7 Creative Ways to Increase Concession Spending at Tourist Attractions
Key Takeaways: Increasing Concession Spending
- Turn Food Into an Attraction with Interactive Stations
- Food Treasure Hunts Prompt Exploration
- Pair Snacks with Rides or Exhibits for Added Impact
- Mobile Snack Vendors on Walking Paths Engage Guests
- Refillable Containers Give Maximum Value
- Instagrammable Foods Deliver a Wow Factor
- Take-Home Treats Take the Visit Beyond the Exit
Tourist attractions today face a unique challenge: how do you increase per-cap spending without increasing ticket prices?
The answer often lies in concessions.
The most successful attractions are turning their concession programs into revenue-driving, memory-making moments that guests actively seek out.
If you’re looking to boost spending across your venue, here are seven creative ways to make your food offerings work harder—and sell smarter.
1. Turn Food Into an Attraction
The best concession programs combine food with entertainment. When food becomes part of the experience, guests are more likely to stop, watch, engage, and ultimately purchase.
Branded Popcorn Vending Machines
For a can’t-miss visual appeal, branded popcorn vending machines draw in crowds. Fully wrapped graphics showcase your attraction’s theme, connecting with customers. Plus, guests will be intrigued by the ability to serve themselves with just a push of a button.
Venues have options for the machine that will best suit their needs. The most popular models are the: ReadyPop® and ReadyServe® One. ReadyPop is a 16-oz popper and self-serve dispenser in one convenient unit, which can hold as much as 20 gallons of popcorn. While the ReadyServe One is a warming cabinet for bulk popcorn holding up to 40 gallons of popcorn. View the entire Ready Series line here.
Cotton Candy Spinning Station
A cotton candy spinning station is a concept that all ages enjoy. Guests will watch as the colorful, sweet cotton candy sugar is transformed into a cloud. For added attention and fun, creative operators can choose to make cotton candy art in shapes like flowers or animals. This not only provides an entertaining atmosphere, but it also results in a premium product that can be sold at higher prices.
Popcorn Flavor Lab
One of the most creative ideas is called a Flavor Lab, where gourmet popcorn is made fresh in bold, rotating flavors right in front of guests. Picture caramel corn cooking, cheese corn tumbling, and bright candy-coated varieties on display. It is an inviting and engaging experience. The sights, sounds, and aromas naturally attract crowds.
2. Create a Food Treasure Hunt
A food treasure hunt encourages guests to explore your entire venue while increasing purchases along the way. Here’s how it works:
- Guests receive a map or digital checklist through your app or QR code signage
- They collect stamps or scans at different food stations
- Completing the map earns a reward like a free treat or discount
Example stops could include:
- Popcorn Station
- Lemonade Station
- Hot Dog Station
- Cotton Candy Station
- Funnel Cake Station
This strategy taps into the guests’ spirit of exploration. It increases foot traffic and drives purchases that may not have happened otherwise.
3. Pair Snacks with Rides or Exhibits
One of the most effective—and often overlooked—ways to increase concession spending is by aligning food with your attractions.
When snacks are intentionally paired with rides or exhibits, they feel like a natural extension of the experience rather than a separate purchase. That connection gives guests a reason to stop, try something new, and make an impulse buy.
- For water attractions, layer blue raspberry and green sour apple slush drinks for a treat that resembles ocean waves.
- Spicy offerings like buffalo or jalapeño popcorn can go along with thrill rides.
- Pair family rides with sweet, familiar treats like caramel corn or Sno-Kones®.
- A kids’ zone should have a colorful cotton candy stand front and center.
Enhance the overall experience by making your concessions an intentional part of the day, rather than an afterthought.
4. Meet Guests Where They Are
If guests have to go out of their way to find food, wait in long lines, or leave the action, many simply won’t bother. That’s lost revenue. The solution is simple: bring the food to them.
Mobile vending allows you to position high-demand items exactly where guests are already spending their time, turning foot traffic into sales without adding friction.
Look for natural gathering points and high-traffic zones throughout your venue:
- Ride exits
- Show entrances and exits
- Walking paths between major attractions
- Queue lines and waiting areas
High traffic areas can benefit from roaming popcorn carts, fresh lemonade stands, and cotton candy kiosks.
By using mobile stations, it cuts down on lines and helps capture purchases that might not happen otherwise.
5. Introduce Refillable Programs
Refillable programs are one of the most effective ways to increase per-cap spending while enhancing the guest experience. They deliver clear value to the customer—and reliable, repeat revenue for operators.
It’s simple: guests purchase a branded container once, then return for discounted refills throughout their visit.
Popular options include:
- Refillable popcorn buckets
- Souvenir lemonade or frozen drink cups
Refillable containers double as take-home keepsakes. They also serve as mobile advertising as guests walk the park.
This strategy prompts guests to visit concession stands again and again to receive the greatest value, increasing spending throughout their visit.
6. Design Instagrammable Foods
Creating visually striking, over-the-top menu items can turn your concessions into free marketing. Every photo posted is a personal recommendation and free exposure for your attraction.
Here are some exciting ideas:
The more visually dynamic the product is, the more likely it is to be shared. Encourage guests to capture the moment with signage prompts like “Snap Your Snack.”
When food becomes photo-worthy it extends your reach and builds buzz.
7. Offer Take-Home Treats
The guest experience doesn’t have to end at the exit gate. Some of the most valuable sales happen on the way out. Create food experiences that are meant to be shared!
Take-home treats allow visitors to extend their experience.
Strong options include:
- Popcorn gift tins in a variety of flavors
- Colorful cotton candy tubs
- Fudge boxes for a premium, indulgent option
- Pre-packaged grab-and-go popcorn for convenience
Take-home items should feel like more than just food, they should feel like a souvenir.
The most successful attractions go beyond just selling food. They create experiences that increase guest engagement, boost per-cap spending, and turn your concession program into a true destination.
For more concession stand inspiration, check out: