AU & NZ
SG
MY
US
IE
Your 5-step head start to a smoother Christmas season
Our hospitality specialists have decades of experience managing kitchens over the Christmas period, so let us share their top tips.
1. Plan your festive menu and stock early
Before guests dive into their 'New Year, new me' resolutions, they’ll be looking to indulge - and nothing draws them in like a well-crafted festive menu. Whether you put tradition or innovation first, what matters most is how good your Christmas menu plans are.
This won't be a surprise, but we encourage you to plan your Christmas menu as early as possible. Start brainstorming your menu by March-April, aiming to draft it and cost recipes by May-June. This is also the ideal time to begin discussions with suppliers. Use July-August to refine dishes, gather allergen and nutritional info, and brief your team. By September, your menu should be finalised, costed and supply orders locked in.
With many guests beginning to book in October, your menu and supply plans need to be ready before then, especially as supply chain challenges remain an issue across the sector. To avoid disruptions:
-
Confirm delivery schedules and stock availability well in advance
-
Identify at-risk ingredients and prep alternatives
-
Consider smaller, more agile menus to adapt to availability
-
Lock in backup suppliers where needed.
2. Christmas rota planning
Creating a solid staffing plan for the festive period is key to keeping operations running smoothly. With December often bringing unpredictable demand, staff leave requests and higher expectations from guests, early, flexible planning is essential.
Start by mapping out key trading days and anticipated busy periods based on last year’s performance. Build your rotas early and aim to lock in your core team well ahead of time, factoring in breaks, fair shift patterns and contingency plans for any unexpected absences.
Use previous years’ data where possible, and if you have access to predictive scheduling tools like Rotaready, they can help you forecast staffing needs and avoid under- or over-staffing.
But a strong rota is only part of the story. A motivated team is more likely to show up, deliver great service and stay with you through the busiest weeks. That’s where small gestures and thoughtful perks can make a big difference.
3. Train your team ahead of the festive rush
Another key area you will want to focus on in the run-up to the season is staff training. Where are your current teams up to? Are hygiene and compliance training up to date for all team members? With the updated legislation around Natasha’s Law, is your team’s allergens training up to date? These are all important areas that will be critical to running a successful Christmas operation and can be tackled now rather than when your venue is busy.
4. Optimise Christmas bookings
Our friends at ResDiary report a clear advantage for early planners: operators who finalised their Christmas plans before August saw significantly more festive reservations, with nearly a quarter (24%) already fully booked by September. On the flip side, ResDairy also noticed, that despite Christmas being a busier period, a third (34%) of restaurants admit, that they are never fully booked. So, how can you make sure your venue is among those enjoying a fully booked festive season?
-
Use your CRM: Tap into your existing customer data to segment and target previous Christmas guests, corporate bookers and loyal regulars with tailored emails or SMS offers.
-
Leverage Wi-Fi sign-ups: Capture guest contact details through your Guest Wi-Fi login page and follow up with festive promos or booking links. It’s a simple way to grow your mailing list in the lead-up to Christmas.
-
Reward loyalty: Consider exclusive early access to festive bookings or special perks (like a free drink or dessert) for repeat guests or loyalty members - it’s a great way to drive repeat business and fill your diary faster.
5. Set up ticketing for your seasonal events
If you're hosting special events during Christmas or New Year's Eve, in addition to your booking system, you might want to introduce ticketing software. To maximise sales and make sure your operation is seamless, set up your ticketed events early. Get started by working on your ticketing site or customising the ticketing platform you're using. List your events, set up the terms and conditions, make it all look extra Christmassy to get your customers in the mood and promote your ticketed events in your communication.
Get ahead of Christmas planning with
In this article, we’ve covered five key steps to help you prepare your venue for a smooth and successful festive season - from early menu and inventory planning, to smart rota building, staff training, optimising bookings, and setting up ticketed events.
To make the process even easier, we’ve created a free downloadable Christmas Planning Spreadsheet, designed to help hospitality teams stay on top of timelines, costs, allergens, staffing, and more.
We're here to support you every step of the way with our comprehensive suite of software solutions, from menu engineering and inventory management to bookings, hospitality CRM and staff training.
To learn more about Christmas planning, visit our Christmas Hub for expert insights on the latest consumer trends and marketing strategies and make this Christmas your best yet.
