If you own a bar that is located in a popular metropolitan area, chances are you get a fair share of the tourist dollars that pass through the city. Good nightlife is at the top of the list for many travelers, and it doesn’t matter if they are traveling for business or for pleasure. However, most bars simply bank on people driving or walking by their location and deciding to swing in for a drink rather than actively going out and seeking new patrons. If you are interested in turning your bar into a destination for tourists and business people that are in town, there are a few key things you can target to make this dream a reality.
Entertainment
Entertainment is the number one thing that most people are interested in when they go out to a bar or nightclub, so providing the best option in your area is a sure-fire way to put your bar in a good position to please. Many bars have bands or other live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights, but the real key is to have the best entertainment and be well-known for that fact. Make sure you are always offering better pay to your live acts than your competition so you can snap the best performers. It will cost you a bit of money at first, but once you have the reputation you can look forward to a packed house every night.
Special Offers
Being known for your specialties can bring in a large crowd as well. This can include anything from having special drink that are only available at your bar to offering bottle service that is delivered to the table complete with sparklers attached to the bottle showing off the purchase to everyone in the room. Mixology has become a hot trend in the bar industry, so having unique flavors that people can’t find anywhere else can create recurring customers. Having bottle service to snag VIP tourists that come through town will make your bar the destination that everyone wants to visit.
Advertising
One thing that many bar owners overlook is advertising. You don’t need to pay for expensive radio or television spots to get your name out there; you can do a good job by targeting much more specific areas. Consider putting an ad in the menus at your local hotels. Their guests are definitely your target audience since they are staying within walking distance of your location. You may also want to put up some sort of signage or a marquee to let everyone know what you have going on inside tonight. Since driving and foot traffic the most common ways for potential customers to spot your bar, letting them know why they should come in can lead to huge increases in business which also means higher profits.