Top 10 Tourist Attraction Tools for Restaurants

Updated October 14th 2013

Travel and food come and go together.  Decades ago, what was only offered by hotel restaurants has now evolved  to a key revenue opportunity.  However, you cannot market it in the same way as attracting locals. If you are near a tourism hub or hope to attract out-of-townees to your restaurant, discover the best ways to market yourself to tourists. Be sure to keep in mind that culinary tourism is gaining popularity. When people take vacations and travel, they usually want more than just simple relaxation or a business trip. They are seeking cultural education, in part by experiencing local or outstanding cuisine.

1. Maintain a useful and informative website. Before their trip, tourists spend a considerable amount of time searching for information about their destination, and this includes culinary opportunities. Wherever they find information about your restaurant, they will always check out your website. Keep your website updated, appealing, with easy contact information, menus and definitely a lot of pictures of your venue(s), foods and drinks.
2. Apply the latest technologies to be sure your site is well readable on different devices. For the first time in history, the sale of mobile devices has surpassed the sale of pc and macs. Make sure you have a RESPONSIVE Web design so you know people can look at your business from every device. Lower roaming costs will allow travelers to access information anywhere from their mobile device without being dependent on WIFI networks. Make sure everything is readable and functional including web forms. Use tools like ResDiary.cz to make sure you have a solid reservation system. Try to avoid creating a second mobile website. It splits your online marketing efforts in 2 and even Google does not like to see the same content on 2 different websites. Also if not needed for a particular reason, stay away from a mobile application. First of all it is costly, second you need one for android and iOS and thirdly people are tired of having so many applications on their devices.
3. Make sure you are listed on Google Places. An excellent online yellow page functionality and crucial to be well listed on a platform that has more than 3 billion searches every day worldwide. It will also efficiently help you (like all other Google products) to get a better ranking (=listing) on Google
4. Use Tripadvisor, Foursquare, Yelp or other social networks. Customers believe their contacts (friends, colleagues or family) more than any marketing tool. In addition independent ratings and reviews provide a reasonably popular and objective insight into a business.  It is better to choose less social networks but ensure you take good care of your presence on the ones you have chosen. Tripadvisor is used regularly by more than 250 million travelers. Make sure your information is up to date and pictures are the best you can upload. Also it is important to react to reviews that people write. Active establishments on Tripadvisor are more likely to be checked out as they are acting as part of the community. It is also a unique opportunity to clarify certain business practices. For example the very large steakhouse La Casa Argentina in Prague is often considered as pricey on Tripadvisor. But since the reactions to such content contain an explanation for higher prices due to daily shows, illusionist performances, live music and dances besides imported best quality meat, customers respect the pricing and La Casa Argentina is considered as an entertainment facility and not only a restaurant. Get listed in restaurant guides. If you are located in a tourism hub or a popular travel destination, it is essential that you get listed in local restaurant guides and directories for tourists or in international ones like Le Guide Michelin, Le Gault & Millau, etc.
5. In terms of advertising the rules remain the same just that the names change. A good marketing mix, or painless prospecting, is all related to the theory that the more often someone comes across your information and is happy with it, the more plausible it is to convert this prospect into a client. The only issue is the available marketing budget. So the less you need to spend, to be in a maximum amount of media carriers targeting your desired market, the better your options are to be recognized and considered. Whether you publish recipes, print flyers, post cooking videos or participate in charitable events, it all helps with brand awareness and popularity, and people get in touch with your brand more often.
6. Distribute paper menus. If you hope to sell to travelers, you need a paper menu even if you don’t offer takeout  and delivery. Place the menu in strategic locations, like hotel lobbies, visitor centers, car rental agencies, airports and local bulletin boards. Your paper menu will serve as a mini-advertisement for your restaurant.
7. Use outdoor signs. A large and readable sign and a sidewalk menu will help you attract passersby. Prominent outdoor signage is especially important if you operate within walking distance of a major tourist attraction, like a beach, museum or downtown.
8. Form partnerships. Partner with charter bus companies, travel agencies, local hotels and event centers. For example, you could agree to give discounts to mutual customers, and ask them to distribute coupons or menus for your restaurant. Some hotels and convention centers will even give visitors a coupon book for local  businesses. You should also consider forming a friendship with the employees at hotels and visitor centers, and consider giving them a permanent discount. Many travelers will ask these locals for restaurant recommendations.
9. Become a rewards provider. As a rewards provider, joining a rewards network – like ThankYou, SkyMiles Dining or Rewards Network Restaurant Cashback – can help you to attract business from people who eat out frequently when traveling.
10. Becoming a Tourist Attraction. Whether you are near a tourism hub or not, you may be able to attract travelers to your restaurant. By establishing yourself as unique, you can turn yourself into a destination for culinary tourists.

Written by Daniel Grossmann