Celebrate elegance and tradition
In a world that often moves at a dizzying pace, there’s something deeply soothing about the timeless ritual of afternoon tea. Each sip of aromatic tea, every delicate bite of a cake or scone carries with it a sense of elegance and tradition that transcends generations.
As we embrace the finer things in life, there’s no better time to indulge in this cherished custom than during Afternoon Tea Week – 12th – 18th August 2024 – a week celebrating the quintessentially British tradition of lavish pastries, clotted cream and jam! It is the perfect excuse to catch up with loved ones over delicious finger sandwiches, a cup of tea or maybe a glass of something sparkling!
It is also a fantastic opportunity for hospitality venues to promote their wonderful Afternoon Tea gift vouchers!
A brief history
The origins of afternoon tea can be traced back to 19th century Britain when Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, is said to have introduced the concept to fill the long gap between lunch and dinner.
What began as a private indulgence quickly evolved into a social affair, with aristocratic circles adopting the practice and spreading its popularity throughout the country.
Today, afternoon tea remains an integral part of British culture and has found enthusiasts worldwide.
Afternoon tea gifting
Afternoon Tea Week provides a welcome boost to the hospitality industry, driving footfall to hotels, and restaurants and encouraging both locals and tourists to partake in this delightful tradition.
An article by Joy Saha written in January 2024 states that ‘On Instagram, the hashtag #afternoontea revealed a whopping 7.1 million posts, compared to 6.2 million in 2022’ showing the continued and growing popularity.
The most popular Afternoon Tea voucher across all of our clients in 2023 was ‘Afternoon Tea for 2’ (with and without champagne).
In recent years, afternoon tea has undergone an exciting evolution, expanding beyond its traditional roots to offer a plethora of unique and inventive experiences.
Alongside the timeless classics, we’ve witnessed innovative offerings that cater to a variety of tastes and preferences. From whimsical “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ themed teas to sophisticated afternoon teas with a Japanese twist which sees traditional sandwiches replaced by miniature brioche buns filled with seared tuna, avocado and wasabi dressing. And indulgent Gin & Tonic Afternoon Teas to art-themed extravaganzas, the world of afternoon tea has never been more diverse and exciting!
Image: Meldrum House Afternoon Tea
Popular afternoon tea gifts
Here’s just a small selection of the most popular afternoon tea gifts sold by our luxury hotel clients.
The Savoy
Gleneagles Hotel
Corinthia London
The Balmoral Hotel
Harrods
What can luxury venues do?
We advise our clients to revamp their afternoon tea offering to ensure it reflects current pricing and descriptions that captivate potential customers, painting a vivid picture of the delightful experience awaiting them.
And to explore innovative options to elevate their offerings, such as ‘Afternoon Tea with Cocktails’ or other creative twists that promise a memorable and unique indulgence.
Our system also makes it possible to maximise the visibility of afternoon tea offerings, such as:
Highlight afternoon tea vouchers by ‘promoting’ them to the forefront of the voucher listing, ensuring they catch the eye of potential buyers.
Utilise the sliding carousel image on a gift site to showcase Afternoon Tea Week, directing interested visitors seamlessly to an afternoon tea filtered view.
Extend the conversation across social media platforms, engaging audiences with enticing details about Afternoon Tea Week linking to the gift vouchers on offer.
For subscribers to newsletters, curate a dedicated section highlighting this special occasion, providing direct links to purchase vouchers, facilitating easy access for valued customers.
Create an exclusive promo code tailored specifically for Afternoon Tea Week, adding an extra layer of allure to already enticing offerings.
Venues can also add a pop-up box to their own website in the leadup to Afternoon Tea week to draw attention to the gifting dates.
Image: The Bonham Afternoon Tea
We’d love to hear from you
SK Chase makes it easy for luxury hospitality venues to manage and sell their gift experiences, like afternoon tea, online with our software and service that drives growth.
Are you interested in selling more gift vouchers? We put our hearts into growing our clients’ gift sales and we’d love to find out what we can do for you.