⏱️ Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Why Christmas Gift Vouchers Are a Hospitality Favourite
Christmas tends to be one of the busiest periods for hospitality businesses, and amidst the hustle and bustle, gift vouchers have quietly emerged as a surprisingly effective element of festive sales strategies. These seemingly simple cards can pull in impressive margins, all while nurturing customer loyalty and keeping your brand visible well after the holiday season passes.
In this discussion, we’ll explore why printed gift vouchers remain a savvy choice for hospitality enterprises. We’ll also share some hands-on advice about how to design and produce them effectively, plus take a look at a real-world example to highlight the tangible benefits. Whether you manage a snug pub, a lively restaurant, or a charming boutique hotel, there’s likely something here to spark an idea or two.
⏱️ Reading time: 7 minutes · Updated for 2025 · UK Printing Guide
Why Choose Printed Gift Vouchers?
In an era where digital seems to dominate every aspect of commerce, you might wonder why printed gift vouchers still hold their ground. The answer lies partly in the sensory experience they offer. A well-designed, tangible voucher creates a physical connection—a keepsake that can be wrapped, gifted, and treasured in a way that a digital code or email just doesn’t quite match.
From the perspective of a business, printed vouchers often bring a built-in profit margin. Customers pay upfront for services or products they will redeem later. Notably, not every voucher gets redeemed immediately—or sometimes at all—which can result in what’s known in the industry as breakage. This phenomenon effectively boosts cash flow and profitability during the holiday season, making vouchers a valuable asset in many hospitality operations.
Helpful Tips for Maximising Your Gift Vouchers’ Impact
- Design matters: The style of your voucher should resonate with your brand identity. This might mean leaning into classic festive imagery like holly and snowflakes, or opting for sleek, minimalist designs that feel modern and chic. Some businesses have found that using recycled card stock aligns with their sustainability goals and appeals to eco-conscious customers—an approach that’s gaining traction.
- Paper weight and finish: Choosing the right paper can seem overwhelming, but a sturdier card—around 350gsm—paired with a matt or soft-touch lamination finish tends to feel premium without inflating costs. This tactile quality can influence a customer’s perception of value, encouraging them to hold onto the voucher longer and feel good about gifting it.
- Include clear terms: Transparency is key. Make sure the voucher clearly states where and how it can be redeemed to avoid any confusion. This clarity not only sets customer expectations but also helps ensure that they return to your venue to use the voucher, driving foot traffic and potential additional spending.
- Personalisation options: Adding spaces for recipient names or a short personal message can elevate the voucher beyond a simple transaction. Personal touches make the gift feel thoughtful and unique, which could sway gift-givers to pick your business over a competitor.
- Bundle with other print products: Many hospitality venues enhance their voucher campaigns by pairing them with matching gift tags, greeting cards, or festive flyers. This coordination gives a polished, cohesive feel to their marketing efforts and can help reinforce brand recognition during a season packed with competing messages.
- Plan your quantities carefully: Balancing stock is tricky. Ordering too many vouchers ties up capital and risks waste, while ordering too few might mean missing out on peak demand. Looking at past sales data and footfall patterns can offer guidance here, and don’t hesitate to seek expert advice to get the numbers right.
Case Example: A Local Pub’s Festive Success
Consider the story of a family-run pub based in the Midlands that adopted printed Christmas gift vouchers last year. They went with a traditional holly design printed on recycled 350gsm card stock with a matt finish. To round out their campaign, they also produced matching gift tags and flyers to spread the word.
By selling these vouchers both in-person and online, they managed to boost advance bookings for the quieter months of January and February by roughly 30%. The upfront revenue from voucher sales helped smooth out winter cash flow challenges, and many customers returned—often bringing friends—thereby increasing overall income beyond the vouchers’ face value.
This modest print initiative became a cornerstone of their seasonal marketing efforts. What’s particularly striking is the low additional cost involved relative to the high perceived value customers attributed to the vouchers.
Wrapping It Up: Why Printed Vouchers Are a Wise Choice
Far from being merely a seasonal nicety, printed Christmas gift vouchers are a genuine profit driver within hospitality. They bring in upfront cash, encourage repeat visits, and help cement your brand’s relationship with customers. When paired with thoughtful design and high-quality stock, these vouchers can transform into keepsakes that recipients genuinely appreciate and hold onto.
At Newstyle Print, we’ve supported hundreds of hospitality clients in crafting vouchers that not only look appealing but also perform effectively. If you’re unsure about design elements, paper options, or appropriate quantities, you can always reach out for advice. We offer a free artwork check to ensure everything prints just right.
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Whether you’re aiming to order a handful or a large run, we’re here to help you get it right the first time—with no pressure and free artwork checks included.
Updated on 19 November 2025
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