What Is a Restaurant Loyalty Program?
2024 is poised to be a good year for the restaurant industry, according to the National Restaurant Association’s State of the Restaurant Industry 2024
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As the restaurant industry deals with massive change, we’re spotlighting the brands that are spreading positive messages and uplifting their customers during an isolating time. Many have lessons to teach us all as they work to foster a deep emotional connection with their community.
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant and Silver Diner
Our lives turned upside down. Between social distancing and staying at home, our lives are quite different from the busy, on-the-go existence that we typically lead. Kids are temporarily out of school, young adults in college have shifted to online classes, and those still fortunate enough to be employed are working from home. To help their customers get through the trapped-at-home blues, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant changed its offerings to create an activity that families can do together: cook! 
Iron Hill has make-at-home meals available for curbside pickup. Instead of taking a trip to a grocery store the brand offers three kits filled with high-quality ingredients. They can choose from the “steak and bake”, “fun on a bun”, or “pizza party”.
During this time, lots of customers are missing the joy and comfort of dining out and socializing. Iron Hill offers a way to make dining more personal within families by turning a takeout dinner into an experience.
Speaking of experiences Silver Diner, an east coast-based American restaurant chain, encourages its guests to stay positive and create fresh traditions. In a recent email campaign, the brand shared a personal story of a couple that, until recently, had breakfast every week at the Silver Diner in Frederick, Maryland. Although dining-in was ruled out, the couple ordered takeout and decided to dine in the parking lot. They even brought their own chairs and table! 
The story helps Silver Diner remind its customers of the unique traditions that families can create together during this time, and the brand is asking its guests to share those new traditions with #SilverDiner. It’s the type of program that demonstrates the true relationship between a brand and its guests.
To learn what other creative brands are doing to build customer relationships during this time, connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and check out our site for more COVID-19 related resources.