In winter, it’s essential to provide a comfortable climate in the outdoor areas of cafes and restaurants. Cafes and restaurants that fail to provide comfort also fail to ensure customer satisfaction. Research also reveals the impact of customer satisfaction on restaurant preferences. According to a New Voice Media report, 51 percent of customers who have a negative experience in restaurants never choose the same restaurant again.

Çukurova Isı Marketing Manager Osman Ünlü shared the precautions that should be taken in the cafe and facility to ensure that outdoor dining in the winter becomes freezing and to learn about the customer experience.

Customer satisfaction is considered the key to success in restaurants. The customer experience begins the moment guests walk through the door. A warm welcome, comfortable ambiance, food quality, and speed of service are among the primary factors influencing customer satisfaction. According to a New Voice Media report, 51 percent of customers who experience a negative experience in restaurants never return.

Providing summer comfort in winter is an important choice criterion.

Çukurova Heating Marketing Manager Osman Ünlü stated that comfort is a key selection criterion in restaurants: “In winter, heating becomes a key selection criterion for those who want to experience summer comfort in the outdoor areas of cafes and restaurants. Cafes and restaurants that fail to provide comfort also fail to ensure customer satisfaction. Furthermore, this situation not only disrupts customer comfort but also negatively impacts the performance of service staff.”

To prevent outdoor dining from becoming freezing, opt for tubular radiant systems, ceramic plate radiant heaters, or high-intensity electric heaters, which directly warm objects and people without heating the air. Choosing the right system requires considering the space’s structure, including its height, table layout, wind conditions, and whether there’s a retractable awning or a fixed ceiling above the space.

Osman Ünlü summarizes the selection criteria for heaters to be used in outdoor areas of cafes and restaurants as “superior durability, comfort, and efficiency.” He explains, “For example, for electric heaters to operate smoothly in the rain and provide uninterrupted heating, the device must meet IP55 water and dust protection standards. Furthermore, a wind shield on the heater significantly slows down oncoming wind currents, preventing the heater from being affected by external environmental conditions, thus maintaining comfort. The heater’s outer casing must be resistant to temperatures up to 600 degrees Celsius. Only when these conditions are met will the heater provide superior resistance to external environmental conditions.”

“Energy efficiency is also important to consider when choosing appliances, as heating systems account for a significant portion of the total energy consumption of cafes and restaurants. Choosing the right system can save up to 40 percent,” she concluded.