Tag: serving alcohol

Celebrate the Season with Oktoberfest and Halloween-Themed Offerings

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Fall has officially arrived and with it comes the opportunity for celebrations and events to increase sales, and to engage and entertain your guests. Las Vegas has always been a hub for nightlife and celebration for visitors and local alike, and you can bet on increased bar traffic when there is reason to kick back and enjoy. Both Oktoberfest and Halloween are great holidays for restaurants and clubs because they offer the opportunity for themed promotions and menu items, contests and special events, and more.

Here are some ideas on how to make the most of these well-known and well-loved celebrations and get more patrons into the door.

  1. Offer special menu items or themed promotions. Oktoberfest is for celebrating great beer; why not offer a beer sampler or specially-priced happy-hour beer menu to entice your guests? Halloween offers the same opportunity; try creating a spooky-themed signature cocktail or fall-themed menu items to get your guests in the celebratory mood and trying something new. Check out Real Simple’s Halloween-themed cocktails for ideas on what to offer your patrons.
  2. Spread the word about any special events you are running in honor of the season. Having a themed celebration is a great way to attract patrons looking to enjoy the holidays. Try having an Oktoberfest-themed celebration with live music and German-themed menu offerings, or a Halloween party complete with a costume competition.
  3. Make sure your customers are safe. Remember: If any of your costumed-patrons are wearing masks, they’ll need to take them off when you are checking I.D. Also make sure that you are not over serving your guests when you are featuring special drinks. TAM® of Nevada will train you and your co-workers to provide a great celebration that will keep your patrons safe and willing to come back and party at your next holiday event.

How are you planning to kick-off the festivities this season?

Resources

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Increase Your Earnings with Suggestive Selling and Upselling

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Many individuals in the hospitality industry depend on their tip money for the majority of their income. There are several ways to net bigger tips, increase customer satisfaction and impress your manager by netting bigger sales. It’s not rocket science, a higher tab very often equates to a higher tip, and what service professional doesn’t want to increase bar sales, and in turn, their own tips? Providing excellent customer service in addition to responsible beverage service is one of the most important duties of a bartender or server. In addition, try these tips to raise the bar even higher and increase your earnings:

  1. Upselling is one of the most popular and effective ways to increase your earnings potential, as long as it is done the right way. One example is if your patron orders a drink that can be made more than one way. If a mixed drink comes in a standard size or large size, it would be acceptable to ask if they’d like to order the larger size. Similarly, you can promote your top shelf liquors. If a patron asks for a mixed drink, ask them if they’d like to select the premium option. A simple, “Would you like your Cosmopolitan made with Grey Goose?” is an easy way to upsell your offerings without being pushy.
  2. Suggesting premium beverages or signature drinks over well drinks is another easy way to increase sales. A patron can get a well drink anywhere in town, suggesting one of your establishment’s signature cocktails or a drink that is very popular with other patrons can instantly boost the bar tab, and your customer gets to try something new and exciting.
  3. If patrons ask for beverage suggestions, provide information on what you like, ask them about their drink preferences and make suggestions based on their individual tastes, and also be knowledgeable about wine selections and pairings. A service professional can help make a guest’s night-out extra special with some extra attention and a few simple suggestions. For more information on food and wine pairings, check out our blog post, “Bon Appetit! Food and Wine Pairings 101.”
  4. Drink sales aren’t the only item to focus on; menu upselling is also a great way to increase your sales. Try offering your bar patrons an appetizer or entrée to go with their drinks. A simple, “Would you like to try some buffalo wings to go with your beer?” is always a good tactic.

TAM® of Nevada loves to hear suggestions from students and other industry professionals. What suggestions would you give servers on ways to net bigger tips?

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

 

Laying the Foundations for Success: Building Repeat Bar Business

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Building repeat business is crucial to the success of any bar or restaurant. It’s not enough to impress your guests when they visit; the overall goal is to make sure they come back, again and again! You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make sure it’s a solid one.

Nightclub & Bar recently released a blog post, “Seven Steps to Building Repeat Business,” and we here at TAM® of Nevada wholeheartedly agree with their advice, and recommend it as reading for any service professional. Make sure to check out their article for their tips on wowing guests and keeping them coming back for more. We certainly agree with their tips to acknowledge regulars and serve hospitably.

Regular guests like to be acknowledged by staff with even a simple “welcome back” or “nice to see you again.” Managers or bartenders who greet their repeat customers by name, or even remember their drink orders or preferences will impress guests and net better tips. Also remember that good food, drinks and a great ambiance are not the only components to a great night out. It’s important to always be hospitable. Excellent service will wow guests, keep them coming back, and increase the buzz about your establishment by word of mouth.

For even more tips on how to increase sales and provide a fabulous experience for your guests, make sure to read our blog posts, “Set the Tone and Increase Your Earnings with Positive Body Language,” and “Are Your Happy Hour Deals Falling Flat? New Ideas to Boost Your Bar Sales.”

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. What tips would you give someone to increase their repeat business?

Resources

Seven Steps to Building Repeat Business – Nightclub & Bar

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada

Fake IDs Are Going High-Tech. Do You Know How to Spot Them?

Published on by TAM of NevadaLeave a comment

Fake IDsMany college and high school students used to turn to peers with photo software and laminating machines to produce fake ID’s. Hospitality professionals and police officers alike are trained on how to spot these, but recently more sophisticated and convincing fake IDs have begun appearing on the market. Alarmingly, a new breed of fake identification, complete with holographs and barcodes, is popping up in more and more states, and it can be almost impossible to tell them apart from the real thing. For a few hundred dollars, enterprising teenagers and young adults are able to secure very realistic fake driver’s licenses and are finding it easier than ever to enter bars and clubs and purchase liquor. Are you aware of these new high-tech fake IDs, and are you making sure you aren’t getting duped?

Reporter Ashley Halsey of the Washington Post recently reported on this new wave of identification being produced in China in her article, “New Generation of Fake IDs Flinging Open Doors to Underage Drinking.” These fake IDs are being produced using real photos, signatures and identifying information specific to the purchaser, and even police officials and experienced bartenders are having a difficult time telling these apart from real IDs. So what can you do to make sure you’re looking at a legit driver’s license?

If your establishment uses a bar code reader to check identification, you may be in luck. The type of ID reported about in the article cited here has identifiers which are being flagged as bogus by card readers. Specifically, you can look for the words, “by PARTiTek” on the readout. Additionally, make sure you are up-to-date on your TAM® training, and remaining vigilant about traditional ways to spot bogus identification.

Still want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to help prevent underage drinking? Check out our blog posts, “Are Minors Using Fake IDs and Sneaking Past You?” and “ID Scanners – Friend or Foe?”

TAM® Card Holders, what are some tricks that you’ve seen used by fake ID holders? What would have been helpful to know when you first started checking IDs?

Resources

New Generation of Fake IDs Flinging Open Doors to Underage Drinking – Washington Post

© 2011 National Hospitality Institute®, TAM® of Nevada