Written By: Becca Down

The holiday season is upon us, so it’s time to make sure your venue shines as the perfect setting for memorable Christmas parties. As seasoned event and venue experts, we understand the many challenges venue owners face and the importance of the seasonal boom for both revenue and guest experiences. 

We’ve created a handy guide full of best-practice insights to help you maximise your Christmas venues’ appeal during this festive season. By the end of this guide, you should be well-prepped to cater to event organisers and host many unforgettable Christmas events. Let’s dive in!

Optimise your Christmas party venue for success

• Versatility matters: One key to success is adaptability. Christmas parties come in various shapes and sizes, from cosy gatherings to bigger corporate celebrations. Ensure your Christmas venue is versatile enough to accommodate different event types. If your venue is better suited for one or the other, make sure it’s clear on your website.

• Creating the right ambience: To attract event organisers, focus on creating the right ambience. We suggest considering lighting, sound, and tech enhancements to bring a warm festive Christmas spirit into your Christmas party venue. Add some twinkle lights and a Christmas tree if you can. Your goal is to offer an experience they can’t resist.

• Embrace guest comfort (especially in winter): Guest comfort is really important, particularly during the colder months. Your Christmas venue should be a warm and welcoming space, ensuring that guests feel at ease. If you have an outside space that people can use, ensure there are heaters and blankets available to keep people cosy.

Decor and theming are key for drawing in crowds

• Versatile decor for different themes: As a platform for a whole host of diverse and different venue spaces, we cannot emphasise this point enough! Christmas events may revolve around different themes, from classic Christmas to corporate year-end celebrations. Your decor should be adaptable to cater to a wide range of client preferences. If you do go all out with decor and your venue chooses one main theme a year, allowing the customisation of some of the features is a great idea.

• Sustainability is a big plus: Aligning with sustainability values, consider eco-friendly and reusable decorations. Not only does this demonstrate eco-consciousness, but it also appeals to clients who prioritise sustainability in their Christmas Themes.

• Striking the right balance: Finding the balance between festive and neutral settings really is an art! It ensures that your Christmas venue appeals to a diverse range of clients, each with their unique preferences.

Foster long-term relationships for repeat bookings

• Become an expert: Embrace the role of a being an expert. Spend time building strong relationships with event organisers and provide them with insights into your venue’s unique features. Bear in mind – these relationships can turn one-time clients into loyal, recurring ones, boosting your Christmas party venues, as well as bookings later on in the year.

• Offer tailored packages: VenueScanner recommends offering customisable packages tailored to client needs. Clients appreciate options that align with their vision, making it more likely for them to choose your Christmas venue. You can also offer catering, drinks, or entertainment packages to really take people’s events to the next level.

• Showcase past successes: Highlight your past successful Christmas events! Demonstrating your venue’s track record of hosting memorable celebrations can be a persuasive selling point for potential clients, showcasing your expertise in Christmas parties. Plus, using imagery from previous years is really helpful for people to imagine what your venue looks like during the festive season.

Elevate your culinary experience

• Standout catering: Collaborate with top-tier catering services to create best-in-class Christmas packages. The heart of any Christmas event often revolves around the food and drinks. So make sure your menu shows this off! Whether you’re offering traditional food options or something more interesting, ensure your potential customers know if you offer food.

• Themed is always fun: Elevate your Christmas venue by setting up themed drink stations or stylish bars. These additions can add a flair of sophistication and uniqueness to your Christmas celebrations.

• Diverse menu options: Be inclusive of dietary needs and provide a menu with options for all dietary preferences, ensuring diversity in your Christmas Themes.

Stand out in a crowded market

• Make your venue stand out: VenueScanner’s insights are designed to help your Christmas venue stand out during the festive season. Highlight what sets your venue apart and why potential clients should book you for their Christmas parties.

• Leverage digital platforms: In today’s digital age, an online presence is key. Use platforms like VenueScanner to showcase your availability, features, and unique offerings to a broader audience. This is where potential clients will be looking for the perfect Christmas party venue – so make sure you have all of your key details noted down in your listing.

• Offers & promotions: Draw in potential clients with early bird discounts, referral programs, and other promotional offers. The holiday season is all about giving, and you can give your clients the best deal for their Christmas venues.

Listen to your clients!

• Active feedback loop: Actively listening to event hosts and gathering feedback from attendees is a crucial part of our approach at VenueScanner. Use this feedback loop to enhance your Christmas venue for future bookings. Your commitment to improvement really will be your competitive edge for Christmas parties.

• Client reviews matter: Encourage event organisers to leave reviews on platforms like VenueScanner. Positive reviews are instrumental in building trust and attracting more clients for your Christmas party venues.

Pricing strategies that attract bookings

• Competitive pricing to maximise bookings: Your pricing needs to be competitive in order to maximise bookings. Clients want value for their money, and with VenueScanner’s guidance, you can find the right price points for venue hire for Christmas parties.

• Package deals and incentives: Offer package deals and incentives to prospective clients, especially for larger events. Christmas celebrations tend to be grand, and clients appreciate the convenience of bundled services for their Christmas party venues.

• Flexible pricing models: At VenueScanner, our recommendation is to have flexible pricing models based on event size, duration, day/time of year, and requirements. This precision means that clients have options that suit their unique event needs, providing flexibility for their Christmas Themes.

In a nutshell, getting your venue ready for Christmas events is a smart move that can significantly boost your bookings and overall success. By sprucing up your space, offering versatile decor, taking the time to build relationships with event organisers, providing stellar culinary experiences, and using smart marketing and flexible pricing, you can reel in more clients and up your revenue during the festive season.

So, as you gear up for the Christmas rush, remember to stay open to new ideas and keep an ear out for what your clients have to say. Your willingness to innovate and adapt will make your venue a top choice for Christmas events, helping you secure more bookings and ensure lasting success.