The 2024 Olympic Games represent a unique opportunity for restaurateurs in Paris and the host cities. This global event could attract up to 15 million visitors from every continent, and offer you the chance to expand your customer base and significantly increase your sales. But preparing for this influx of international customers requires careful planning and the right strategy.
The importance of the 2024 Olympics for restaurateurs
The 2024 Olympic Games are not just a sporting event, they are also a powerful economic driver with considerable financial spin-offs (3.2 billion euros for this edition). Increased tourism, international visibility and local economic impact are therefore crucial aspects to consider.
The type of clientele expected
- 90% of expected tourists are French, including 48% from the Paris region, who will be turning to fast food and snacking (according to Le Parisien).
- Some 1.5 million foreign tourists, 40% of them English-speaking, who are more interested in French and local gastronomy.
Adapting your offer and meeting tourists' expectations will be a major asset in helping you stand out from the crowd and reach as many customers as possible.
9 steps to prepare your restaurant for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
1. Strengthen your teams
If you want to strengthen your team, you have 2 choices:
- Call on freelancers to support your team on sites such as Extracadabra, Saisonnier.fr, ...
- Opt for digital solutions such as order terminals or QR codes to delegate order-taking and checkout to your customers.
👉 To find out more: 6 tips for recruiting seasonal staff in restaurants this summer
2. Implement communication strategies
Using targeted marketing strategies, such as partnerships, social networks and special offers, can increase your visibility and attract more customers during the Olympic Games.
For example, you could set up a special competition for the 2024 Olympic Games, with prizes such as goodies or desserts. You could also distribute flyers with promotional codes and a direct link to your online ordering site at stadium exits.
3. Capture customers who stay at home
Offering takeaway or delivery could be a good way to enjoy this event. Many people will prefer to watch the competitions from the comfort of their own homes, and will be looking for simple, quality solutions for eating without having to cook.
Don't wait any longer to set up online ordering, click & collect and sign up for home meal delivery sites like Uber Eats and Deliveroo.
4. Manage flow
To cope with a much greater flow of customers, you need to find time-saving solutions so that customers don't get impatient. This is where digital solutions come into play: you can, for example, delegate order-taking to your customers, relieving a cashier who can concentrate on preparation in the kitchen.
This is exactly what Damien, BCHEF franchisee, has noticed: "My kiosks take 50% of my orders. All the time saved is devoted to service and preparation in the kitchen. Now, I can serve my customers in less than 7 minutes, even at peak times."
Indeed, the adoption of digital solutions such as online ordering (click & collect, delivery), contactless payment, online reservations and queue management can optimize efficiency and reduce tourist waiting times.
To make ordering and payment quicker and easier, you can offer customers options to order and pay via their smartphone or via order kiosks, for example.
These options allow customers to manage order-taking and payment themselves, and free up your staff to concentrate on food preparation and service, which are higher value-added tasks.
5. Planning logistics
Traffic during the Olympic Games will be completely different, with restrictions or even bans (except for derogations) around certain sites close to the venues. A priori, delivery vehicles will be able to circulate, but probably with some difficulties.
So rigorous logistical planning is needed to handle the increase in customer volume. This includes inventory management, additional staff and coordination with local authorities.
6. Translate your menus
To improve service and reduce ordering errors, offer your menus in hard copy and digital format in several languages. Simplify them by writing clear, straightforward descriptions, and why not add tips on food and beverage pairings. Beautiful photos are also a real plus.
💡 To avoid printing everything in several languages, why not set up digital menus via QR codes? This also makes your fast-food offers (promotions, formulas, photos, etc.) more accessible and visible.
7. Preparing your staff
Organize a team meeting to take stock of who speaks English, Spanish and so on. This will allow you to better prepare for shifts, or if your staff isn't ready to start recruiting English-speaking waiters for this period.
💡Recruiting multilingual servers, a good idea?
Given that 82% of restaurateurs are facing recruitment difficulties to prepare for the Olympics, this is not THE solution.
But don't panic, there's a miracle solution: a multilingual kiosk. Innovorder kiosks can translate up to 5 languages of your choice: English, Spanish, Chinese, German, Portuguese, ... With the added bonus of enticing photos and cleverly suggested extras to increase your average shopping basket by up to 25%.
8. Extend your opening hours
International visitors are often surprised to come across closed restaurants, as the Spanish eat after 2pm and the Anglo-Saxons sit down to dinner at 6pm.
To attract these customers during the competition, consider adjusting your opening hours.
9. Improve customer experience
Multilingual welcome, international payments and additional services can significantly enhance the customer experience. These adjustments demonstrate your commitment to providing a warm welcome to a diverse public.
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Put digital technology to work for your restaurant with Innovorder! Contact an expert and find out how to improve your productivity, boost your sales and increase your margins.
