Love is in the air… or is that just the fog machine?
While the rest of the world is stressing over dinner reservations and finding the perfect bouquet, you’re gearing up to offer couples a different kind of date night: one where they can cling to each other for dear life.
Valentine’s Day has become a massive opportunity for the haunt industry. Whether you’re hosting a full-blown “My Bloody Valentine” event or a “Love is Blind” blackout experience, you don’t need a massive budget to make your guests feel special. In fact, sometimes the smallest gestures create the loudest screams (and the most loyal fans).
If you want to turn casual thrill-seekers into long-term victims…er, fans…here are five low-cost, high-impact ways to show your attendees some love this February.
1. Sweeten (or Sour) the Scan
First impressions matter. The moment a guest walks up to your haunt entrance is your biggest opportunity to set the mood.
Instead of just scanning their ticket and waving them through, surprise them with a small “treat.” Since it’s a haunt, you can put a twist on the traditional Valentine’s candy. Think:
- “Poison” vials (test tubes filled with red candy).
- Black roses.
- Stickers that say “I Survived [Your Haunt Name].”
- A “toe tag” that doubles as a drink voucher.
It sounds tiny, but that unexpected moment of delight stops them in their tracks and says, “We’re dying to see you.”
💡 Pro Tip: If you’re using the Passage Manager App, your staff can scan tickets in a fraction of a second, leaving them plenty of time to hand out a treat and a sinister smile without slowing down the line.
2. Show Your Love with a Promo Code
Want to show appreciation to your past victims? Send a “Valentine” to everyone who bought a ticket during your October season.
Draft a quick email with a subject line like “A love note from the grave…” or “Love Sucks. Come Scream with Us.” Include a discount code for your Valentine’s event. Even a small discount (like $5 off with code HEARTLESS) triggers a psychological reward. It’s not about the dollar amount; it’s about the exclusivity of being on your “RIP List.”
How to Do It: You can whip up a new promo code in your HauntPay dashboard in under 60 seconds. Set it to expire on February 14th to create a sense of urgency!
3. Surprise a Lucky Winner with a “Golden Ticket”
This is one of the easiest ways to generate social media buzz during your event.
Pick a random number (e.g., every 50th person to scan in) and upgrade them on the spot. If you have a Skip-the-Line option, upgrade their General Admission ticket instantly. If you have a merch booth, gift them a free “I’m With Stupid” zombie t-shirt.
The cost to you is minimal, but that attendee will almost certainly post about it on TikTok or Instagram, telling their friends how awesome your haunt is.
4. Get Social!
You don’t have to wait until the doors open to show appreciation. Keep an eye on your social media mentions this week. Couples love posting selfies before they enter a haunt—often with captions about “protecting” each other.
If you see someone tweeting about how scared they are, or tagging their date in your posts, show them some public love! Reply to their comment, share their post to your story, or DM them a code for a free concession. Acknowledging your guests individually makes them feel like part of the family… even if your family is a bit dysfunctional.
5. Send a “You Survived” Email
The relationship shouldn’t end when the chainsaw revs down. The day after your event, send a follow-up email that is purely about gratitude.
Skip the hard sell for a moment. Just thank them for spending their Valentine’s weekend with you. You could include:
- A link to photo galleries from the night (everyone loves finding their scared faces).
- A Spotify playlist of the spooky love songs you played in the queue.
- A “Certificate of Survival” they can print or share.
It’s a great way to close the loop and ensures the last touchpoint they have with your brand is a positive one before you go dark until the fall.
Need some help setting up that email blast? Check out our integration with Zapier; it makes it super simple to automatically send emails after your event ends.
Final Thoughts
Customer loyalty isn’t bought with expensive ads; it’s earned through experiences. By taking a few minutes next week to sprinkle in some “attendee appreciation,” you aren’t just selling tickets. You’re building a community that will come back year after year.
Ready to set up a quick “Love Bites” discount code? Log in to your HauntPay admin area to get started!
