Miscellaneous

Christmas Quick Wins for Hospitality Businesses

Samantha Weller

26 Nov 2025 9min read

The Christmas season is one of the biggest trading windows of the year, but also one of the most demanding. With staff stretched and bookings piling up, it’s not always easy to plan the Christmas strategy you had hoped for. If you’re finding yourself in this position, you can still lean on some quick wins: small changes that don’t require too much admin time but still deliver impact.

For restaurants, pubs and bars looking for fast, effective ways to boost revenue and enhance the guest experience, whilst keeping the team in good spirits, here are some ways to get ahead.

1. Add festive upsells the easy way

Upselling is crucial for hospitality businesses, but thinking of modifier options and adding those to your systems… can take some admin time. If you don’t have time to think about entirely new recipes with new ingredients you don’t often stock, keep upselling simple and use ingredients you already buy in or can be put on the plate without too much preparation needed.

Festive drinks:
For customers ordering spirits, why not upsell a seasonal alternative such as spiced gin or a winter botanical blend? And don’t forget the opportunity to upsell drinks alongside a dessert, or to guests who don’t want a dessert. For example, a boozy hot chocolate, an irish coffee, or a gingerbread espresso martini to finish things off.

Extra quick win: Use AI to generate festive cocktail ideas based on your existing stock. You’ll get creative suggestions without needing to order new ingredients.

Sharers and add-ons:
Larger tables often mean larger sales – if prompted. Encourage groups to add a sharer board, grazing platter, or Christmas-themed nibble selection, using items already in your kitchen. These are easy to prep, easy to share, and even easier to upsell. Think Yorkshire pudding canapes, warm breads, baked camembert, festive nachos (cranberry salsa and crispy bacon toppings)…

Dessert upgrades:
A scoop of cinnamon ice-cream, a dusting of nutmeg, or a splash of brand cream can turn a classic into a something seasonal. These small touches feel indulgent to guests without adding extra strain to your kitchen team.

2. Speed up drink orders with mobile ordering

The festive period often means busier bar areas, bigger groups, more rounds, and increased pressure on your front of house team. Mobile ordering is a simple and effective way to keep drinks flowing without the queues and long wait-times.

Option 1: Order & Pay Apps

Many operators are under the impression ordering apps are costly or time-consuming to set up, but the reality can be quite different. Modern solutions can be deployed quickly, helping teams by working alongside traditional table service.

How mobile ordering boosts efficiency:

Drinks-only menu keeps the setup simple while reducing pressure on the floor.
Guests can reorder instantly without increasing staff workload.
Group ordering becomes easier – just scan, order and pay. This also reduces the length of the bill at the end, making splitting easier!
Staff can focus on hospitality while the app handles the admin of order-taking.

With tools like the Kobas Order & Pay App, operators can:

Launch a branded web-app quickly and cost-effectively.
Manage the app with ease as it pulls from your existing EPoS menu – simply toggle the item’s “customer-facing” setting to on or off.
Access QR codes in Kobas Cloud and print for tables with ease.
Reduce ordering errors with real-time visibility of our-of-stock items.
Benefit from automated gratuity prompts (your team will toast to that!)
Create festive menu categories in minutes and pin them to the top for visibility.

If your provider already offers a mobile ordering solution, the festive season is a great time to unwrap it and put it to work.

Option 2: Mobile POS

Mobile POS (also known as mPOS) has become an essential tool for hospitality businesses of every size and service style. Whether you’re navigating the busiest holiday rush or managing steady year-round trade, mobile ordering can transform the way your team works.

Quick to deploy and simple to use, Mobile POS is often one of the fastest, most impactful additions to your tech stack. With an iPad or tablet, your front of house team can take and process orders directly from the table – no more returning to fixed till points. For busy operators, using Mobile POS with an Order & Pay App can be the perfect pairing.

The results speak for themselves:

Reduced wait times – Guests receive quicker service with fewer delays.
Improved order accuracy – Digital order-taking helps eliminate mistakes that come with handwritten notes.
Increased revenue opportunities – Built-in prompts help servers up-sell and ask the right questions at the right time.

EPoS providers vary in how they offer Mobile POS. Some charge per-device licence fees or require specific hardware. With Kobas, you get a flexible, cost-effective alternative. Use iPads or a range of Android devices, with no user licence or setup fees to pay. Plus, you can be up and running in under 10 minutes!

3. Let guests see the festive magic

You don’t need a huge budget to stand out online at Christmas. What guests respond to most is authenticity; genuine glimpses of your venue’s atmosphere, your team, and the festive experiences they can expect.

Ideas include:

Festive snapshots – Christmas decorations, team photos, a festive cocktail being poured, the lounge area with the fire lit, and happy guests (with permission).
Let your team talk – Piece-to-camera videos such as “reasons to visit us this December” with a mention from different team members can be a fun and engaging way to promote your festive offering.
Showcase the specials – Customers want to see what’s on offer before they book. Give them a visual taste by posting content about your delicious festive features.
Call-to-actions – Make booking links easy to find to reduce friction. The less steps it takes to book and the more transparency on availability, the better.

4. Remember the small moments

Festive magic is found in the little moments – the touches that make your guests feel valued and their experience at your venue, memorable.

These touches don’t require major planning, but can elevate the experience:

A warm welcome – A friendly greeting sets the tone for the whole visit.
Clear signage for walk-ins – If you’re expecting queues, set expectations early with signage or greeters on the door to guide guests and reassure them of waiting times.
Complimentary festive treat – A mini mince pie, a chocolate coin, or a homemade truffle with the bill can leave a lasting sweet impression.
Seasonal playlists – Whilst we’re sure you already have this one in the bag, we couldn’t not mention it. Curate a playlist that fits your brand, from upbeat classics to mellow jazz or acoustic Christmas tracks.
Festive table touches – Candles, greenery, mini crackers, or other subtle decorations can instantly transform the dining experience without cluttering the table.
Photo-worthy spot – A wreath wall, decorated corner, or cosy fireplace encourages guests to take and share photos.

5. Keep team spirits high

Your team is the special ingredient that keeps your venue running smoothly throughout busy holidays. Maintaining morale is essential – not just for service quality, but for overall wellbeing and retention during what can be a stressful season in hospitality.

A few simple habits can shift the atmosphere, whilst making your team feel appreciated:

Pre-service huddles – Spend five minutes outlining roles, reviewing bookings, flagging challenges, and setting a positive tone.
Small incentives – Set a KPI and reward the highest upseller, or best team support.
Celebrate at the end – A quick thank-you or team cheer helps staff feel appreciated after a busy service.
Recognise great service – Shout out team members who went above and beyond. This not only boosts morale but encourages continued excellence.

6. Turn festive guests into new year regulars

When guests are having a great time, it’s the ideal opportunity to encourage future visits, especially when January’s quieter trading period is around the corner. Loyalty doesn’t need to involve complex systems either; just smart touchpoints and consistency.

For existing loyalty members:

Promote January incentives such as £10 added to their account, or double points.
Check bookings ahead of time to see if guests are already members and remind them what tasty rewards will be waiting come January.

If you don’t have a loyalty program yet:

Start simple and explore whether your EPoS provider has a loyalty solution you can activate in time, or ways they can help you deploy an alternative offering to increase footfall in a cost-effective way.

Similar to the Mobile Ordering deployment, Loyalty Programs can come in all different shapes and sizes, some of which require a project-managed approach, and others can be deployed with ease such as the Kobas Customer Loyalty App.

Create a fun campaign to encourage new sign-ups during and post-visit.
Feature table tents with QR codes for easy sign-up.
A digital image on staff tablets that guests can scan to sign-up during conversation.
Printed vouchers for guests that aren’t ready for the digital world yet!
Train staff to talk confidently about your loyalty program.

If you’ve ran out of time to deploy a loyalty program, don’t worry. Use December as your warm-up period. Gather guest insights, build your email list, and prepare your campaign to launch in January.

Let your customers know you’ll be launching a loyalty program and send that promotional launch e-shot out after Christmas with a bang!

These Christmas quick wins are designed to help your venue thrive during the busiest trading period of the year, all without piling on more admin or sending your team crackers. With small touches, smart use of technology, and a sprinkle of creativity, your hospitality venue can deliver memorable experience that keeps guests returning well into the new year.