Vouchers and guest cards for customer loyalty in the hospitality industry

Why a Voucher System is Essential for Restaurants

Everyone loves discounts and gifts! A well-thought-out voucher system is a smart way to engage guests and build loyalty to your restaurant. The benefits are clear:

• Returning Guests: Vouchers are an incentive for guests to visit your restaurant again.
• Increased Revenue: Customers often spend more than the voucher value.
• Word of Mouth: Satisfied guests recommend your establishment to others.
• Seasonal Promotions: Whether for Christmas, Valentine's Day, or Easter – vouchers are a perfect marketing tool!
• Predictable Revenue: Vouchers that have already been sold provide secure revenue, even if they are redeemed later.
• New Customer Acquisition: Guests who receive a voucher as a gift often visit your restaurant for the first time – and then return.
• Custom Design in Your Corporate Identity: Vouchers and guest cards designed in your own corporate design strengthen brand awareness and ensure a professional appearance.

Guest Cards: The Next Level of Customer Loyalty

In addition to vouchers, guest cards are a smart solution for long-term customer retention. These can be offered as digital or physical loyalty cards. Guests benefit from loyalty programs, exclusive discounts, and personalized offers. A powerful example of such a system is leat.com, whose voucher system is distributed in Switzerland by Vendomat AG.

Benefits of a Modern Voucher System for Restaurants:

• Easy Integration into Existing POS Systems like Lightspeed POS.
• Automated Management: No more lost or invalid vouchers!
• Personalized Offers: Vouchers based on customer history.
• Omnichannel Use: Guests can pay digitally or with a physical card.
• Data-Driven Decisions: By analyzing purchase behavior, tailored marketing campaigns can be carried out.
• More Flexibility: Guests can use vouchers for various offers in the restaurant.
• Cross-Selling Potential: Guests are more likely to try new dishes or pricier menus with a voucher.

Brand Strengthening through Your Own CI: Custom-designed vouchers and guest cards stand out from standard solutions and ensure a uniform, professional brand presence.

How a POS System Like Lightspeed Eases Voucher Management

A POS system like Lightspeed is more than just a register – it’s the heart of a modern restaurant. With seamless integration of voucher systems, management becomes a breeze:

• Fast Redemption: Guests can redeem their vouchers directly at the POS.
• Accounting Transparency: No more manual voucher redemptions.
• Interfaces to Loyalty Programs: Integration with guest cards for exclusive benefits.
• Automatic Voucher Creation: Vouchers can be issued directly from the POS system.
• Employee-Friendly: The system reduces staff workload and minimizes errors.
• Faster Service Speed: Guests don’t have to wait long, as vouchers are scanned and processed immediately.

Practical Examples: How Restaurants Successfully Use Vouchers

1. Birthday Vouchers for Regulars

Many restaurants automatically send vouchers to loyal guests on their birthday. This small gesture leads to high return rates and strengthens emotional bonds with the restaurant.

2. Exclusive Offers for VIP Guests

With a modern voucher system, loyal guests can be rewarded. For example, VIP customers might receive an exclusive discount on their favorite dish.

3. Partnerships with Local Businesses

A restaurant could collaborate with gyms or hotels to offer vouchers for healthy meals or special menus. This brings new customers into the restaurant and increases brand awareness.

4. Employee Vouchers as Bonuses

Many restaurants use vouchers as an incentive for their staff. A free dinner or a voucher for a meal boosts motivation and employee retention. A restaurant could collaborate with gyms or hotels to offer vouchers for healthy meals or special menus. This brings new customers into the restaurant and increases brand awareness.

5. Event Vouchers for Special Occasions

Restaurants that regularly host theme nights or wine tastings can offer special vouchers for these events. Guests can gift exclusive experiences, and the restaurant benefits from predictable income.

Reference Clients: Swiss Businesses Using leat.com

In Switzerland, many well-known establishments rely on the voucher system from leat.com. Reference clients include:

• Restaurant Rhyschänzli in Basel
• kaisin. AG in Zurich
• Fred Feldpausch AG in Ascona

The Role of Digitalization: Voucher Systems in Modern Gastronomy

Digitalization plays a key role in implementing an efficient voucher system. Particularly, integration with a POS system like Lightspeed POS makes management much easier. But what other digital solutions can help with customer loyalty?

• Mobile Apps for Guests: Guests can manage their vouchers directly through an app and receive push notifications for new offers.
• Automated Email Campaigns: Reminders about unredeemed vouchers or exclusive offers increase conversion rates.
• Social Media Integration: Vouchers can be shared on Instagram or Facebook to generate more reach.
• AI-Powered Recommendations: Modern systems analyze purchase behavior and offer personalized vouchers for favorite dishes.

Vouchers and Guest Cards as Keys to Guest Retention

Embrace a modern voucher system and customer loyalty program to increase revenue and keep your guests happy! Vendomat AG is the official partner of leat.com and offers professional solutions for the hospitality industry in Switzerland. Take advantage of these benefits and make your restaurant ready for the future!