The ultimate Christmas food guide for hotels
Opportunities for revenue
Festive food menus
Festive food menus offer hotels a valuable chance to increase revenue by enticing guests with special seasonal dishes and unique holiday dining experiences.
Cocktails and mocktails
Festive cocktail and mocktails provide hotels with an excellent opportunity to drive additional revenue by offering guests creative, seasonal drinks that enhance the holiday atmosphere.
Festive packages
Hotel stay & dinner packages: Festive packages create a significant revenue opportunity for hotels by combining accommodations, dining, and experiences into attractive holiday-themed offer that appeal to guests.
Insights and consumer behaviour
Shift towards experiences
Consumers increasingly prioritise experiences over material gifts. 60% of British shoppers planned to purchase food and beverage experiences as gifts in 2024, indicating a preference for experiential presents. (TGM Research)
Emotional spending
The festive season often triggers emotional spending, with consumers seeking to create memorable experiences for their loved ones. This emotional drive can lead to increased expenditure on gifts, dining, and entertainment. (PwC)
Preference for festive dining experiences
Consumers show strong interest in booking festive meals at hotels and restaurants—such as Christmas buffets, themed dinners, and New Year’s Eve events. This includes groups of friends, families, and corporate parties looking for convenient, special venues. Hotels that offer bespoke menus and inclusive packages see increased footfall and higher spend per guest. (CGA Hospitality Consumer Trends)
Chef Damon’s top picks for hotels this festive season
- Top products
Top products
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19619 - Wild Boar Liver Pate with Plums & Brandy with Apricot & Black Pepper Gelatine
“I love seeing game on the menu at Christmas, this wild boar pate not only delivers on that eye catching menu description and outstanding flavour but it gives off winter flavours with the additions of plums and brandy and warming notes of black pepper.” -
19845 - BBQ Beef Brisket Bites
“With the addition of bourbon whisky it makes these delicious crunchy, moreish and meaty pulled brisket bites a great addition to any small plate, sharer or starter. Pair with hot sauce, blue cheese dip and of course a few beers!” -
19617 - Smooth Pork & Duck Liver Pate Topped with Orange Gelatine
“A classic duck meets orange combination, luxuriously smooth and velvety. Of course, a great starter but consider putting an extra thick slice next to a mini baked camembert studded with garlic and rosemary, drizzle with honey and truffle oil and serve with chunks of our warm cheesy boule for a festive meat, cheese and bread sharer. Don’t forget the warm mulled wine.”
Explore our blogs for Christmas inspiration
CATERERS CAMPUS Our free e-learning platform for customers, dedicated to supporting the catering industry
We understand that the festive period is a busy time for hotels. Why not take a look at Caterers Campus – our eLearning platform that is designed for flexible learning, anytime, anywhere.
- Module 1: Controlling your costs
- Module 2: Introduction: the world of wine
- Module 3: Stress management and coping with pressure
- Module 4: Understanding sustainability
Unlock your Menu
With the festive season underway, here are some top tips for chefs to help create memorable holiday dishes and experiences:
Tip 1: Plan your festive menu ahead and design your menu so that you can batch cook multiple items together to maximise oven use. For more tips on saving energy in the kitchen, check out the Unlock your Menu Hub.
Tip 2: Repurpose your sauces across your menu. Why not use your gravy in everything from Christmas dinners, to dips for appetizers, to a sauce for festive sandwiches. For more tips on reducing food waste, take a look at the Unlock your Menu support hub.
Do you offer traditional Christmas dishes or desserts?
Yes, we offer a range of traditional Christmas dishes and desserts designed to bring festive cheer to your menu. We also have new innovative products in this years range, adding a creative, stand out flair to your offering! Explore the full range.
Do you have options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or allergy-friendly Christmas meals?
Yes, at Bidfood we offer a variety of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free meal options to accommodate all diverse dietary needs. Our goal is to ensure everyone can enjoy delicious festive food without compromise. Find out more about our vegan, vegetarian and gluten free Christmas offering here.
Do you offer table decorations and festive decoration solutions which can be used for Christmas dining?
Adding festive flair to your Christmas dining experience is the perfect solution to elevate your customer’s experience. We have a wide range of Christmas crackers, table runners and napkins as well as delicious festive food! To find out more about our Catering Supplies range and explore our range visit our Crackers & Tableware page.
Ready to become a customer?
Our multi award-winning platform helps you manage everything from allergen information to customised order forms, making seasonal Christmas planning simple and stress-free. With built-in support to keep you ahead of government legislation, you can focus on delivering the magic of Christmas while we support you remain compliant.
- A wholesaler who cares and puts our customers first
- Access to sector experts' knowledge and customer-only tools and support
- Consolidated delivery of fresh, frozen ambient, beers, spirits & catering supplies
- The right range with over 10,000 products
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* Business customers only and cannot deliver to private addresses. Minimum spend per order is £175 payable by PayPal or card.
