ROAD TRIP!  How restaurants can reach visitors and locals on the move  

Summer is an epic road trip season. We are leaving the pandemic behind and moving forward. Seventy-one (71%) percent of travelers are saying they will rely on cars to get around this year. In preparation, savvy restaurant owners are plotting how they can promote themselves to get in front of visiting tourists and local residents alike.

 Here’s what restaurants need to know to whet the appetites of on-the-go customers.

Road tripping is on the rise

The nation is ready to escape lockdown, with more than 70% of consumers intending to travel this summer. That spells major dining dollars, as 96% of road trippers say they will stop for meals or snacks en route. How will they make their decisions on where to stop? Restaurants that have invested in prominent real estate need to take advantage of it. While their might be four choices at a busy intersection, not all of them will be advertising their presence.

Locals want in on the action

While restaurants are likely to see an influx of visitors and out-of-towners this summer, locals will remain a steadfast consumer audience. Restaurants are also finding that people continue to engage in flexible commuting patterns, even as some folks return to pre-pandemic routines.  With newly revised schedules, workers are no longer tied to a specific lunch hour or the most convenient dinner option. Restaurants need to expand their thinking beyond time-specific advertising. The ability to reach people at opportune times has widened. Having options such as curbside and drive-thru can help bring diners to the door.

As people shift toward a return to normal, restaurants will play a key role in enhancing consumers’ desire to embrace travel and in person entertainment.