Valentine's Day Marketing: Why Businesses Should Sell Personalised Experiences in February

As Valentine's Day approaches, businesses in the hospitality industry, such as hotels, restaurants, and spas, are presented with a unique opportunity to tap into consumer demand for celebrating another jolly holiday. While traditionally associated with romantic couples, Valentine's Day has evolved into a celebration of love in all its forms, including friendship and self-love.

Valentine’s Day Spending: What's the Trigger?

Due to the powerful psychological factors at play during this holiday, consumers of all kinds feel more tempted to spend money on experiences whether it’s  for themselves or someone else.

Valentine's Day taps into a fundamental human desire for connection, affection, and the expression of love and appreciation. For those in romantic relationships, it offers an opportunity to strengthen bonds and create new memories that will be cherished forever. Whereas individuals who are single or celebrating with friends often embrace the holiday as a chance to express self-love, friendship, or even celebrate singleness. 

The expectation of giving and receiving gifts, coupled with the social pressure to participate in the festivities, further fuels consumer spend. Plus, there's there’s this unwritten rule that says you should give and receive gifts, which gets us all in the mood to spend a little extra.💕

To capitalise on this, hotels, spas & restaurants can offer limited edition personalised experiences that cater to this audience, and LoyLap Experiences is here to make it all possible.

LoyLap Experiences is a game-changer for businesses looking to expand their service-based offerings during Valentine's Day and beyond. This innovative platform enables merchants to create and list custom experiences on their websites, allowing customers to shop for themselves or purchase them as thoughtful gifts for loved ones. In addition to listing activities, our technology also allows merchants to add modifiers to each offering.

So let’s say a customer is purchasing a deluxe getaway at your hotel, they can enhance their experience by adding modifiers such as a +€175.00 relaxation package or a +€150.00 3 course romantic dinner for two. By including modifiers like these in your offering, your hotel can increase the perceived value of the getaway package, encouraging customers to spend more money than they initially planned by enticing them with attractive add-ons.

In marketing jargon, we call it 'upselling strategies,' and the same principle that works for hotels applies to other businesses, such as spas, restaurants, or even coffee shops getting creative with their breakfast or brunch menus. So don’t hesitate to try it out, because selling personalised experiences with the added touch of optional modifiers could make the difference between a customer choosing a half-day spa retreat at your spa or one down the street.

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The process is seamless, and here's how it works:

Purchase and Redemption: When a customer buys an experience, they receive a unique QR code associated with that activity. This code can be easily scanned and redeemed using an integrated point-of-sale (POS) device running LoyLap software. Alternatively, for businesses using desktop computers, tablets, or smartphones, the redemption process is just as effortless through LoyLap's Web Application or the Merchant App. 

Now, let's delve deeper into why personalised experiences are essential for businesses aiming to thrive not only during Valentine's Day but also during other popular holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Easter, Carnival, and numerous worldwide events like Pancake Day or World Pizza Day (yes, there's actually a worldwide festivity dedicated to celebrating the love for pizza 😋). If you're a restaurant owner, you might want to celebrate this day by offering personalised experiences, such as a Pizza Tasting Menu for friends, or a Pizza Workshop where customers can learn the art of tossing dough, selecting toppings, and baking their own pizzas under the guidance of experienced chefs. It's just a matter of thinking outside the box and getting creative with each upcoming festivity. (Consumers love unique offers!)

Top 5 Profitable Advantages of Selling Tailored Experiences in Your Business

1. Increased Revenue and Cash Flow

Offering custom experiences through online vouchers not only attracts new customers but also provides immediate cash flow for your business. You'll receive payment in advance for these activities, even if they won't be redeemed until later.

2. Market Differentiation and Competitive Edge

In a crowded marketplace, unique and personalised options stand out. Customised experiences become an attractive option for engaging with your business in a meaningful way, especially during holidays such as Valentine’s Day when consumers are more tempted to spend their spare time doing fun & exciting activities. By providing online vouchers for personalised services, your hotel, restaurant, or spa can create a unique selling proposition, helping to build a strong brand identity and foster customer loyalty.

3. Flexibility and Convenience for Customers

Selling experiences offers customers the flexibility to choose an activity and lets recipients schedule it at their convenience. This flexibility can be a powerful motivator for potential recipients who might be hesitant to commit to a fixed date, allowing them to plan their experience around their own schedule.

4. Encouraging Advance Bookings

Custom experiences often encourage customers to make advance bookings to secure their preferred date or time. This proactive approach helps businesses forecast demand, allowing them to better prepare for low sales periods. It also provides a steady flow of revenue during off-peak times, reducing the impact of seasonality or other factors that might contribute to slower business periods.

5. Customer Retention and Loyalty

Offering customised experiences through vouchers can serve as a strategy to retain existing customers. Special offers or exclusive experiences during slower times can incentivise customers to return and enjoy a new, exciting activity from a brand they already trust and have had a great experience with. This fosters a sense of loyalty and increases customer retention.

Integrating LoyLap Experiences into Your Business Website

The process of integrating LoyLap Experiences into your website is a breeze. In just a few minutes, your web developers can add the 'Experiences' iframe or URL to your site, enabling prospective customers to browse, purchase digital vouchers for various activities, and email these vouchers directly to the recipient. Once your page is online, you can share the link on your social media profiles and posts to reach customers online.

Whether it's an adventurous outdoor activity, a romantic dinner, or a relaxing spa day, LoyLap Experiences makes it easy for your customers to purchase and share the gift of unforgettable moments. This Valentine's Day, boost profits by offering personalised experiences that cater to the diverse spectrum of love, from romantic couples to friends and individuals celebrating self-love. 

With LoyLap Experiences, the possibilities are endless, and the rewards are substantial. 💜