Gift cards for your hospitality business: create, hand out and redeem with Unipage

With Unipage, you create gift cards, hand them out at the till and let your customers redeem them — both on-site and through your own webshop — without any additional software or extra steps.

Here's how to set everything up and how to get the most out of it.

In short:

• With Unipage, you create gift cards via the dashboard and hand them out at the till or through your webshop.

• Customers redeem a card as a payment method at the till, via the wallet in the webshop, or a combination of both.

• You hand out cards as a printed voucher in an envelope, or by manually copying the unique code onto your own card.

• Promote your gift cards through seasonal campaigns, in-store displays, social media and a B2B approach targeting local businesses.

Creating gift cards in Unipage

From the Unipage dashboard, you create a new gift card. You set the value yourself and the system generates a unique code — a barcode or number sequence — linked to the card. Unipage records this code digitally: at any time you can look up which cards are outstanding, which have already been redeemed and for what amount.

The complete step-by-step guide is available on the Unipage support page for gift cards.

Handing out gift cards: two methods

A gift card only works when the recipient truly experiences it as a gift. Unipage handles the technical side, but the presentation determines the first impression.

Option 1: Print and gift-wrap the card

Print the card from Unipage and place it in a gift card holder or a premium envelope. Add a handwritten note for a personal touch. Customers who buy a card on-site to give to someone else appreciate a well-presented package.

Tip: choose envelopes or card holders with your own logo. That way the recipient immediately knows who the card is from, even before they redeem it.

Option 2: Copy the barcode onto a custom card

No dedicated printer at the till? Simply write the barcode or unique number from the card onto your own creative design. You choose the layout and format yourself, without needing any extra equipment.

Note: write the number clearly and double-check it before handing over the card. A mistake in the code means the customer cannot redeem it.

Redeeming gift cards: till, webshop or a combination

Customers can use a Unipage gift card in three ways: as a payment method at the till, by entering the card code at checkout in the webshop, or a combination of both via the customer profile. Any remaining balance is saved for a future purchase. The step-by-step guide for the practical handling is available on the Unipage support page for gift cards.

Promoting gift cards in your hospitality business

Many businesses leave their gift cards gathering dust in a drawer. But with a small strategy, a gift card becomes a recurring revenue stream.

Seasonal campaigns

Link your gift cards to moments when people are already looking for a present: Valentine's Day (14 February), Mother's Day (second Sunday of May) and the end-of-year holiday season. Set up a display at the till, post on social media and send a message to your loyal customers.

In-store communication

Place a small display at the till with gift cards in a card holder. Customers who are waiting or paying their bill will see it naturally. Add a short note on your menu or order board: "Gift cards available at the till."

Social media

Post in the run-up to key occasions to show customers how to buy a gift card. A short reel showing how you wrap the card nicely works well: it's visual, concrete and gives customers a reason to share it.

Gift cards as a corporate gift

Reach out to local businesses near your venue about bulk gift cards as a staff gift or end-of-year present. This works particularly well for restaurants, cafeterias and chip shops near a business district.

Tips for a great presentation

The more effort you put into the presentation, the greater the chance that the recipient actually uses the card and speaks positively about your business.