3 Ways to Increase Your Holiday Event Revenue

With September right around the corner, now is the time to start planning how to increase your holiday event revenue this year!

Party bookings are at an all-time high during the fall and winter months. That's why it's critical to start putting together your offering and promotion plan to encourage customers to book early.

3 Ways to Increase Your Holiday Event Revenue

In this article, we share 3 ways you can increase your holiday event revenue during the next few months.

Let's jump in!

1. Cater to your target demographic

Who is your target audience? What demographic or types of parties bring in the most (and consistent) revenue for you throughout the year?

For example, children are the focal guests of many family entertainment centers and event facilities. Parents and guardians want the best for their children and will go to great lengths to give them fun experiences. If this is your target demographic, it's critical that you offer packages catered specifically toward younger guests (and parents or chaperones, too!).

By creating themed events geared toward the types of groups that bring in the most revenue for your facility, you'll not only provide a better customer experience, but you'll also increase your chance of receiving referrals for additional parties in the future.

2. Develop an event planning calendar for each month

Here are some event ideas you can organize for each month.

September

It's the back-to-school season! Many kids, especially young ones, are excited to return to school, but nervous to meet their new teacher and are unsure if friends from last year are going to be in their class.

A "Meet Your New Class" party is one way you can break the ice and encourage more locals to visit your facility! Each grade can have its assigned party day and each team can be determined by classroom.

Parents and children will get the opportunity to meet their child's new teacher, as well as get acquainted with new classmates before the school year officially begins.

Additionally, with the start of fall near the end of the month, you could host a crafting event or contest to celebrate the start of a new season!

October

It's time to host a Halloween contest! Give participants a discount if they come in costume. Share pictures on Facebook and create a poll to encourage people to vote for their favorite costume.

The winner can receive a goodie bag or free admission to your facility for a month.

A cause that hits close to home for many in the month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness. Any type of facility can host an event and have a portion of the proceeds go to a non-profit or charity. Cause marketing is not only good for your heart and a huge help to the cause but good for the facility and community, too!

If your guests wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness, run a promotion where you offer them free gameplay or discounts on food and drinks. If you're an adult-centric facility that sells alcohol, offer a specialty cocktail list with drinks such as a pink martini or pink champagne! Use your online store to sell pink bracelets, ribbons, or pins with your logo on them.

November

The season for eating and shopping is well underway by this time of the year, so there are several ways you can increase your holiday event revenue in November.

Run a Black Friday deal that lasts all month. Use your online store to pre-sell a valued item at a discounted cost!

Offer unique options in the food and drink department such as pumpkin spice flavoring for drinks, a Build-A-Bowl Chili Bar, or even a Black Friday Bloody Mary Bar.

These are great, DIY ways to inspire an "Instagrammable" moment.

December

The holiday season is here! This is a special and magical time for families. 

Consider hosting a "Christmas Cookies with Santa" event. You can sell pre-admission tickets via your online store for this event, too!

Have one of your staff members dress like an elf who's in charge of snapping the photos, just like at the mall!

Another great opportunity to increase revenue is to sell gift baskets with admission passes and logoed items. These make fantastic gifts during the holiday season!

January

If you're a facility that caters to adults, and/or you offer alcohol, January is a great time to maximize the fun of welcoming the New Year!

Consider hosting a mixology class. Have your guests learn how to create delicious beverages with fun-themed names and ingredients. (Hint: This is another one of those Instagrammable moments!).

Another way to add fun and increase revenue during this season is by facilitating a paint-and-sip party! Offer a party package in your online store where your guests can paint a holiday scene, as well as partake in one of your mixology classes. 

Have you ever heard of "Noon Years' Eve"? Instead of the traditional midnight countdown, cater to a younger crowd. Host a party where adults can bring children that can't stay up until midnight. Give them the ability to experience the same type of traditions by hosting a balloon drop in the facility! Add a dance party, activities, and favors, and the kids will have had an experience they'll remember for the rest of the year.

3. Create an effective marketing campaign

"These tickets are going fast! Almost sold out! Limited time only!"

After you've created your event calendar, create a marketing campaign for each event.

Determine how far in advance you'll start advertising your next event, on what platforms, and how often up until the time of the party.

Be sure to market your events on your website and consistently promote them on social media. Email is effective, too!

You can even use your online store to build anticipation by selling pre-sale tickets!

Was this article helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

We'd love to hear your thoughts! What else would you like us to write about? Let us know!

Hosting a Holiday Party: 4 Elements to Book & Host Great Parties at Your FEC

Click on the image below to download our eBook on how to grow your holiday bookings and party sales.