetooth technology. The customer can take photos using their mobile and later you can give them the option of printing their favourite or their partner.

 Show your Customers You Love Them
Valentine's is also a perfect time to show your customers you appreciate their support. You can give them special coupons for discounts by email. They just need to print and redeem at your restaurant. Visit your most loyal customer at their office or house with a large box of chocolates or flowers. Bring a cameraman and record their surprised and with their permission post the pictures on Facebook.

 Romantic Picnic Baskets
If your restaurant is located near a park, by a river or even on the beach. Any avenue to get incremental revenue on this special day is to sell Romantic Picnic Baskets. As the resort where I am currently attached to has a swimming pool in every room, I plan to sell different Valentine's Picnic baskets. I am going to have a champagne and strawberry, one with wine and cheese and maybe one with some gourmet finger food. But you have to make sure your basket is light and most items are disposable as you won't get them back. Start selling your romantic picnic baskets 2 weeks ahead on your website or Facebook page.


ALSO READ
Restaurant Promotion Ideas #30 – Valentine’s Day Picnic Baskets

Incremental Revenue with Romantic Valentine’s Day Picnic Baskets

This year other than the usual Candle Light Dinner in the Coffeehouse, I will also be selling Romantic Picnic Baskets. One reason as mentioned in my previous post is that the hotel that I am attached to has a pool in every room. Therefore the idea of having a romantic picnic “Just the Two of You” by your very own pool will surely catch people’s attention. Thus giving us another avenue to increase our revenue.
The equipment I plan to use will be disposable as I am not expecting the things to come back. Nowadays there plastic plates and glassware that look very nice and expensive. As for the food you need to make it pretty simple and shareable. In my Picnic Baskets, I will add a battery operated lamp, so the couples can switch off the lights to create the ambience. Here are four different Picnic Baskets I plan to sell. For more info, please CLICK HERE






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Article Source "-Restaurant Promotion Ideas # 29 – Valentine Specials

My Hotel Review – Swiss Garden Hotel and Residences Malacca

My Review of Swiss Garden Hotel and Residences Malacca

As the start of school was extended until the 12th January. We took a trip to Melaka. I needed a rest cause the School Holidays was very hectic and busy where I worked, needed to spend time with my boys and mummy needed a rest as she was three months pregnant. So we had to have a change of atmosphere. Having a energetic two year old, I normally look for hotels that have food courts, a nice swimming pool, interesting places to visit and shopping complex all within walking distance. This time around I chose Swiss Garden Hotel & Residences Malacca as it was in town, above the Shore Shopping Complex and had a little water playground for my kids.

Check in was quick without filling any forms as the receptionist just typed in some of your details. Only issue we faced was locating the carpark as there were not much signage, so we went round the building twice. We found a parking just on the same level as the Ballroom and the Café, after asking two security guards. As the hotel opened only in December 2014, so I feel there is going to be more signage on the way.

Our room was on 13th floor overlooking part of Kampung Morten and the Melaka River. We could see the Melaka River Cruise boats moving up and down. The room balcony was quite large but without any furniture. Which was alright with us as we didn’t want the boys climbing up. The room was the usual hotel room set up with minimum decoration. As I have mentioned most of the time its OK as we were not going to spend much time in the room. Channels are also limited, there’s the Malaysian Channels, some Singapore channels, Fox Movies, Disney and Travel & Living. The saving grace was the DVD player which had a USB slot that I could show movies or my two year old’s Pocoyo to keep him occupied.

The Executive table but I felt it was not practical for families as the edge of the table was quite dangerous for little kids. But thats my opnion only.

The view of the Melaka River from our room.

There was no Food Court (like other Shopping Malls in Malaysia have) at the Shore, only restaurants like Ninja Joe, Seoul Garden, Starbuck and La Bodega. So we ended up having dinner in the Garden Terrace as we are all exhausted and didn’t want to venture out. Our room came with breakfast for two which was also served in the Garden Terrace. The spread was the usual hotel spread. Only difference they served freshly brewed coffee, Cappucino and Expresso. There were a noddle station, waffle station and also fresh fried egg station.

Char Koay Teow for dinner

Bakery Counter for Breakfast

My favourite Freshly Brewed Coffee

After breakfast we went to the swimming which had a small water playground. It was really fun for both of us. We sprayed each other, walk through the spray arch and so on. But we couldn’t use the pool much as it was raining most of the time during or stay.

My Verdict

A great place if you want to just use the pool or laze around. Its about 10 mintes drive from the major tourist attraction like Jonker Street, Kampong Morten and so on. As for food you have to go out as there are not much food outlets at the Shore.Therefore I still prefer the Hatten Hotel as its has a few food outlets within walking distance.

 Address:-

Swiss-Garden Hotel & Residences Malacca, Malaysia

T2-4 The Shore @ Melaka River

Jalan Persisiran Bunga Raya,

75300, Melaka Tengah, Melaka, Malaysia.

Tel : 606 – 288 3131

Fax : 606 – 288 3377

Email : info_sghrm@swissgarden.com

ALSO READ Hotel in Melaka - Hatten Hotel Melaka We chose Hatten Melaka for two reasons. One was that we could bring my four year old to the Coral Wonderland Aquarium which is just across the road from the hotel. The other reason was that Mahkota Parade was just next door, so my wife could go for her shopping terapy. Check in was a breeze as we checked in on a weekday. Melaka gets really crowded on weekends and holidays, especially hotels around the the historical sites. Parking is located within the Hatton Square which will be a problem on weekends as shoppers will also park there. The hotel is huge and very busy especially at Chatterz their all day dining on level 11 during breakfast. Read more here, please CLICK HERE