Here are trendy solutions to help you top the charts of restaurants for tourists.
Restaurants strive for hype, especially during the summer season. With so many eateries competing for the limelight, it takes serious effort to attract the attention of locals, not to mention tourists. Win the race and establish your restaurant as a popular tourist destination by focusing on branding. Become a hub for newcomers through a recognizable brand and unforgettable experiences.
Coming up, we’ll let you in on secrets to captivate travelers and excel at branding in offline and online spheres. Here are trendy solutions to help you top the charts of restaurants for tourists.
Reflect your brand through design
First things first. The way your restaurant looks is pivotal. The interior and exterior branding should show off your style, vision and values. An identity that differentiates you from competitors is a necessity. Get creative with decorative items that support your story.
Well-thought-out exterior design elements such as branded graphics and appealing light up signs are a great way to kick-off your on-site restaurant branding strategy. They’ll serve as your business hook and bring in tourists that have a craving for tasty experiences.
For the first positive impression to last, your interior should convey the same tone. Regardless of the style you choose, consistency is a key to success. With this in mind, incorporate unique decor elements and trendy signage styles that could serve as photo backgrounds. Share tagged pics of the photoshoots on your social sites – that’s the cherry on the cake for most tourists.
Let the menu be your voice
Restaurant branding is not just about a logo and decor. The most important component of any eatery is its menu. Make sure that it speaks for you and connects people to your food. A tastefully designed menu can enhance your brand promotion. Have it accessible online, keeping it up to date and visually appealing. Publish it on your website and introduce it through your social media accounts. To make it tourist-friendly, a bilingual menu is advisable. As for the on site ones, incorporating QR codes can be a great asset for reducing contact with pathogens. Though the pandemic seems to be a past concern, attention to health issues is still among priorities.
Pro Tip: Local ingredients are a beloved factor for travelers. Turn this into a key component of your brand if possible and attract tourists looking for an authentic food experience. Use the love for regional cuisines and gastronomy to your advantage. Become the bridge that connects distant travelers to local culture.
Promote on social media
Social media is a smart channel for promoting your venue as a tourist destination. Set up social pages and create a website if you don’t have one. Most people explore the internet before touring and this is how they’ll find you.
Social media marketing is an easy and effective way to raise awareness about your brand. Apart from ensuring your presence on different social media platforms, you should optimize your content to get noticed. If you have accounts on different platforms, keep them consistent so people know what to expect and learn to rely on your brand.
Often, your first interaction with tourists is through the internet. Appearing in search results is just the beginning. Visually appealing content will guide people to your restaurant. The way your dishes are presented online makes a huge difference for patrons. Get visual and spread the word about your tasty cuisine with promotional posts. Instagrammable dishes are a driving force for getting coverage on pages that feature mouthwatering photo dumps.
Get people to talk about you
Self-representation is important but the feedback of your visitors holds special value. Offer your customers a chance to leave reviews online and offline to build a favorable reputation. Online reviews are the most important part of internet discoveries for many travelers, affecting the choices they make. Most customers check restaurant reviews before paying a visit.
The way you handle customer feedback is also a factor that reflects your brand identity. How you respond to reviews can be crucial for your restaurant. A prompt, polite and professional approach will build trust toward your brand. Consider getting listed on restaurant apps as well. They’ll offer a significant boost to your online visibility.
Lastly, don’t be shy and show off famous people that have enjoyed your restaurant. Highlight their positive feedback as an assurance of your food’s quality.
Collaborate with influencers
Creating and maintaining a positive image is challenging in this highly competitive industry. Many restaurants collaborate with influencers to reach a wider audience that values their choices.
The influencer should have an international following and a community of food and travel lovers. If you have someone in mind, it’s worth the investment. Other than famous people, you can go with well-known food bloggers.
Partner with locals
Earning favor from the locals will help you get the crowd of tourists you seek. In search of cultural experiences, travelers are inclined to visit places that locals love and recommend. Do your best to win the heart of your neighborhood first.
Establish connections with hospitality industry representatives such as local hotels, travel agencies and recreational places. Topping the list of local business recommendations is a superb advantage. It will show your brand positioning and encourage tourists to check out your place.
Finally, make the most of your gains by maintaining good engagement. It’s as important with locals as it is with travelers from around the world. With a recognizable brand, good reputation and unique offers, tourists will flock to your restaurant all year round.
Photo by shawnanggg on Unsplash
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
