1. Great food and genuine service, every single time
It might sound obvious, but it’s worth saying: no amount of marketing can make up for a disappointing experience. People come back and bring others with them because they genuinely enjoyed the food, felt looked after and left wanting more.
So, what does that look like in practice?
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Focus on consistency – Guests don’t just want a great experience, they want equally good experience every time they come back. Make sure portion sizes, plating and service standards stay strong across every shift and staff member.
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Listen to feedback – Whether it’s an online review or a quick chat at the table, guest feedback can highlight blind spots you might miss day-to-day. Keep a log of recurring comments, share them with your team during briefings and use them to shape menu tweaks or service improvements.
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Empower your team – Confident, well-informed staff deliver better service, so make sure to find the time for regular briefings, share menu updates and guest feedback, and give your team space to flag challenges or suggest improvements.
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Review the guest journey – Walk through the entire experience from a guest’s perspective, from the booking to the bill. Is there anything clunky or confusing?
2. Maximise your online presence
The way customers find new venues has changed dramatically over the last few years with customers now starting their digital journey long before they set foot in your venue. Ensuring you have a strong online presence helps your venue rank highly on Google – one of the best ways for potential customers to find you.
Use the cheat sheet below to make sure your venue looks its best online, with all the essentials covered.
3. Make your socials a visual invitation
Apart from being driven by delicious food, your guests might also be after experiences that are worth sharing. That’s why a strong presence on social media is crucial for driving traffic. When people share their visit, whether that’s a dish of the season, your aesthetic venue or a spectacular cocktail, it becomes a personal recommendation to their followers, which is essentially an organic word-of-mouth.
Think about your own profile (on any of the apps) as your digital shopfront. A well-curated profile that showcases your atmosphere, menu highlights and personality can tip the decision of the first-time visitors in your favour, as 74% of people judge whether to visit a restaurant or bar based on a quick scan of their feed.
Make sure your key details such as opening hours, current menus or seasonal specials are kept up to date. And don’t miss the chance to convert interest into bookings: link directly to your reservation system in your bio.
4. List your venue on a discovery platform
Speaking of maximising your online presence, a listing on an online discovery platform like DesignMyNight is a great way to make sure your venue or event is seen far and wide.
A listing page showcases your venue along with all the essential info your guests need: opening hours, menus, events and contact details, and you can keep your listing information up to date. Most importantly, many platforms offer integrated booking tools, allowing guests to make reservations on the spot.
5. Start a loyalty program
When thinking about attracting more guests, don't underestimate the power of the regulars. At the end of the day, they prove to be your most valuable diners, spending 67% more on average, according to BIA Advisory.
Make sure your loyalty program aligns with the customers' expectations - make it easy to enroll and collect points or rewards, offer personalised recommendations, exclusive deals, and birthday surprises based on their preferences and purchase history.
6. Host different events
Building a calendar of varied and interesting events tied into offers or holidays is a great way to generate income from quieter days and pre-booked business for smoother planning. Some great examples are recurring events such as ‘Taco Tuesdays’ or a curry night to encourage mid-week visitors.
Hosting bigger ticketed events is an excellent way to get ahead of planning for organising staff, making the most of your venue size and finding new customers. Retro theme nights, karaoke nights and live music events are all great options. A reliable event ticketing software can help you manage your event easily, sell tickets across different platforms, promote your event to a wider audience and facilitate a quick and easy check-in on the day.
7. Let guests order and pay their way
Inevitably, the world is moving towards mobile everything, and hospitality is no exception. Mobile payment options are some of the most popular tech upgrades impacting the modern dining experience, helping to reduce wait times and receiving positive feedback among the guests. More than half of surveyed customers (55%) have used their phone to order food from the table and almost two-thirds (60%) agree it has made it easier to pay for their meal.
8. Focus on sustainability
According to Deloitte, 66% of the population consider ethical practices important when choosing a place to eat.
Here are a few ways to make your restaurant or bar more green:
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Keep an eye on energy and water use - Simple upgrades like energy management systems or low-flow taps can help you save on utilities while being kinder to the planet.
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Reduce food waste - food waste is a huge issue in hospitality. Start by tracking what’s getting tossed. From there, you can right-size your portions and use inventory software to stay on top of what you’ve got, so nothing spoils before it hits a plate.
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Source local products - when possible, source your ingredients locally and plan your menus around seasonal produce. This not only saves our planet unnecessary emissions but you'll also benefit from buying the freshest, flavourful food.
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Include more plant-based options in your menu - did you know that nearly 60% of greenhouse gases come from meat production? You can reduce your impact by focusing less on meat and introducing more plant-based options.
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Use sustainable takeout packaging - swap out the styrofoam for packaging made of compostable materials.
9. Follow recent and viral trends
From pistachio everything to the rise of health-focused menus, some dishes get viral for a reason and your venue can benefit from that craze if you can ride the wave.
If you’re participating in a viral food trend, start by letting your existing and new customers know about it – post about it on your socials and send a short, but irresistible email to your subscriber list letting them know what’s new on the menu or that you’re joining the latest trend.
10. Let your reviews do the talking
It’s no secret that people check reviews before choosing where to eat or drink, as they’re often seen as a direct way of getting real, unfiltered insight. Your active and engaged profile on Google Maps or other review site is just as important as your website or social media, helping to build a positive rapport with customers and shape first impressions.
And it's not just potential guests paying attention - Google is too. The algorithm favours businesses with recent, positive reviews, meaning the more consistent feedback you collect, the more visible you become in local search results. More reviews = better ranking = more foot traffic.
Always reply to reviews, even the short or negative ones. A polite, thoughtful response builds trust and shows potential guests you care about the experience you provide. If you can, and if the review is valid, acknowledge the negative feedback and try to learn from it.
Tools to help your business grow
Here are a few areas where smart tech can support guest growth and improve your day-to-day operations:
- Hospitality Booking System - Whether it’s a table for two or a big group celebration, guests want booking to be quick and hassle-free. A reliable booking system makes it easier for people to plan their visit and helps you manage your capacity without the back-and-forth.
- Point of Sale (POS) system - More than just taking payments, a modern hospitality POS should support your wider operations, from syncing with your loyalty program to giving insights into what’s selling well.
- Order & Pay at Table - Letting guests browse, order and pay from their phone helps reduce wait times and keeps service flowing, especially during busy shifts.
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) System - A hospitality-focused CRM lets you send personalised emails based on real guest behaviour, like follow-ups after a visit, birthday offers or tailored recommendations.
Grow your restaurant with Access Hospitality
In a competitive industry with countless dining options, attracting and retaining customers is crucial for any restaurant or bar. Thankfully, there's a range of strategies you can use to attract more guests and maintain their loyalty.
Some of the tactics we've shared are making sure your online presence is up-to-date and engaging, listing your venue on discovery platforms, hosting unique events, embracing mobile technology for convenience and efficiency, incorporating sustainable practices, and building a strong customer loyalty program.
We offer a range of hospitality software designed to simplify operations, enhance the customer experience, and drive growth. Get in touch with our expert team who's always on hand should you have any further questions about your needs.
