While we’re soaking up the start of the summer sun and looking forward to sunny getaways and trips to the beach, the notion of planning for Christmas may feel a little early. However, if there’s one piece of advice we can offer when it comes to your company’s Christmas party it’s that it’s never too early.
The news from venues across London is that many of the usual favourite dates are selling fast. However, as the world awakens to so many new approaches post-pandemic it can still be tricky to make predictions about how companies will approach their traditional end of year celebrations and how this may impact on the booking patterns and demand for Christmas party venues in London.
However, the free venue finding experts at Venue Search London, who booked over £1.5m of Christmas parties into London venues in the 2019 season, are seeing some early booking patterns that may give us a good indication of the pattern of bookings and activity for the all-important return to live events this December.
Farewell to Fridays
With ever-changing work habits and flexibility, it’s looking increasingly likely that the new working practices will make Friday nights less popular, as many people decide, or are permitted to, work from home on Fridays. This will reduce the number of ‘prime nights’ available at all venues and make Thursdays the new ‘best night’ to party.
More Christmas lunches than dinners
While we may well be moving back toward sit-down Christmas meals and buffet tables again as social distancing rules are not part of the equations anymore, the changes in working patterns may result in a change in times for the traditional Christmas party. We’re predicting, and seeing, lunchtime events increasing in their popularity over the traditional ‘evening do’ as more staff look to reduce the use of ‘out of working hours’ time away from home.
Multi-purpose events
With so many social and work gatherings and company meet-ups having been postponed or cancelled over the last two years couple with the rise in hybrid working, we anticipate a rise in Christmas parties that go beyond their traditional scope. As companies look to take advantage of having the whole team together – in many instances for the first time with those employees that started working remotely – by booking London Christmas parties that also include a business, conference or awards element.
Postponement backlog
While we’re talking postponements and cancellations – last Christmas we thought we were almost out of the woods and tentative plans for Christmas parties were in full swing. However, a rise in cases and the new Omicron guidance led to a lot of Christmas parties booked for after December 12th – when new guidance came into effect – being cancelled. However, many companies opted to postpone their event instead into mid-December 2022. Combined with the usual level of bookings for the festive season, this means that there’s been increased pressure on venue diaries.
Book early, book now!
The events industry is bouncing back with a passion in 2022 with demand for venues increasing year-round. Christmas parties, already a key time in a venue’s calendar, are no exception this year especially when you factor in the additional diary pressures mentioned above. So, whatever you’re looking for in your London Christmas party – whether it’s an exclusive venue on a Wednesday or Thursday night for groups of over 100 or a smaller Christmas lunch with an awards function – this is the year to get in early and start your venue finding process right now!
Whatever the chosen London Christmas party format, the booking patterns for 2022 end of year celebrations will be like no other.
Whilst some companies have already got events booked due to postponements from 2021,others are booking now to secure their preferred dates. Many decision-makers are awaiting greater confidence and clarity in the roadmap to recovery dates and restrictions before making a final call on their plans for this December.