Hear from Tock customers on proven strategies to drive revenue, eliminate no-shows, and increase check averages during the holiday season.

Tock Webinar: Make It A Successful Holiday Season For Your Entire Restaurant Operation

<p>When it comes to the holiday season, success isn’t just about increasing your restaurant&#8217;s bottom line. It&#8217;s about making guests happy and taking care of your staff.</p>
<p>Tock&#8217;s panel of experts will take you through specific strategies to set your business up for success during the busy holiday season and beyond.</p>


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In this on-demand webinar, you'll learn:

Gated Content

Tock webinar recap: Make it a successful holiday season for your entire restaurant operation

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tock’s recent webinar offers valuable insights for restaurants during the holiday season. Industry experts Megan Garrelts (Rye Leawood) and Lacey Irby (Dear Margaret) joined Tock’s Melissa Maciejewski and </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nation’s Restaurant News</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to share strategies for boosting revenue, making guests happy, and running smooth holiday services. See some key takeaways below and watch the full webinar for more.</span></p>
<h2></h2>
<h2>1. Double down on special experiences</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Guests are looking for festive ways to enjoy the holidays with friends and family. By differentiating your business with unique experiences, you can engage both guests and staff, while driving bookings.</span></p>
<h2>2. Manage guest expectations</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With special celebrations, turn times tend to increase. Set expectations with guests by communicating how long they can expect to enjoy their experience at the time of booking.</span></p>
<h2>3. Promote early</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Get the word out early as many guests tend to book special holiday experiences weeks in advance.</span></p>
<h2>4. Prioritize your regulars</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Letting your guests know that holiday reservations are about to open is a great way to prioritize repeat guests and build relationships.</span></p>
<h2>5. Be proactive about adjusting your floor plan</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tock offers complete flexibility to modify your availability and pacing in order to optimize service, which is especially relevant on busy holidays. For example, it can be helpful to push large parties to shoulder times.</span></p>
<h2>6. Offer prepayment</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Not only does it reduce no-shows and capture sales in advance, but by having guests prepay, your team can be prepared to keep the food and drinks flowing and the service top notch.</span></p>
<h2>7. Use pre-visit questionnaires and tags</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s the best way to prepare for dietary restrictions and allergies, mobility issues, and any special requests.</span></p>
<h2>8. Keep the bubbles flowing</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Store a couple of budget-friendly bottles behind the bar to pour for guests when you need to offer a personalized touch.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For more strategies and insights on holiday success, watch the <strong><a href="https://www.exploretock.com/join/resources/webinar-on-demand-holiday-success">full webinar</a></strong>. </span></p>


Access our exclusive webinar recap and recording to discover how Tock can help your restaurant thrive this holiday season with proven strategies to drive revenue, eliminate no-shows, and increase check averages.

Tock Webinar Recap: Make It A Successful Holiday Season For Your Entire Restaurant Operation

Tock’s recent webinar offers valuable insights for restaurants during the holiday season.

Article

It’s Time to Prep for the Holidays: A Tock Webinar

<p>As the holiday season approaches, understanding guest preferences and spending habits is crucial for maximizing your business&#8217;s success. In September 2024, Tock surveyed over 1,000 diners to uncover their holiday plans and preferences. The results are in, and these valuable insights can help your business capitalize on the season ahead. Here are the key takeaways:</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><b>The rush is coming—prepare now</b></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-71458" src="https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q4-800x485.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="485" srcset="https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q4-800x485.jpg 800w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q4-1188x720.jpg 1188w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q4-768x465.jpg 768w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q4-1536x931.jpg 1536w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q4-2048x1241.jpg 2048w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q4-150x91.jpg 150w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q4-1782x1080.jpg 1782w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Of those surveyed, 68% plan to celebrate with the help of restaurants and bars. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The New Year offers one of the most lucrative opportunities for hospitality businesses with over 60% of diners planning to visit a restaurant or bar on New Year’s Eve, and 55% planning to dine out on New Year’s Day. Thanksgiving presents a different dynamic, with 36% of diners planning to celebrate in a restaurant or bar, while 88% intend to order in or visit friends and family at home.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You may maximize revenue by offering a special New Year’s menu, party, or in-house experience, while focusing on curated takeout packages for Thanksgiving.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many Tock restaurants provide packages that can easily be popped into the oven to finish at home. Drive additional revenue with beverage add-ons, next-day sandwich kits, or pastries.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><b>Diners want special experiences</b></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-71460" src="https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q9-800x485.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="485" srcset="https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q9-800x485.jpg 800w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q9-1188x720.jpg 1188w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q9-768x465.jpg 768w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q9-1536x931.jpg 1536w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q9-2048x1241.jpg 2048w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q9-150x91.jpg 150w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q9-1782x1080.jpg 1782w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Among those surveyed, 67% of holiday diners are seeking more than a standard reservation. Themed dinners, pop-ups, tasting menus, wine pairings, and at-home experiences are all popular options. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stay true to your brand by showcasing what you do best through a holiday lens. For instance, Exile Brewing hosts a haunted beer dinner on Halloween to highlight their seasonal brews, while Beautiful Rind, a Chicago-based cheese counter and restaurant, offers a holiday class to feature seasonal products.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other Tock businesses offer family feasts, afternoon tea, special wine tastings, take-and-bake dinners, Hanukkah prix fixe dinners, and more. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Special holiday experiences can also engage both your guests and staff, making everyone excited to be in your establishment. And perhaps what’s even more compelling, Tock’s own data shows that special experiences generate 30% more revenue than ordinary reservations<strong>*</strong>.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tock makes it easy to sell standard reservations and holiday experiences all in one place.</span></p>
<h6>* Includes customers with POS integration and 50+ booked covers in each booking category; ordinary reservations mean non-experience reservations</h6>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><b>Expect large parties to spike</b></h2>
<h2><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-71462" src="https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q6-800x485.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="485" srcset="https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q6-800x485.jpg 800w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q6-1188x720.jpg 1188w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q6-768x465.jpg 768w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q6-1536x931.jpg 1536w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q6-2048x1241.jpg 2048w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q6-150x91.jpg 150w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q6-1782x1080.jpg 1782w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whether or not you typically offer large parties, the holiday season is an ideal time to make it happen with 38% of diners planning to celebrate in a group of 6-10. Guests are gathering in restaurants and bars to celebrate with friends, family, and co-workers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While large parties can boost revenue, 37% of diners report that an overcrowded restaurant can prevent them from having a positive experience. Consider the flow of service and your floor plan. You can curb ticket times with limited or special edition menus, batched beverages, and pre-ordered selections. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tock’s large party capabilities make it easy to manage groups with credit card holds, deposits, flexible floor plans, and tiered pricing.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><b>Guests are booking early </b></h2>
<h2><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-71464" src="https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q15-800x485.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="485" srcset="https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q15-800x485.jpg 800w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q15-1188x720.jpg 1188w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q15-768x465.jpg 768w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q15-1536x931.jpg 1536w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q15-2048x1241.jpg 2048w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q15-150x91.jpg 150w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q15-1782x1080.jpg 1782w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When it comes to locking in a holiday reservation, 42% of diners plan to book 3-6 weeks in advance, with nearly one in six diners planning to book 5 weeks or more ahead.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tock makes it easy to sell everything you have to offer in one place, so, for example, when a guest is booking an ordinary dinner reservation in September or October, they should already be seeing your November Thanksgiving offering.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For takeout packages, set up pre-order so guests can pay in advance, then pick up the day before or the day of the holiday.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><b>Lead with quality</b></h2>
<h2><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-71466" src="https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q8-800x485.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="485" srcset="https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q8-800x485.jpg 800w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q8-1188x720.jpg 1188w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q8-768x465.jpg 768w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q8-1536x931.jpg 1536w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q8-2048x1241.jpg 2048w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q8-150x91.jpg 150w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q8-1782x1080.jpg 1782w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When it comes to choosing where they want to celebrate, quality food and beverage remain the top driver of bookings (41%) above price (32%), location (31%), or ambiance (33%). And while all of these factors are important, nothing surpasses beautifully executed food and drinks.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the survey, diners are interested in festive meals, roast turkey, prime rib, signature holiday cocktails, like spiked cider, and sweets. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ensure that any holiday specials you’re running are getting the same attention to detail as typical menu items. Then add a festive holiday atmosphere to take your offering to the next level.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><b>Guests want to splurge—let them</b></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-71468" src="https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q14-800x485.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="485" srcset="https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q14-800x485.jpg 800w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q14-1188x720.jpg 1188w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q14-768x465.jpg 768w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q14-1536x931.jpg 1536w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q14-2048x1241.jpg 2048w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q14-150x91.jpg 150w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q14-1782x1080.jpg 1782w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Of those surveyed, 88% of diners are willing to spend more on a holiday celebration than on a typical night out, with 17% willing to spend 50% or more, and 27% willing to spend 25%-49% more.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The holiday season is the perfect opportunity to bring in luxurious ingredients, like caviar, truffles, or special bottles of wine.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><b>Increase check averages with add-ons</b></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-71470" src="https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q18-800x485.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="485" srcset="https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q18-800x485.jpg 800w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q18-1188x720.jpg 1188w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q18-768x465.jpg 768w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q18-1536x931.jpg 1536w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q18-2048x1241.jpg 2048w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q18-150x91.jpg 150w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q18-1782x1080.jpg 1782w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to Tock’s own data, on average when offered, 30% of guests will purchase an add-on at the time of booking, increasing check averages by 10%<strong>*</strong>. Of those surveyed, 61% are most likely to purchase a special dessert, while holiday-themed gifts, wine pairings, and champagne toasts all remain popular options. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though these items ranked high in our survey, you know your guests best and can choose any type of add-on you would like, whether that’s a piece of nigiri or a digestif.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tock businesses offer retail items, like branded hats or cookbooks, in addition to bottled goods, like hot sauce or vinegar, or even experiential add-ons, like a kitchen tour. </span></p>
<h6>*Add-ons to paid bookings</h6>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2><b>Protect your business against no-shows</b></h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-71472" src="https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q16-800x485.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="485" srcset="https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q16-800x485.jpg 800w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q16-1188x720.jpg 1188w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q16-768x465.jpg 768w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q16-1536x931.jpg 1536w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q16-2048x1241.jpg 2048w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q16-150x91.jpg 150w, https://tock.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Q16-1782x1080.jpg 1782w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over 78% of diners say credit card holds or deposits will not affect their willingness to make a reservation for a holiday celebration. While this may seem surprising, just as restaurants are hoping for a commitment from diners, diners are looking for a commitment from restaurants, especially when they are organizing holiday outings for family and friends. Consider adding a credit card hold or deposit to ensure that you and your staff make the most of the holiday season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tock’s No-Show Elimination Suite gives restaurants the flexibility to customize payment for any and all experiences, with deposits, credit card holds, and prepayment.</span></p>
<p>__</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tock can help power your business this holiday season and beyond.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Tock surveyed over 1,000 diners on their holiday preferences. Use this data to drive revenue through the holiday season. 

Guest trends and preferences for the holiday season

In September 2024, Tock surveyed over 1,000 diners on their holiday preferences. See the results. 

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Resource articles

Tock webinar recap: Make it a successful holiday season for your entire restaurant operation

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Booking

Operations

Resources

Tock webinar recap: Make it a successful holiday season for your entire restaurant operation

Watch the webinar

In this on-demand webinar, you'll learn:

Make it an experience