Twinkling lights, a packed reservation book, the longest tables of the year. December is when your restaurant can shine brighter than ever, thanks to a few small changes in preparation that make all the difference.
This guide walks you through 5 key features to lock in your festive services, turn gift-giving season into revenue, and start the new year on the right foot.
1. Prepaid experiences: festive menus, reserved and paid
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve menus take weeks of planning between the ordering, the prep and the extra hands in the kitchen. That’s why, with a prepaid experience, every seat is confirmed before the first bottle is uncorked.
Last year, in Zenchef restaurants that offered prepaid experiences, more than a third of reservations on the big festive dates were paid in advance.
When creating an experience, don’t forget to:
- Build one experience per big night (Christmas lunch, New Year's Eve dinner...) with its own menu, price and photo.
- Choose between a deposit or the full menu price, depending on what's at stake.
- Write a clear cancellation policy and show it on the experience, so there are no surprises at the door.
- Make a test reservation, just like a guest would.
How to set up your experiences - All there is to know about prepayments
2. Gift Cards: December's most-wrapped present
Did you know that gift card sales peak in December? Last year, the month accounted for 40% of all gift card sales made with Zenchef. Every card sold is a meal booked for later, especially in quieter months like January and February. That’s why they’re a great opportunity to welcome new guests.
Gift Cards are part of every Zenchef plan. Don't forget to:
- Check that your gift card shop is live on your website and in the Zenchef Guest App.
- Add a festive touch, such as a holiday menu for two, a brunch or a cooking class.
- Brief your team to mention gift cards at the table or when guests pay.
- Set a realistic validity period to help fill January and February too.
Discover Gift Cards - Set up your gift card shop
Want to take it to the next level? That’s exactly what Gift Card Premium is for. This add-on (Manage and Grow plans) lets you customize the design of every card to your liking. You can also decide which services they can be redeemed on, and it gives you internal cards to thank a regular or reward your team.
Available from November 24, 2026 on the new Add-ons page: switch it on yourself here.
3. Marketing Suite: the right message at the right moment
In December, inboxes fill up fast. A short, well-timed email or SMS to your guest list can have more impact than weeks of social media posts, and restaurants that send one campaign a month see 18% more reservations.
A few ideas to get started:
- As soon as your menu is ready, unveil your festive menus and open reservations.
- In early December, remind last minute shoppers that gift cards make the perfect present.
- Between Christmas and New Year, promote any tables still free on the 31st.
- In the middle of January, send a warm “we missed you” to bring guests back after the holidays.
How to create and manage email campaigns - Watch the 2-minute demo
🎁 Marketing Suite isn't in your plan yet? Until November 30, 2026, the first month is on us (then €29/month excl. VAT). Request it here and we'll switch it on for you.
4. Waitlist: no table left behind
During the holidays, a last-minute cancellation is a table someone else would have loved. The waitlist helps you fill it fast, so the seat doesn't stay empty and the revenue doesn't walk out the door.
Don't forget to:
- Turn on the waitlist for your festive services.
- Check it 24 hours before service. If you see lots of large groups waiting, merge a few tables on your floor plan.
- Turn on reconfirmation requests so guests confirm ahead of service, and free up the tables of those who can't make it.
How to set up and use the waitlist - How to enable reconfirmation requests
5. Services and floor plan: set for the big nights
Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, that Sunday you're usually closed... December rarely sticks to the usual rhythm. The best way to handle these exceptional days is to adapt your services and floor plan in advance. A little planning now and the rush will run as smoothly as a kitchen pass on a good night.
Don't forget to:
- Open (or close) special services for the holidays, well ahead of time.
- Create a festive floor plan with larger tables for family gatherings and office parties, and link it to those services.
- Let the system accept larger groups on your busiest dates.
How to open or close reservations exceptionally - How to create a room
Here's your holiday checklist:
☐ Festive experience created, with a photo
☐ Prepayment and cancellation policy set
☐ Gift card shop live, with a festive offer
☐ Team briefed on gift cards
☐ Festive menus announced with Marketing Suite
☐ Gift card reminder and January campaign planned
☐ Waitlist and reconfirmation turned on
☐ Special services and festive floor plan ready
Here's to full tables and a season worth toasting.
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