Inside Circa Las Vegas’ premium Thanksgiving To-Go program and the UrVenue tech that makes it happen
For the third straight year, Circa Resort & Casino partnered with UrVenue to power Barry’s Downtown Prime’s Thanksgiving To-Go program. We delivered a branded pre-order journey with time-slot-based inventory, kitchen pacing, and high-margin add-ons, giving Circa a premium guest experience, smooth operations, and a repeatable framework for any seasonal surge.
The Challenge
Holiday takeout sounds simple – until you try to run it at scale. Demand spikes, lines stack up, kitchens get overwhelmed, and brand standards suffer. Circa’s F&B leadership set a higher bar:
- Preserve the luxury brand experience end-to-end
- Eliminate peak-hour bottlenecks
- Offer premium upsells without adding friction
- Provide clear pickup logistics for guests and staff
- Produce clean data to plan future seasons
The UrVenue Solution
We implemented a purpose-built, white label branded pre-order flow tailored to both Circa and Barry’s customer base:
1) Branded Pre-Order Microsite
A white-label checkout and content experience that looks and feels like Circa, no brand drop-off, no jarring redirects.
2) Time-Slot Throttling
Orders are capped by interval (e.g., every 30 minutes) so kitchens can pace production and curbside stays calm. When a slot hits capacity, it disappears from guest options, no manual triage.
3) Menu Logic & Add-Ons
Core packages (e.g., full or half turkey dinners) include sides by default; enhancements like Prime Rib and signature desserts are presented at the right moment to lift AOV without slowing checkout.
4) Payments, Confirmations & Ops Signals
Guests receive clear pickup instructions and time windows; BOH/FOH get batch exports, manifests, and counts by slot to staff appropriately and execute fast handoffs.
5) Day-Of Execution Support
Staff view slot-based waves with labels and counts. Guests arrive in staggered windows; handoffs are quick, consistent, and on-brand.
Why It Works for Operators
- Experience Protection: Slot caps prevent pileups and keep service standards high.
- Margin Expansion: Add-ons and dessert placement increase average order value without friction.
- Operational Clarity: Kitchens see demand by interval; managers schedule with confidence.
- Brand Continuity: The journey looks and reads like your property, not a generic checkout.
- Data You Can Use: Demand curves, attach rates, and slot sell-through inform next season and the next program.
Three Seasons, One Playbook
What began as a holiday initiative is now a repeatable commerce model:
- Thanksgiving → Christmas → New Year’s → St. Patrick’s Day
- Big-Game packages, March Madness Viewing Parties and event weekends
- Valentine’s prix fixe to-go
- Chef features and limited drops
Once the rules are in place, product tiers, dedicated time slot logic, add-on architecture, and ops signaling, you can replicate the program across venues, concepts, and brands.
Results at a Glance
- Friction-light guest journey with clear expectations
- Predictable kitchen pacing via interval caps
- Higher value basket sales through enhancements and add-ons
- Reduced day-of congestion and faster handoffs
- Actionable reporting for next year’s planning and portfolio rollout
Bring This to YOUR Property
Given the success at Circa, we’re expanding this holiday-commerce model across our client portfolio by adapting flows for different brands, menus, and service rhythms. If your property is planning seasonal pre-orders or premium takeout programs, we’ll help you stand up a premium, data-driven experience that scales. Want this live for your holiday calendar or next event weekend?
Book a 15-minute planning session today with our team.
Going to be in Las Vegas for Turkey Day? Order your Barry’s Thanksgiving To-Go meal today. Enjoy!