It is a town or city wide event where as many restaurants as possible offer special menus at the same fixed price. The idea is to get as many new customers through the door at an introductory price level who would not normally come to your restaurant. For existing customer it rewards them for their loyalty. A successful Restaurant Week will go way beyond simply offering discounted meals. It is a powerful way to reach new interested customers. They are an excellent way to start building customer loyalty by engaging with the customer in a personal way.

Take a look at some of the bespoke websites to promote a towns own Restaurant week. London’s restaurant festival is very impressive with video and even a sponsor – American Express.

http://www.londonrestaurantfestival.com/

A more simple approach from orange county. http://www.orangecountyrestaurantweek.com/Home_Page.html

However, Vermont really shows how a local community can organise a successful Restaurant Week.

8 Ways to Boost Restaurant Week Participation.

1. Fixed Price menus -  one of the key elements of a Restaurant week is for all participating restaurants to be able to provide a fixed price menu e.g evening meal 3 courses £30.12 and lunch 2 course £15.12.

2. Media coverage – create a dedicated website, mobile app, twitter and facebook page. Ensure you create an online newsletter to build your customer database for next year’s event.

3. Launch night - Launch the week at a local venue. For example create a red carpet event at a local car dealer with all participating restaurants featuring tasters of their food, as well as Wine, Cocktails, Beer, Music and plenty of fun.

4. Film and Food. – Have your own film festival featuring food related food. How about the Oscar winning Chololat preceded by a 3 course meal at the local hotel.

5. Parent’s night out. Just because you have kids should not mean parents should miss out. Arrange for a local child care business to provide child care between 5.30-8.00pm on Friday and Saturday night (obviously not on a school night!)

6. Demos and classes – All food stores, delis, cafes and restaurants can provide food demonstrations, classes and tasting events throughout the restaurant week.
    

7. Chef cook off – Get local chefs compete against each other to win the prize of Restaurant Week champion.

8. QR code scavenger hunt - Here’s how it works – participating restaurants hide a QR code somewhere in their restaurant. When a customer arrives, the seeking begins. Once found, scan the barcode with either an iPhone or Android smartphone. This will automatically enter the use into a free prize draw. Clues can be given via twitter and facebook to help the hunters.

It obvious Restaurant Weeks are very successful as many towns and cities are now holding them as an annual event.

For more information regarding customer loyalty programs click here

blog image credit suat eman