Christmas is still a long way off, but according to a spike in enquiry levels reported by CYE Group, party planners and event bookers already have big plans to celebrate this year.
Data from the group’s venue finding portals indicate budgets and average guest numbers are on the rise, too.
In recent years Christmas parties for many organisations have been either scaled back or cancelled altogether. When jobs are on the line, holding a Christmas party can, understandably, be seen as insensitive or even brash.
Now data from christmasvenues.com, CYE believes, indicate returning growth.
For the first quarter of 2013, the company claims a 54 per cent increase in enquiries for Christmas party venues when compared to the same period last year.
Interest is spread throughout the major cities, with growth in enquiries for London venues just below average at 49 per cent and Cardiff pushing ahead 57 per cent. Newcastle-Upon-Tyne is clearly up for Christmas 2013, with a 122 per cent leap in enquiries, according to the agency.
One company’s figures alone do not make for a reliable prediction for the party season’s prospects, and CYE Group MD, Ben Gray, agrees that, in part, the rise in CYE’s enquiries is a result of investing in key search engines and redeveloping websites to improve the user experience.
“Some of the increases in enquiry levels are a result of our own marketing successes, but when you add in the findings relating to budgets and guests numbers, a much more reliable pattern appears.” he says.
In 2012, the average budget per head, based on enquiries through the portal, was £43.02, Gray reports. “So far, 2013 has seen this figure rise 32.8 per cent to £57.13 per head. The average number of guests attending went from 68 in CYE’s sampling, to 92 with the data for 2013 to date a hike of over a third,” he adds.
In terms of where buyers are directing their spend, hotels with themed party packages top the polls, with most enquirers sourcing on-site or nearby accommodation. Next, come sporting stadiums, unique and unusual venues and entertainment venues.
So, has Christmas come early?
“Perhaps,” says Gray. “As we hope for a warm dry summer, it’s too early to draw solid conclusions but, without a doubt, the festive story is looking decidedly merry.”
This was first published in the June edition of CN. Any comments? E-mail conferencenews@mashmedia.net
