This Holiday Season May Help Restaurant Operators Finally Surpass Pre-Pandemic Sales Levels

More than one third of restaurant owners currently expect to return to or exceed their pre-COVID holiday sales, according to recently released Lightspeed data.

The company surveyed over 600 restaurant owners and 1,100 diners from the U.S. and Canada and found that 83% of Americans plan to dine out during the holiday season and 84% of restaurant operators expect to meet or exceed pre-pandemic sales levels. This includes 46% percent of operators who said they expect to return to pre-COVID-19 sales levels during the holidays and 38% who said they expect to exceed pre-COVID-19 levels.

This renewed confidence may be a result of consumer behavior shifting as U.S. vaccination rates near 60%. Lightspeed reports that 39% of consumers plan to host a party for family and/or friends at a restaurant or bar and the 31% plan to host a corporate event at a restaurant or bar. One third of operators surveyed expect corporate holiday parties to make a comeback during the holidays.

The holiday season may also bring a boost to other revenue streams for restaurant operators. Lightspeed reports that 43% of diners in the U.S. plan to purchase a restaurant gift card and 29% of Americans plan to order catering for a holiday celebration.