Welcome

Phew! We made it. It hasn’t been the easiest year for many restaurateurs, but now that we’re in December, I hope your restaurants are crammed full of diners finally letting their hair down. With Christmas parties finally underway, perhaps it’s a good time to reflect on the key trends for your business in 2009, and begin to think about what you’ll aim for in 2010.

A big shift in 2009 here at Livebookings has been the way that many big high street brands have embraced web bookings; we’ve seen that diners are as keen to reserve their tables online, whether they are eating with Gordon Ramsay or at their favourite casual dining restaurant. Read on for more news about how some big brands have contributed to Livebookings’ growth in recent months, and changed our perceptions of diners’ booking behaviour.

Finally, I’d like to thank you all very much indeed for working with us in 2009. We’ve achieved fantastic levels of growth as a company, and picked up some awards along the way, but we couldn’t have done any of it without our restaurant partners! Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year from all at Livebookings.

Olivia Fitzgerald
General Manager UK & Ireland

Marketing Tip

Boost your brand through social media

Restaurants are beginning to realise the potential of social media networks and third party websites to increase presence and ultimately reach more diners.

In November we held another successful Livebookings Academy titled: ‘How to harness the power of Google, Twitter
and Facebook to pull more diners to your restaurant’.

Jo Harvey, Marketing Director for Sweet Potato Restaurant & Leisure Ventures shared her knowledge and expertise. Jo highlighted how she successfully employed social networking and search engine optimisation to drive customers to Sweet Potato restaurants, including Villandry and Kitchen Italia.

Other presentations included:
Social Media Marketing - Magnus Hultberg, Project Co-ordinator, Livebookings
Build your Business Profile through Google Local Business Centre and Google AdWords - David Norris, COO, Livebookings

Click here to view the presentations. (Please note, this file may take a few minutes to download.)

You can also download our best practice guides on database marketing and email marketing.

Livebookings Academy

Ensure 2010 is a successful year for your restaurant

Did you miss one of our Academies this year or need a recap on the key online marketing tools available to restaurants?

This is the perfect opportunity to come along and receive a summary of all the topics that we covered throughout 2009, while looking ahead to next year and making New Year's resolutions that will ensure 2010 is a success. Topics will include; Building a Database, Email Marketing, Website Design and Social Media.

Date: Thursday 10th December 2009. With only 2 days to go - BOOK NOW
Time: 09:00 - 12:00. Registration and breakfast from: 09:00 - 09:30
Location: Century, 61-63 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6LQ. Click here to view map.
Transport: Nearest tube stations are Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square

The Livebookings Academy is free, however spaces are limited so register now to confirm your place.

Agenda

• Smart Marketing: Building a Customer Database - Anneliese Hainz, Key Account Manager, Livebookings
• Effective Email Marketing: Build your Brand and Boost your Bookings -  Matthew Kirby, Client Services Director, Fishbowl UK
• Best Practice Website Design - Top Tips on Improving your Online 'Shopfront' -  Paul West, Managing Director, Ignite Hospitality Consultants
• New Year's Resolutions - lead by Olivia Fitzgerald, UK & Ireland General Manager, Livebookings
  

Promotional Ideas

Send us your special offers

January can be a quiet month for restaurants. Make sure you send us your special offers so we can distribute them to our Network Partners.

Check out the top 10 Network Partners in 2009.

lastminute.com

From Boxing Day to 4th January 2010, lastminute.com will be running an up to 75% sale across the entire lastminute.com site. If you are offering a post-Christmas discount make sure you send us your offer. Remember, the greater the discount the more marketing coverage your restaurant will receive.