Hospitality Marketing in February

Time To Talk Day - 5th Feb 

Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation, created by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness to encourage people to open up, check in, and connect. This is a day built on a simple mission to promote how meaningful conversations can make a real difference. This annual event invites everyone to pause, talk, and support one another in ways that feel natural and human. For hospitality businesses, this presents a valuable opportunity to create space for those moments to happen, increase brand awareness, and support a wonderful cause. 

Hotels, restaurants, cafés, and bars are already places where people come together, which is what makes such venues the ideal partners for a campaign rooted in connection. By acknowledging Time to Talk Day, your business not only supports an important national initiative but also positions your venue as a welcoming space where wellbeing matters.

Marketing ideas 

Host “Time to Talk” Coffee or Breakfast Specials
Create a low cost menu item or offer where guests are encouraged to sit, chat, and slow down. This could be a dedicated table theme, a morning offer, or a mindful menu option.

Partner with Local Mental Health Charities or Community Groups
Invite local organisations to host a drop-in session, share some educational educational materials on your social media platforms, or collaborate on a fundraising initiative. Even a small donation from each coffee sold can help raise awareness and enriches your brand image in support of something impactful.

Create Conversation Spaces
Set aside cosy corners, communal tables, or lobby seating styled as “Time to Talk Zones,” encouraging guests to settle in and connect. Share the messaging on socials and prompt people to come together for a chat.

Offer Team-Focused Initiatives
Hospitality teams work in high-pressure environments. Use the day to internally support your staff. Things such as a morning briefing on wellbeing resources, anonymous note boxes, or factoring in longer breaks (if doable) can go a long way in making your staff feel supported.

Promote Slow Evenings or Screen-Free Dining
Encourage guests to unplug. A screen-free supper club or a more relaxed midweek dining experience can reinforce the day’s messaging while still driving bookings and supporting the campaign.

If you’re struggling for ideas, just remember that Time to Talk Day is all about connection  - something hospitality does best. By weaving small but thoughtful actions into your marketing, you can show support for an important cause while still strengthening relationships with your guests and your team.

National Pizza Day - 9th February

National Pizza Day is one of those feel-good food moments that guests instantly understand. It’s simple, familiar, and full of delicious spending potential. As we all know, pizza is universally loved, endlessly customisable, and perfect for sharing, making this day an incredibly valuable, offer-led campaign opportunity for restaurants, bars, pubs, and even hotels with casual dining concepts.

Unlike more niche food awareness days, National Pizza Day taps into broad appeal. It works just as well for families, couples, groups of friends, and midweek diners, making it ideal for driving footfall during a traditionally quieter period in the hospitality calendar.

Marketing ideas 

Run a Time-Limited Pizza Offer
Create urgency with a one-day-only deal: two-for-one pizzas, a discounted signature pizza, or a fixed-price pizza and drink pairing. Keep it simple, clear, and easy to communicate.

Showcase a Signature or Limited-Edition Pizza
Use the day to spotlight your best-selling pizza or introduce a limited-edition special. This works especially well when paired with strong visuals and social content.

Bundle for Groups & Sharing
Encourage group bookings with pizza sharing boards, family-style deals, or pizza feasts designed for two or more people.

Leverage Social Media for Engagement
Run polls, pizza preference debates, behind the scenes dough prep videos, or “build your own pizza” stories. Pizza is highly shareable content, lean into that. You might just inspire a walk-in in the process. 

Pair with Drinks Promotions
Create simple pizza and drinks bundles, including beer, wine, or alcohol-free options, to increase average spend per table.

Make It Easy to Book or Walk In
Promote clear booking CTAs, walk-in messaging, and same day availability. National Pizza Day is spontaneous; remove all the friction and make it easy for guests to choose you.

Extend the Campaign Beyond One Day
If capacity allows, turn it into a week-long pizza celebration to maximise exposure and demand, especially if your venue has strong takeaway or delivery offerings. Someone might not fancy a pizza directly on the day, but with the offer of a week-long offer, they could lean into it closer to the weekend. 

National Pizza Day is a reminder that not every campaign needs to be complicated. With the right offer, strong visuals, and clear messaging, it can drive covers, boost midweek spend, and put your venue top of mind for comfort-led dining.

Valentine’s Day - 14th February

Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest and most reliable dates in the hospitality calendar. It’s expected, highly anticipated, and consistently drives demand across hotels, restaurants, bars, and experience-led venues. Guests aren’t just looking for a meal or a room, they’re looking for a romantic moment. Romance, atmosphere, indulgence, and thoughtful details matter more than ever on this day.

Because Valentine’s Day follows closely after January, it also presents an opportunity to re-energise bookings and give guests something to look forward to after the quieter start to the year. With the right planning, it can deliver strong covers, higher average spend, and valuable new customers who may return later in the year, or even the following year.

Marketing ideas 

Create Set Menus or Tasting Experiences
Fixed price menus work particularly well for Valentine’s Day. They simplify decision-making, help control margins, and allow you to showcase your best dishes. Consider optional upgrades such as wine pairings, champagne on arrival, or dessert add-ons.

Build Romantic Hotel Packages
For hotels, Valentine’s Day is ideal for bundled experiences. Things such as overnight stays paired with dinner, breakfast in bed offers, spa access and treatments, late checkout, or in-room touches like flowers, chocolates or Prosecco.

Upsell the Experience
Encourage guests to elevate their booking with thoughtful extras: cocktails on arrival, premium wine selections, sharing desserts, private dining areas, or live music. Small upgrades can significantly increase average spend.

Extend Beyond the 14th
Not everyone celebrates on the day itself. Offer “Valentine’s Week” or “Romance All February” options to capture wider demand and spread bookings more evenly.

Lean into Atmosphere & Storytelling
Use imagery, tone of voice, and messaging that focus on mood and emotion, such as candlelight, intimate spaces, and memorable moments. Social media and email campaigns should sell the feeling, not just the offer.

Make Booking Easy & Urgent
Valentine’s Day sells out fast. Use clear CTAs, limited availability messaging, and booking reminders to drive early reservations and reduce last-minute stress.

Valentine’s Day may come around every year, but when done well, it never loses its impact. With thoughtful offers, clear messaging, and experience-led upsells, it remains one of the most powerful opportunities to drive revenue and leave a lasting impression on your guests.

Pancake Day - 17th February

Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) is a playful, family-friendly moment in the February calendar that offers a great opportunity to drive daytime trade, particularly for hotels, cafés, and restaurants with strong breakfast or brunch offerings. It’s light-hearted, nostalgic, and highly shareable, making it perfect for engaging families, local audiences, and casual diners.

Unlike more formal dining occasions, Pancake Day lends itself to spontaneity. Guests are often looking for a fun, simple treat rather than a full dining experience, which makes it ideal for attracting walk-ins, boosting morning and lunchtime footfall, and creating buzz on social media.

Marketing ideas

Launch a Limited-Time Pancake Menu
Offer a dedicated Pancake Day menu featuring sweet and savoury options. Keep it simple but indulgent. Classic toppings and flavours alongside one or two creative specials work particularly well.

Drive Breakfast & Brunch Bookings
Use Pancake Day to promote your breakfast or brunch choices, especially midweek. Highlight family-friendly timing and relaxed dining to appeal to parents and carers.

Free Pancakes for Children
Encourage family visits by offering a complimentary pancake dessert for little ones. It’s a small cost that can deliver big goodwill and repeat visits. Plus, if you present the offer as redeemable only alongside the purchase of a chid’s meal, the costs can largely be negated.

Create Shareable Moments
Stacked pancakes, colourful toppings, and behind-the-scenes flipping videos are perfect for Instagram and TikTok. Encourage guests to tag your venue for added reach, and award diners who tag you with a return visit discount.

Pair with Hot Drinks or Brunch Add-Ons
Upsell coffee, hot chocolate, fresh juices, or brunch cocktails alongside pancakes to increase average spend.

Extend the Celebration
As the day lands midweek, consider turning it into a “Pancake Week” to maximise engagement and spread demand.

Pancake Day is a reminder that not every campaign needs to be complex. With a fun menu, family-friendly messaging, and strong visuals, it can be a simple yet effective way to boost footfall and bring new guests through your doors.

Spring School Holidays - Varied Dates

The Spring school holidays are a valuable opportunity for hospitality businesses to attract families, groups, and daytime diners during a period when routines shift and parents are actively looking for ways to entertain and feed children outside the home. With dates varying by region, this is a great moment for hyper-local marketing and flexible offers that cater specifically to families.

During the holidays, dining decisions are often driven by convenience, value, and child-friendly experiences. For restaurants and hotels, this creates a natural opening to increase midweek trade, introduce new menu items, and position your venue as a welcoming, stress-free option for families.

Marketing ideas 

Run Family-Focused Dining Offers
Kids eat free or kids eat for £1 campaigns remain highly effective during school holidays. These offers can help drive higher footfall while encouraging adults to dine too. However, remeber to tandem with healthy eating options to abide by new HFSS legislation and government guidance on children’s healthy eating. 

Introduce Limited-Time Kids’ Menus
Use the holidays to refresh your children’s menu or trial new dishes. Fun presentation, healthier options, and smaller portions all resonate well with parents.

Promote Group & Family Dining Experiences
Highlight sharing menus, family platters, and relaxed dining spaces where groups with children feel comfortable and catered for.

Create Simple Entertainment Add-Ons
Activity sheets, colouring packs, or small giveaways can make a big difference to the family experience and encourage longer stays.

Use Local Targeting in Your Marketing
Because holiday dates vary, focus on local social ads, email campaigns, and Google updates that reflect your specific area’s school calendar.

Support Hotel Family Stays
For hotels, bundle family friendly dining with overnight stays, breakfast inclusions, or local attraction partnerships to create easy, value-led holiday packages.

Spring school holidays are about ease and enjoyment. By offering family-friendly menus, thoughtful incentives, and clear messaging, hospitality venues can turn this varied period into a reliable source of bookings, footfall, and repeat visits.