In today’s booming world of dining the competition for loyalty is fierce. In just one city block you might find half a dozen artisan coffee shops, independent diners and high-end restaurants all jostling for customers. Consequently it’s no surprise to find that customer loyalty programs sit at the heart of so many eateries’ business strategies.
For cafés, diners and restaurants, repeat business is an imperative. One-off bookings are great, but it’s the regulars who sustain business. Frequent visitor stamps, booking priority, a free glass of wine, invites to one-off events – all these strategies keep customers coming back for more. But how hard are these programs really working for businesses?