What ways can a fine dining restaurant in a remote location increase occupancy that reflects well on image?

Question

The problem is marketing and advertising a fine dining restaurant in a remote location. What is the best way to advertise without dragging down the brand? Flyers and price reduction promotions just does not reflect well on the image.

Answer 1

Radio advertising is often cheap. Sometimes if you provide prizes (gift vouchers) you can get free advertising.



Invite a newspaper reviewer to come visit. Check for local magazines that offer business profiles and provide a recipe.



Host a dinner for local hotel owners/managers. Provide pamphlets in their lobby racks. I think you may be wrong about price reductions...offer a free dessert or appetizer for the hotel guests. You can offer a business card to be initialled or stamped by the hotel.



Have a web page with current menu, map and nice photos. Take advantage of free places to advertise like local Where to Eat and shopping guides, chowhound.



Spend your time submitting your web page to yahoo, google and other search engines.

Answer 2

A reputation for a over the top fine dining experience. Stress on scenic views, if any. Bundle up with some other entertainment / sports business nearby like a ski lodge. Something unusual like I knew of a place that you can order steaks by the number of ounces you want and you see them carve it before cooking. Occasionally comp local hotel managers and concierge workers for the number of people they refer (happens all the time). Since this is a remote location, I presume this is more of a resort area and your potential customers would be comming in by only a few directions. Therefore a few tasteful ads promoting excellence would be quite effective.

Answer 3

try a word of mouth type deal. Send out 'random' people to have conversations that can be over heard about the restaurant. Also try a TV commercial. Another idea is to get an affiliate to help spread the word.

Answer 4

Get ads into the airline magazines... get them to feature you. I travel... a lot and I often look to those guides to find good places to eat.



Also, look at advertising in magazines like the "Robb Report (luxury brand magazine)". You need to gear your advertising to media which the higher end customer is going to be exposed to.



Hopefully, this will be a start for you.



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