Looking for ways to make your summer beverage sales soar? Many operators are finding unique ways to cool down guests and quench their thirst for hot summer deals. Summer seasonal programming and merchandising are great ways to enhance the guest experience and drive incremental revenue.
One concept making a splash poolside is what Hilton Worldwide’s poolside promotion. Brought back by popular demand, the shaker promotion features a 32-ounce acrylic shaker cup that can be used for refills throughout the guests’ stay. With plenty of tropical and traditional cocktails and punches, this chic menu of poolside summer sippers is the perfect way to elevate and complement a guest’s experience. The Hilton logo is printed on the shaker, making it a souvenir that guests get to keep as a reminder of these enjoyable libations.
Water is about as synonymous with summer as suntan lotion and Omni Hotels & Resorts has created a poolside menu devoted to the “Art of Water.” Omni partnered with artists and culinary experts to create a menu that is fun and innovative while also serving Omni Hotels & Resorts mission for sustainability.
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Refreshing regional cocktails created by acclaimed mixologist Kim Haasarud are featured with at least one lighter calorie option per region. The backdrop of the menu pages reflect photos of water taken by professional photographer Larry Emerson. The menu celebrates life’s most essential element, water, by partnering with Keeper Springs Spring Water which donates 100 percent of its profits back to local waterway restoration projects. For every bottle sold, Omni will donate an additional five-cents to Waterkeeper Alliance, a global environmental movement uniting nearly 200 Waterkeeper organizations around the world and focusing citizen advocacy on the issues that affect our waterways from pollution to climate change. This season, Omni offers its guest a great way to cool off while giving back.
The summer season is a great time to experiment with offering new beverage selections or adding current trends that appeal to operators’ core guests. Hospitality USA provides the perfect example with “The Amazingly Stupendous Summer of Sangrias” at its Sherlock’s Baker St. Pub & Grill locations. Sangrias proved to be a huge hit for the brand last summer with two of the sangrias added as year-round offerings. In the six week period the sangrias were featured last year, more than 2,800 were sold. The Sangrias are all made with fresh fruit and Finest Call Sangria mixes which allows the blended taste of many fruits to come through in each recipe. Additionally, the recipes are simple and easy to make which is extremely important when your guests are hot and thirsty from the summer heat! This summer, Sherlock’s is featuring three amazing sangrias, The Red Hearing Sangria, The White Sangria and the Crisp Moscato Sangria priced at $4.25. The new, on-trend sparkling Moscato sangria will make increasing summer beverage sales no sweat at all!
Summer is a great time for operators to focus on cleaner, lighter flavors and drinks that can be enjoyed outdoors and poolside.