Port Macquarie Big Eats Weekend provides a boost for struggling hospitality businesses

The Big Eats Weekend saw hundreds of keen foodies across the region book tables or order takeaway from their favourite venue before posting a review on the Port Macquarie EaTs Facebook group.

Founders of Port Macquarie EaTs and organisers of the Big Eats Weekend, Ellen and Peter Crepaz, said the campaign was a big boost for hospitality businesses.

"For takeaway venues, cafes and restaurants, it was very busy for all of them," Mrs Crepaz said.

"It's been a great experience to get people to try new restaurants and hospitality businesses in Port Macquarie."

After eating out, locals were asked to post photos and a review of their dining experience in the Facebook group.

"We had so many reviews posted over the weekend, it was so great to see people getting involved," Mrs Crepaz said.

"We had quite a bit of growth on the Facebook group as well, with people joining to leave their reviews and finding out about the competition.

"There was a 37 per cent increase in growth on the page which is really positive for businesses who can utilise the page to see what locals want when dining out and it can be used to promote their businesses as well.

"Sea Secrets are a great example of listening to what the community wants and they now have live music on the weekends which was something locals were after."

The Big Eats Weekend campaign also included a competition for the best review posted in the Facebook group, but the hope is for locals to continue to post a review of their experience when they eat out or get takeaway.

"Even though the event is over and the promotion has finished, we want to encourage people to continue to support hospitality businesses when they can and keep posting reviews on the Facebook page to encourage others to try different restaurants," Mrs Crepaz said.

"The foot traffic did increase for businesses over the weekend, but it's still down from what it was like pre-COVID."

Ellen and Peter are encouraging any hospitality businesses who are struggling to reach out.

"We're currently in the design phase of our app and are encouraging businesses to join the app and our Facebook group and we will help where we can."

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