Holidays without losing customers. Your phone at Christmas and in summer.

When you close, customers don't stop calling. What they hear when they do decides whether they wait for you – or call the next name on the list. Here are greetings you can copy, a checklist for the day before you close, and an alternative if you'd rather the phone got answered.

01What a good holiday greeting says

• That you're closed – with your company name first.
• When you're back. A date, not "after the holidays".
• What they can do meanwhile. Email, book online or leave a message.
• Where to go if it's urgent – if you have someone on call.

02Greetings ready to copy

03Checklist: the day before you close

• Record the holiday greeting – and call to hear it
• Set up forwarding to a colleague if needed, and note when to switch it off
• Switch on your email auto-reply with start and end dates
• Set special opening hours in your Google Business Profile
• Add a line to your website and close online booking for those days
• Block time on your first day back to return calls

On a mobile, **21*number# forwards all calls and ##002# removes all forwarding. More in the forwarding guide.

04The alternative: let Noa answer

Noa, Telenoa's AI receptionist, answers around the clock with your greeting and from what you've taught her – including that you're on holiday and when you're back. She takes a message with the whole conversation written out, transfers to whoever is on call if you set that up, and can book appointments for after the holiday if your calendar is connected. Noa Voice costs from €93 a month incl. VAT, with no lock-in, and we set her up within 1 working day.