CRW Marketing toolkit
To help you promote your participation in Chicago Restaurant Week (CRW) we have created a marketing toolkit for your use. This provides you with the tools you will need to help market and promote your participation in CRW 2025.
2025 CRW Marketing Toolkit includes:
Social media assets
Through the power of social media, you can tell incredible stories and attract excitement for your business. Leverage our Social Media Toolkit to explore best practices associated with promoting your restaurant as a part of Chicago Restaurant Week.
CRW logos
Download Chicago Restaurant Week logos
You may use the 2025 Chicago Restaurant Week logo on your menu, marketing materials, and social media. Please note that your restaurant logo must also be included on everything you’re creating so it specifically communicates your restaurant’s participation in the program.
Marketing strategy tips and tricks
Use the below tips and tricks to help you leverage your participation in Chicago Restaurant Week and further amplify your message.
- Website: The first place you can start promoting CRW is on your restaurant’s website. Creating banners, widgets, or callouts on your site’s homepage that link to your eatitupchicago.com restaurant listing will provide patrons the ability to view your restaurant’s CRW menu(s) and reserve their table on the spot. Additionally, if your organization has a blog, it would be wise to highlight your upcoming CRW menu(s) to provide a highly descriptive, visual experience before dining in your restaurant for CRW.
- Social media: Using the power of tools such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, there are numerous ways to achieve visibility and recognition.
- Email: Sending out personalized correspondences to your database increases the likelihood they will engage and book reservations. For instance, consider sending out pre-CRW reminders starting a few weeks before the event to encourage early reservations and create a sense of excitement and anticipation.
- Print collateral: To create a more inclusive dining experience for CRW diners, make sure to present all diners with the Chicago Restaurant Week prix fixe menu(s) along with the regular menu. You can also produce signage for the front of your restaurant and/or on tabletops to increase pre-event awareness for customers.
- Word of mouth: Whether it is regular restaurant patrons or even your own staff, one of the strongest methods to promote your inclusion in CRW is through the power of personal referrals. We recommend educating your restaurant team (including marketing/PR, servers, staff, hosts, etc.) on the CRW program details so they’re prepared to answer any questions diners may have. Additionally, you could reward staff for excellent service through incentives to keep them inspired and motivated during the CRW promotion.
- Menu planning: When promoting your special CRW menu(s), consider eliminating daily specials during this period (Friday, Jan. 24 – Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025) so customers gravitate toward the CRW menu(s). Also, including unique experiences such as wine, beer, and cocktail pairings, or supplemental dishes for CRW, create an upsell opportunity for increasing total check value.
