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Dear FVP Gals:
“The tourism and restaurant industry has been hit incredibly hard over the past two years. Thankfully, it looks like restaurants may be able to re-open without restrictions in most states soon. What are your suggestions for encouraging foodies back to restaurant dining?
DEAR BRINGING FOODIES BACK
Sincerely, Bringing Foodies Back As mandates are beginning to lift it can be challenging to ramp up foot traffic. There are many ways to switch things up to get all eyes on your restaurant. Have you considered promoting yourself as a destination? As foodies return to the table, they’ll be looking to catch up on the experiences they’ve missed over the past 2 years! Here are some ways to promote yourself as a destination for culinary tourism:
TELL YOUR STORY! Let everyone know why you make the food you do, whose recipe it is, and how it’s connected to the region you live in. Social media stories are free!
TAKE GREAT PHOTOS AND KEEP POSTING THEM. Take photos with your beautiful dishes, with clients and with regional landmarks.
CREATE OPPORTUNITIES for you and your clients to be on social media. Offer them a cutout with your logo that they can use as a frame around their plate or their faces. Place a business card near their plate so it shows in their pictures. Wear your restaurant T-shirt or hat and offer to take a picture with them that they can put on their pages! Everyone loves a picture with the chef!
FIND PLATFORMS like Trip Advisor to get people talking. This is where visitors will look for recommendations. See where the AirBNBs are in your area, and offer them incentives for sending you guests! If you are looking for new income sources through your business, including new ideas on how to elevate the culinary tourism experience in your restaurant, Food Venture Program is offering a Recipe to Retail program. This is a 6 session program that offers expert advice on understanding the tourism landscape, branding and storytelling, improving your food and revamping your food photography and social media skills, and extra classes that will help you turn your favorite recipes into retail products! This program is offered in partnership with Culinary Tourism Alliance, Nourish Marketing, and expert photography Joanna Wojewoda. For more information on this program visit: https://www.foodventureprogram.com/recipetoretailprogram
Page 21 | Food & Beverage Magazine v April Issue 2022