Adapting to seasonal changes in guest patterns for better planning

Running a seasonal eatery by the coast means summers are packed with visitors, but winters bring a steadier local crowd. This year, we've noticed shifts in how people plan their visits, with more last-minute decisions and varying group sizes. It's prompted us to rethink our setup to avoid understaffing or wasting resources on slow days. We've tried forecasting based on past data and encouraging advance notices, but I'm interested in how others in variable environments prepare without overcomplicating things. What approaches have you taken to anticipate these patterns, perhaps through better tracking or flexible policies? Sharing experiences could help as we head into the quieter months.