The hospitality industry may be about providing food, drink, accommodation and service, but sometimes you have to go the extra mile to pull customers in. If you’re stuck for ideas on how to make your business more appealing take a look at what others are doing for inspiration
Blue Monday
Luxury hotel group Von Essen is running a special deal for hotel booking agents which it also hopes will help them banish 'Blue Monday' - the term applied to 18 January, traditionally regarded as the most depressing day of the year. Agents can stay at one of the group's hotels for £50 for the night. The Savour Sundays package is only valid on Sunday 17 January and includes a late check-out time of 2pm, allowing agents the chance to experience the von Essen product first hand for a fraction of the usual price.
Lunch and crunch
The Cookbook Cafe at the InterContinental on London's Park Lane is giving every lunchtime diner and weekend brunch customer in January a day's free pass to the hotel's gym. The cafe also has a £15 2-for-1 offer on lunch running throughout January and February which allows diners to help themselves to dishes from the Market Table such as fresh sashimi, salads, soups, cold cuts, prawns, pulses and pastas.
Sushi sale
Yo! Sushi is running its own version of the January sale, giving customers 40 per cent off their food bill from 10-28 January. Customers must register their details on the Yo! Sushi website to download a discount voucher which they must fill in with their contact details before redeeming their discount.
Charity burgers
Gourmet Burger Kitchen is offering 2-for-1 on burgers and main course salads to customers who donate at least £1 to the company’s Help a London Child fundraising campaign until 8 February. GBK is helping the charity, which offers financial support to projects for disadvantaged children in London, raise at least £15,000. The restaurant is also running a competition to win a two-week trip to New Zealand during the promotion.