Leveraging Shoulder Season

Creative Strategies for Caterers, Hotels, and Event Planners with Picture Frames

The shoulder season—those golden weeks between peak and off-peak times—can be a key opportunity for hospitality businesses like catering, hotels, and event planning services. While fewer tourists may flock to popular destinations, this quieter period offers the chance to reengage clients, attract new customers, and set the stage for a successful peak season ahead. An often overlooked but highly effective tool for this effort is the humble picture frame. Here, we explore how creative uses of picture frames can drive engagement and enhance client experiences across different parts of the hospitality industry.

The Power of Shoulder Season

The shoulder season brings a unique blend of opportunities. The rush of high season has passed, but the weather and overall appeal of destinations remain favorable. This period is ideal for hospitality businesses to:

• Run targeted promotions and showcase value at more affordable rates.
• Rekindle relationships with previous clients through personalized marketing.
• Offer unique, off-season experiences to entice new visitors.

Using picture frames, businesses can bring warmth and personal touches to these efforts in ways that will stick with clients long after their visit.

Hotels: Picture-Perfect Ways to Reengage Guests

Hotels can use picture frames in various ways to enhance the guest experience and provide a sense of personalization during the shoulder season. Here are a few ideas:

1. Guestroom Personalization: Place framed welcome messages or the guest's name inside their room. This small touch makes the stay feel special and custom-tailored, especially during quieter months when guests expect a more personalized experience.
2. Seasonal Event Announcements: Display attractive framed announcements about special events or promotions in the hotel lobby or common areas. Highlight offers such as discounted spa packages or seasonal dining options, which may be exclusive to shoulder season visitors.
3. Local Attractions: Create an inviting, framed display of local attractions or seasonal activities guests can enjoy during their stay. Whether it’s a walking tour, a wine tasting, or a local festival, the information presented in an elegant frame draws attention and invites guests to explore.
4. Interactive Photo Frames: Set up photo booths with branded picture frames for guests to snap fun pictures during their stay. Encourage them to share on social media and offer printed copies framed as keepsakes, combining both a memorable experience and organic marketing for your hotel.

Caterers: Framing the Experience and Showcasing Creativity

The catering industry thrives on creating memorable dining experiences, and picture frames can be a clever, versatile tool in engaging clients and standing out during shoulder season.

1. Framed Menus: For catered events, elevate the dining experience by presenting the menu in an elegantly framed format at each table. This is especially useful for weddings, corporate events, or intimate gatherings where aesthetics plays a key role.
2. Seasonal Dishes Showcase: Create a gallery wall of framed images featuring signature dishes, highlighting what’s new or in season. In quieter months, this could draw in new clients who are curious about your creative offerings.
3. Framed Testimonials: Display framed quotes or testimonials from satisfied clients at your venue or event space. In the quieter months, when potential clients are more likely to be researching options, seeing framed, visually appealing reviews adds a layer of credibility and professionalism.
4. Client-Hosted Photo Wall: Provide clients with framed photos from previous events that you’ve catered. These serve as beautiful mementos and are perfect for creating goodwill while keeping your brand top-of-mind for future events.

Event Planners: Enhancing Engagement and Client Onboarding

The event planning sector can harness the potential of picture frames to enhance visual storytelling, reengage clients, and personalize the onboarding process for new ones during the shoulder season.

1. Client Success Stories: Frame photographs from past events you’ve planned, showcasing the diversity of your portfolio. Present these in your office, on your website, or at events to spark conversations with potential clients.
2. Framed Vision Boards: As part of the onboarding process for new clients, create a vision board framed with their ideas and concepts. This tactile, visual representation of the client’s vision can make them feel more involved and connected to the planning process.
3. Framed Milestone Reminders: Frame timelines or countdowns for large upcoming events, especially for wedding or corporate clients. This framed reminder not only keeps your clients on track but also adds a touch of excitement as their big day approaches.
4. Framed Thank-You Gifts: After an event, send your clients a framed photograph from the day. This simple gesture is a tangible reminder of the successful event you planned and keeps your brand visible in their home or office.

Picture Frames as a Versatile Marketing Tool

Picture frames serve as more than just a decorative tool; they are a versatile medium for storytelling, personalization, and engagement. Whether it’s a framed testimonial hanging in the lobby of a hotel, a framed menu at a catered dinner, or a framed vision board during an event planning meeting, this simple tool can create a deeper connection with clients.

During the shoulder season, when the goal is to reengage and onboard new clients, utilizing picture frames in creative ways can enhance the overall experience, increase brand recall, and foster long-term relationships. By turning a low-cost, widely accessible item into a strategic asset, hotels, caterers, and event planners can keep clients engaged and ready to book when the next peak season arrives.

So, the next time you consider ways to elevate your hospitality business, remember that the perfect picture can be framed—literally—to capture the moment, tell your story, and build lasting client relationships.