How Prepared Are You And Your Team For Upcoming Events?

In Arizona, we have Restaurant Week twice a year. It's a great time for customers to try different restaurants and for restaurants to get some new customers. Of course, it is extremely important that you are prepared to give these customers a WOW experience that will get them to return. There are usually over 100 restaurants that participate in this event so it's a big deal. I usually try to check out two or three new restaurants that week because I am interested in learning more about them. I am sometimes disappointed when the restaurants don't seem to put in the extra effort to get customers to return. If you make the effort to participate, this is your?chance?to shine and you should really put your best foot forward!?

Let's look at some ways your restaurant can be well-prepared.

• Do you have enough staff on duty?
• Do you have enough product? (sometimes there are different menu items than the normal menu so you need to make sure the kitchen has enough inventory)
• Do you have a special menu printed? (if so make sure your greeter is giving the menu to every table)
• Is your team knowledgeable about the new items? Have they tasted every item?
• Are your servers & bartenders aware of what substitutions are available?
• Are your servers & bartenders knowledgeable on what they can upsell to increase the check average?
• Is there a manager on duty to table touch? Thank customers for trying you out and giving them an incentive to return.

How about other events you have in your restaurant or banquet room? Is your team prepared for that large party or banquet? Are you or the event coordinator communicating all the details to the team? Let's look at a few ways that everyone can be more prepared.

• Does the staff know their assigned tables?
• Do the servers know what food and drinks are being offered?
• Do the bartenders know if there is a cash or host bar?
• Do all servers know the serving sequence?
• Does the team know when they need to leave the floor? (when there is a speaker or if there is a wedding agenda)

Too many times restaurant owners or event management don't communicate all the details to their teams and this can sometimes lead to a bad customer experience. Planning for big events is always fun and exciting however they can be stressful if everyone isn't prepared.

Another important thing is following up. If you take reservations or have the event's host name it's always great to follow up in a day or two and see if they had a great experience. This is also a great time to invite them to return.

We at The Hart Experience love to evaluate these events and give you a customer's perspective. Restaurant Week is highly promoted by the Arizona Restaurant Association so it's a great chance to try a new restaurant and enjoy the special menu and prices. If you would like to know how well your team is prepared for the event let us evaluate the service and food at the event. If it's a wedding or large event and we are not allowed to attend we can always make follow-up calls to find out about the customer's experience. Let us help you and your team create great customer experiences that make customers want to return. Contact Debbie at 602.717.3271 or [email protected]

https://www.thehartexperience.com