Winter is often the busiest season for restaurants and bars. Guests have returned from their summer holidays and are back to the daily grind, giving them the desire to dine out more frequently.
Winter also coincides with a host of special events and days like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, among others. Some notable food-related days include World Food Day and International Beer and Pizza Day.
In the Middle East, popular celebratory days include UAE National Day and Saudi National Day. Not to mention, Ramadan will start in mid-February till mid-March 2026.
So, it’s a busy season, but that doesn’t mean dining concepts should sit back. With the right restaurant holiday promotions, you can boost revenue, increase guest engagement, and stand out in a crowded dining scene.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything from pre-launch prep to high-ROI promotion ideas and post-campaign tracking, designed for restaurants, bars, bistros, and more.
Understanding Holiday Types & Guest Motivations
Before you can create a promotion for your restaurant, you first need to identify the days or dates of said offerings and the type of event or celebration.
Here’s a quick overview of several events that may be of interest to your dining concept, what motivates guests to dine out, and what your restaurant can focus on.
Holiday Type | Event/Holiday Name | Guest Motivation | Restaurant Focus |
National Celebrations | UAE National Day 4th of July | Community pride, family meals | Décor, local flavors, dine-in bookings, large-group bookings |
Religious holidays or events | Ramadan (1 month), Christmas, Easter | Spiritual/religious significance, family gatherings | Iftar packages, set menus, seasonal menus, takeaway options |
Gifting holidays/events | Christmas, Mother’s Day | Appreciation, gifting, premium experiences, family time | Prix-fixe menus, upsells, deposits, décor/ambiance, beverage bundles |
Experiential holidays/events | New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day | Memories, romance, high-end experiences | Prix-fixe menus, upsells, deposits, décor/ambiance, beverage bundles |
Further reading: 6 Valentine's Day Promotion Ideas for Your Restaurant
Phase 1: Campaign Timeline and Pre-Launch Preparation
To start your restaurant holiday promotions, you need to have a marketing strategy that converts into an executable plan.
This phase includes administrative and marketing steps, from determining the ideal promotional lead time to coordinating every team.
After all, you want the launch and execution of your restaurant’s or bar’s holiday promotions to be seamless and profitable.
Setting the operational foundations
No matter how brilliant the promotion, it’s only as good as the operation backing it. That’s why, besides guest communication, you need to ensure internal coordination at all times.
Use a tool, like WhatsApp to communicate with team members. Or if you’re using Servme’s restaurant reservation management system, you can use the Manager’s Notes feature to remind team members of upcoming reservations, VIP guests, and other important notes ahead of the big day(s).
The marketing team must also coordinate with the front-of-house (FOH) and back-of-house (BOH) teams. The brief should cover
The promotion(s) and schedule
Required staffing levels
Expected peak days or hours
Number of reservations made
How guests can redeem the promotion
Any details about limited-time dishes or package inclusions
Establishing the lead time for success
The success of holiday offers relies on having a multi-stage planning schedule.
Here’s a quick timeline overview with key actions and goals. You don’t have to follow this exact pace depending on the time available to you.
That said, with promotions, try to plan ahead as much as possible and improve with future campaigns.
Timeline | Key Actions | Goals |
60-90 days out | Finalize theme, set the total campaign budget, and set high-value corporate/private dining packages. | Maximize B2B revenue; secure major deposits; establish clear campaign ROI targets. |
45 days out | Finalize all seasonal and prix-fixe menus; complete design and production of physical collateral (table tents, printed menus). | Notify FOH & BOH teams of upcoming plans; ensure physical guest-facing materials are ready for deployment. |
30 days out | Initiate the first public marketing wave (email, social media announcements); launch the online booking/ticketing system. | Secure initial volume of reservations and deposits; build market awareness and urgency. |
14 days out | Conduct comprehensive FOH/BOH briefings on the specialized menu, service flow, and upselling scripts; begin final paid media push. | Drive last-minute, high-intent traffic to your restaurant website or booking widget; ensure team readiness and service fluidity. |
3 days before | Final inventory and supply chain check; confirm all staff schedules; send targeted pre-arrival guest confirmations & policy reminders. | Minimize operational risk (e.g., running out of key ingredients); reduce no-shows with notifications; enhance the premium guest experience. |
Pre-launch audit
Your restaurant marketing team should conduct a pre-launch audit of all digital assets.
This audit should include:
Ensuring your restaurant website and targeted landing pages are live and visually aligned with the promotion.
Verifying reservation widgets are functional and correctly reflecting promotional pricing (especially for set menus or deposit collection).
Making sure it’s easy for guests to pay reservation deposits online, via the website or a payment link via WhatsApp.
Confirming all online menus are accurate and linked correctly before the first campaign email or paid ad goes live.
Phase 2: 10 High-ROI Restaurant Holiday Promotions that Work
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to holiday marketing. The best restaurant promotions align with your concept, capacity, and target audience.
Below are 10+ proven ideas you can adapt, combine, and execute throughout the busy season to boost bookings, increase average spend, and delight your guests.
You can also combine ideas.
Seasonal menus and limited-time specials
Limited-time seasonal dishes, beverages, and menus are a great way to entice guests into your concept for the holidays.
Add seasonal flavors like berries, strawberries, premium spices, or recreate favorite dishes with a twist.
Make it clear these specials are only available for a short time to encourage repeat visits before they’re gone. This urgency will encourage both new and repeat guests to visit and dine.
Special event dinner or holiday-themed brunch
Plan themed dining events like Halloween Nights, Taco Tuesdays, or Christmas Brunch. These experiences attract social groups and increase weekend traffic, delivering a high profit-margin service.
Promote them across your website, restaurant booking widget, and social channels for maximum reach and visibility.
Prix-fixe and set menus
Prix-fixe menus offer a unique opportunity to bundle your offerings, increase walk-ins and foot traffic, and boost your bottom line.
Set menus are also great for high-volume days like New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, and Ramadan.
Offering a 3- or 4-course set menu streamlines kitchen operations, ensures a predictable plate cost, and increases the average ticket value (ATV). It also improves table turnover, enhances inventory management, and ensures guests leave with a memorable dining experience.
What is a prix-fixe menu?
A prix-fixe menu, (or fixed-price menu) is a multi-course menu offered during holidays or events. It helps streamline kitchen operations, manage food costs and inventory, and create a premium guest experience.
Dining concepts will often create prix-fixe menus as a way to boost sales.
Further reading: 8 Ramadan Promotion Ideas for Restaurants to Try in 2026
Branded holiday kits and takeaway
Many restaurants believe their biggest sales come from the dining room. But you can capture off-premise revenue by creating festive take-home packages.
Think New Year’s Cocktail Kits, Valentine’s Dinner for Two, or Holiday Dessert Boxes. These bundles appeal to guests celebrating at home and add a profitable revenue stream to your kitchen.
High-margin beverage programs
If you offer wine at your venue, consider premium, holiday-themed cocktails and mocktails. Add seasonal garnishes like cranberry or cinnamon to justify a higher price.
Rename your beverages, like ‘Festive Fizz’ to enhance the experience, and create excitement. This tactic also improves your ATV.
What is ATV in restaurant marketing?
Average Ticket Value (ATV) is the average spend per guest or table. Holiday promotions often aim to increase ATV through limited-time add-ons, upsells, or seasonal cocktails.
Strategic upselling and add-ons
Use reservation deposits to secure revenue before the guest even arrives.
Add high-value add-ons into your online booking process, like a pre-paid bottle of champagne upon arrival, a premium window seat reservation, or a "Celebration Dessert" add-on.
These upselling strategies increase average spend per customer in your restaurant, boosting average check size, and ATV, while ensuring a premium dining experience.
Further reading: Boost Your Profits with These 21 Restaurant Metrics [Guide]
Ambience-driven social contests
Turn your décor into a marketing tool. Create an Instagram-worthy backdrop and run a photo contest where guests tag your restaurant using a holiday hashtag. For example #[YourRestaurant]Holidays.
Offer a small incentive (like 10% off or a free dessert) to encourage participation and drive organic reach.
Use this strategy to generate free UGC, build brand awareness and loyalty, and increase restaurant reservations and foot traffic.
Further reading: Instagram for Restaurants: Best Practices & ROI Guide
The restaurant gift card promotion
This restaurant holiday promotion comes in the form of a gift card. Consider a ‘Buy for $100, Get $25 Off” card.
Sometimes referred to as a refund voucher, this tactic increases immediate cash flow and entices guests to return to benefit from the discount.
Most dining concepts will use this restaurant marketing tactic and promotion during off-peak days, weekdays, or slower seasons.
This strategy can also help increase online direct bookings from restaurant websites and social media.
Corporate and private dining packages
This is a high-value B2B marketing tactic that’s perfect for hotel restaurants and bars. Target local businesses with tiered, all-inclusive private dining or catering packages.
Create clear 'Gold, Silver, Bronze' options that bundle room rental, a set menu, and a beverage package per person.
This simplifies the booking process for corporate planners and locks in a significant, predictable revenue block well in advance of the holiday.
Further reading: The Hotel F&B Manager's Guide to Maximizing Efficiency
Weekday restaurant promotions
For many F&B concepts and bars, weekdays present a lull in bookings and foot traffic. Combining restaurant holiday promotions with weekday promos can be a great idea to increase restaurant sales.
You can offer 15% off bills of $100 or more, or for groups of 4 or more. Alternatively, you can host “Tuesday Trivia” or special bundle menus, or both, to attract guests who may avoid crowded weekends.
Phase 3: Tech Integration for Seamless Campaign Execution
The successful execution of your concept’s creative holiday promotions relies on having a unified, cohesive restaurant tech stack.
To run high-performing holiday campaigns, your systems: reservation management, POS, CRM, and marketing, must work together seamlessly.
With the right tools, you can secure pre-paid bookings, personalize communication, and track real-time ROI, all while saving your team hours of manual work.
At Servme, we built a connected platform that brings all of this under one roof.
You can create and manage your restaurant’s holiday offerings from Servme. Here’s how:
Revenue management and collecting deposits
Create special dining events in your reservation widget, collect deposits, collect guest notes, and manage seating. This helps you secure revenue in-advance and reduce no-show guests.
You can also highlight your reservation, cancellation, and no-show policies directly on your widget. You should also mention them on your website, if you have one.
Servme acts as event management software for events like New Year's Eve or large group or corporate bookings.
Link campaigns to POS, CRM, and analytics
Configure your POS and reservation system to automatically tag sales linked to specific holiday menus or packages for immediate ROI analysis.
Use Servme’s marketing features to segment guests with CRM tags like “Christmas Guest,” “VIP Guest,” “Valentine’s Day”...etc. so you can retarget them in future marketing campaigns.
Finally, integrate website tracking with your analytics dashboards to measure the full conversion path, from your social media ad click straight through to the confirmed deposit payment.
Further reading: How to Create Hyper-Personalization in Your Restaurant with Servme’s Auto-Tagging Feature
Manage restaurant marketing campaigns and promotions
One of the biggest problems when creating a restaurant marketing strategy or a series of holiday promotions is having scattered tech.
Servme’s reservation and table management system comes with built-in marketing features to simplify and speed up this process for you.
You can create templates and manage entire marketing campaigns including email, SMS, and WhatsApp marketing for your restaurant.
Servme offers a library of templates, copy and design, to suit your needs. You can also use ChatGPT to create more content.
Make sure you choose the right communication channels your guests prefer.
For marketing your restaurant’s holiday promotions, you can start with a restaurant newsletter in the 30-days out stage. Then create targeted SMS or email marketing campaigns for your guests.
Make sure it’s easy for guests to book and benefit from the offers.
Phase 4: Measurement, Retention, and Post-Holiday Follow-Through
The final phase of any promotional strategy is tracking results to ensure continuous improvement. Post-campaign analysis transforms raw sales data into actionable results and recommendations for future restaurant promotions and offers.
Calculating the ROI of your restaurant promotions
To assess financial success, use this formula:
(Revenue from Promotion – Cost of Promotion) ÷ Cost of Promotion
Analyze performance by segment or offering. Compare the ROI of different channels like gift card sales versus private dining bookings.
This allows you to scale successful tactics and eliminate inefficient spending for next year's campaigns.
Building retention with post-holiday follow-through
Once the holiday rush is over, follow up.
Send a thank-you message via email or SMS with a short post-visit survey. This shows guests you care and helps you gather valuable feedback.
At the same time:
Update your CRM with all newly-acquired guest data
Tag guests based on visit type (e.g., “Christmas Brunch 2025” or “NYE Group Booking”)
Identify high-value guests who visited for the first time
Use this data to launch a low-season reactivation campaign between May and August. Offer exclusive invites, loyalty perks, or previews of new menu items to bring guests back.
Frequently Asked Questions about Restaurant Holiday Promotions
What are some good restaurant holiday promotions for December?
Popular options include festive set menus, gift card offers, takeaway kits, and private dining packages. These help attract guests and boost revenue during the busy season.
How do prix-fixe menus help restaurants make more money?
Prix-fixe menus make kitchen operations smoother and help control costs. They also encourage higher spending and allow restaurants to collect deposits in advance.
What’s the best way to promote a holiday offer?
Use email, WhatsApp, and Instagram to spread the word. Make sure it’s easy for guests to book online or through a reservation link.
How can I track if a restaurant promotion worked?
You can calculate ROI by comparing how much you earned from the promo with how much it cost to run. Tools like Servme help you tag and track sales from each campaign.
How can restaurants reduce no-shows during the holidays?
Collecting deposits and sending reminders by SMS or WhatsApp can lower no-shows. It also helps to clearly share your cancellation policy upfront.
Wrapping It Up
Running successful restaurant holiday promotions is a process. Not a one-time effort.
From meticulous planning to having a robust restaurant tech stack, to seamless FOH and BOH operations, and data to track it all.
A restaurant reservation and table management system is a key tool in managing your marketing and guest experience and retention efforts.
Ready to make your next holiday season your most profitable yet?
Book a demo and see how Servme can help you turn holiday traffic into long-term loyalty.
Nada Sobhi
Marketing
