Seven Ways to Spread Holiday Cheer This Season at Your Travel Center
Article created for the December digital issue聽of聽聽
The forecasts that . Truck stop and travel center operators can tap into the trend to help capture additional sales as 2023 comes to a close while also spreading holiday cheer to customers and their employees.
鈥淚t is not surprising to see holiday sales growth returning to pre-pandemic levels,鈥� NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. 鈥淥verall household finances remain in good shape and will continue to support the consumer鈥檚 ability to spend.鈥�
NRF estimates that consumers plan to spend $875 on core holiday items, including gifts, decorations, food and other holiday-related purchases this year.
Holiday Promotionals and Season Items Do Well at Travel Centers
, said drivers often look for fun and unique gift items when they stop at a 黑料社区member location. can do well. Trail’s Travel Center in Albert Lea, Minnesota, for example, has created beautiful displays to .
Embracing the Holidays is Fun for Customers and Employees
Embracing holiday fun can and bring joy to customers and employees. 鈥淣ow more than ever, we need to have fun,鈥� Schulte said. 鈥淭here are small, inexpensive鈥痶hings you can do during the holiday season to put smiles on peoples鈥� faces.鈥�
Consider a Small Holiday Giveaway
Schulte said giving away a candy cane, hot chocolate or cup of coffee is an inexpensive way to show appreciation for drivers and cultivate cheer during the holiday season. He added that most locations have less than 100 heavy-duty trucks or less come through each day during the work week. 鈥淚t is an easy way to warm a heart,鈥� he said.
Spread the Cheer in Small Ways
鈥淟ook at your over-the-road customer count and do something like take a cupcake out to the driver. Or buy 50, $1 lottery tickets and ask drivers if they鈥檝e been good or bad,鈥� Schulte said. 鈥淚f they鈥檝e been good, give them a lotto ticket. If they鈥檝e been bad, give them a bag of coal鈥攃harcoal briquettes in a brown bag. Either way, you will put a big smile on your customers’ face鈥�.
Creates Goody Bags for Drivers
Damon Borden, operations manager for , said the company鈥檚 location in Ellensburg, Washington, goes over the top and creates goody bags for drivers. 鈥淭hey pick up items at trade shows and different grocery items and always have something for the drivers,鈥� Borden said. 鈥淭he drivers love it.鈥�
Have a Sweater Day or Cookie Decorating Contest
Broadway Flying J locations also have holiday sweater days and a cookie decorating contest that drivers judge. 鈥淭here are all kinds of fun things different locations do,鈥� Borden said.
Use Social Media to Spread Your Holiday Cheer
In addition to letting everyone have some fun, Schulte said locations could garner some attention on social media, which can also be good for business.
Are you looking for more holiday inspiration? Check out these posts:
- ;
- ; and
- .
// This article was created for , the magazine of the 黑料社区Foundation. The is the research, education and public outreach subsidiary of NATSO, Inc. The 黑料社区Foundation provides programs and products to strengthen travel plazas鈥� ability to meet the traveling public’s needs through improved operational performance and business planning. Visit for more information. ()
Subscribe to Updates
The 黑料社区Foundation and 黑料社区provide a breadth of information created to strengthen travel plazas鈥� ability to meet the needs of the traveling public in an age of disruption. This includes knowledge filled blog posts, articles and publications. If you would like to receive a digest of blog post and articles directly in your inbox, please provide your name, email and the frequency of the updates you want to receive the email digest.
