How Happy Hours is Building Traffic in Restaurants

Restaurants are building traffic by repositioning their brand on happy hours by attracting more public. Nowadays, happy hours are present during lunch and dinner or during a peak time in the day. The concept of happy hours is to attract more public through discounted offers and deals on food and beverages. They tend to promote the discounts on social media platforms or promote the offers through influencers to gain more eyes on the discounted prices. As per reports, more number of people prefers to have food outside or order them online during happy hours than the usual days.

New innovations in Happy Hours

“Restaurants are increasingly innovating their approach to happy hours and combo meals to adapt to both online food delivery platforms and their offline business models. The happy hours have to be carefully curated while keeping consumer peak and off-peak working hours also in addition to keeping delivery or serving timeframe in consideration,” shared Harshadeep Pawar, Head of F&B and Operations, ilili.

To drive traffic through online food delivery platforms, many restaurants are offering exclusive happy hour deals that are only available for delivery or takeout. Similarly, to create urgency and encourage immediate orders, some restaurants implement limited-time happy hour promotions that are available for a short window each day. And, for the same, restaurants are leveraging digital tools to make happy hour more engaging. For instance, they might run social media contests where customers share their happy hour experience for a chance to win a discount on their next order. 

On the other hand, restaurants are experimenting with subscription-based models where customers pay a monthly fee for access to ongoing happy hour deals or special discounts, creating a steady stream of revenue and customer loyalty. The impact of happy hours on restaurant business can vary significantly between offline (in-store) and online (delivery and takeout) environments. 

Dynamic pricing and flash sales

“Restaurants are creatively reshaping happy hour strategies to boost both online and offline traffic by embracing value-driven combo meals and exclusive promotions. Online-exclusive happy hour deals, such as special discounts, free delivery, and bonus items, are effectively driving traffic to food delivery platforms. Meanwhile, the dynamic pricing and flash sales are generating urgency and encouraging timely orders. By offering bundled meals at reduced prices, restaurants cater to budget-conscious customers and simplify their dining choices, which is particularly appealing for online orders. These combo deals enhance perceived value and increase order volumes, benefiting both physical locations and digital platforms,” shared a spokesperson from Sarovar Hotels.

Commenting on the same, Rahul Bhansali, Owner and Founder, Bombay Cartel, pointed, “Happy hours are a strategic move to boost sales during typically slow office peak hours. By offering exciting promotions, we draw in professionals looking to unwind after work, increasing foot traffic and revenue during these quieter times. These happy hours also serve as a magnet for a diverse crowd, extending our reach beyond our regular patrons. The special offers attract new customers, enhancing our brand visibility and positioning Bombay Cartel as a vibrant spot in the Bombay dining scene.”

Thus, we can say that Happy hours are here to stay. Everyone, want to enjoy nice set of meals and drinks in affordable price rather than the usual price and this offer a prime opportunity to partner with new brands and introduce them to the clients. This diversifies the offerings and helps attract a broader audience, reinforcing the brand reputation as a dynamic and engaging destination.