How to Survive the Holiday Season as a Restaurateur

The Busiest Time of the Year

The holiday season is often the busiest time of the year for restaurateurs. Reservations skyrocket, schedules overflow, clients are festive and sometimes demanding, and teams are under pressure.

Proper preparation makes all the difference, not only for your profitability but also for service quality and workplace morale.

Anticipate Demand: The Key to Peace of Mind

To reduce stress and maximize sales, start by analyzing previous years.

Which nights were the busiest?

Which dishes or menus were most popular?

Identifying bottlenecks will help you adjust schedules and plan key nights: office parties, family dinners, or Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Adjusting your opening hours can also reduce pressure on your team and improve the customer experience.

Build a Strong Team… Before the Storm Hits

Photo credit: Canva

Post Your Job Openings on RestoJobs Early

December is the most competitive month for seasonal hiring. Posting early on RestoJobs helps attract the best hospitality talent. An optimized job posting should include: a clear title, transparent pay, and details about your establishment’s atmosphere and culture.

Retain Your Existing Team

Your regular employees are your biggest asset during the rush. Providing stable, fair schedules, rewarding key team members with meals or small perks, and maintaining frequent communication helps reduce turnover and ensures smooth service.

Streamline Operations to Reduce Stress

A simplified or holiday-specific menu makes kitchen operations easier and speeds up service.

Use online reservation tools with automatic confirmations to avoid mistakes. Also, plan extra stock of drinks, festive ingredients, and take-out packaging so you’re never caught off guard.

Create a Festive Atmosphere That Brings Customers Back

Simple yet effective décor, a well-chosen playlist, and a few special offers—holiday cocktails, shareable menus, or mid-week promotions—are enough to create a warm atmosphere that encourages customers to return even after the holidays.

Photo credit: Canva

Protect Your Team’s Well-Being

Even during the rush, make sure your staff has scheduled breaks and a place to rest.

💛 Recognizing effort at the end of service, a kind word or a thank-you, goes a long way in keeping your team motivated and engaged.

After the Rush: Analyze, Adjust, and Thank

Once the holiday season ends, hold a debrief with your team to identify what worked and what can be improved. Publicly thank your employees on social media or with small internal gestures. Take this opportunity to prepare your RestoJobs postings for January, a strategic recruitment period.

Anticipating demand, surrounding yourself with a strong team, and optimizing your RestoJobs postings are the three pillars of a successful holiday season.

Solid preparation not only boosts profitability but also makes the experience more enjoyable for both your clients and your team.