Holiday Planning: 6 Ways to Prepare for Festivities at Your FEC

Looking for holiday planning tips? You've come to the right place! 

While we know our readers are typically ahead of the curve and have already completed their holiday planning by the end of summer or early fall, there is always room for additional tips, tricks, and advice!

To make sure your facility is ready to spread holiday cheer, here are 6 ways you can prepare to provide guests with an incredible experience this year. 

Holiday Planning: 6 Ways to Prepare for Festivities at Your FEC

Let's jump in!

1. Conduct a Facility Maintenance Check

When was the last time you checked if the heating works in your facility? What about the pipes? 

Chances are, "Not recently."

To ensure a smooth holiday season at your family entertainment center, it is essential to conduct a comprehensive maintenance check. This will help you identify and address any potential issues before they become unexpected problems.

Ensure all your equipment and attractions are running smoothly and will not only be able to withstand the cold winter months but also provide hours of safe enjoyment for every guest coming through your doors.

2. Decorate for the Holidays With Your Customers in Mind

Think about where you're located. What holidays does your local community celebrate? Are you located in a diverse community? Decorate for each holiday throughout your facility to make each and every customer feel appreciated!

To add some extra holiday spirit, why not throw an "After Hours" holiday decorating party for your hardworking employees? Crank up the festive tunes, order some delicious pizza and drinks, and have a blast while getting everything ready.

It's not only a fun way to complete the decorations, but also a great opportunity to show your appreciation for the extra effort your staff is putting in during this busy season.

Your customers will walk in the next day to a Winter Wonderland you've created with your incredible staff!

3. Book Your Entertainment in Advance

The holidays are a busy time for everyone, especially for those in the entertainment industry.

If you plan on having a "Meet and Greet with Santa" event at your facility, you need to make sure you book Santa early! 

He's a busy guy, after all.

A quick Google search should yield results of reputable "Santas" in the area with instructions on how you can book them for events.

Make sure to book your entertainment as soon as possible, especially if you're in a location where options may be limited. Whether you're looking for a band to rock your holiday party, Santa and his elves to spread some cheer, or a skilled crew to tackle those hard-to-reach decorating spots (like the roof or ceiling), it's crucial to secure their services well in advance. Don't wait until the last minute!

If possible, book them this year for the following holiday. You'll both be happy you already have dates secured and one less event to worry about.

4. Check Your Inventory and Stock Up on Supplies

The festive fall and winter months mean more—of everything. More parties mean more people and more people mean more supplies.

Take a look at all the parties you have on the books for the holiday season. This includes anything in January! With all of the extra events you'll be hosting, you're likely to forget to order what you need to get through the first couple weeks of the new year before it's too late.

Make a list of everything you'll need for each event and document it using your resource management software. If possible, place one large order for everything you need, plus a little extra in case of emergencies. It'll be easier to track and organize what you've purchased with one large order, rather than ordering your supplies in multiple small shipments.

5. Adequately Hire and Train Your Staff

Your current staff is likely more than capable of managing the holiday rush at your facility, especially if they've been part of your team for multiple seasons.

The real question is, however, do you have enough staff?

Consider hosting a job fair at your facility to hire extra short-term staff. You'll be well-equipped to provide your guests—especially those paying a premium for private events—with a more enjoyable and memorable experience. Plus, the new employees you hire will be glad to have some extra money in their pockets during the season of giving.

Since you'll have new employees on board, it's a great time to host a training course on how to operate different areas of your FEC. Not only will you be able to effectively train the new people you have on board, but it's also a perfect time to give your veteran staff a refresher course!

You'll be able to address any current issues and set expectations with everyone present, as well as motivate them to work hard and enjoy the exciting time ahead.

6. Start Planning for the New Year

The holiday season will no doubt bring more customers and increased revenue to your family entertainment center. Wouldn't you like to continue that momentum into the new year?

As mentioned before, try to book next year's holiday entertainment as soon as possible, even if it's right after they've fulfilled their commitment to you this year.

Additionally, if you've heeded our advice in regard to inventory, you're already on track to being well-prepared for your New Year's events around the corner.

While you may not have as many events at your facility throughout the rest of the year as you will during the holidays, it's important to keep a log of all important information.

Keeping a history of how many supply items you needed, the number of staff you employed, as well as the increased revenue you received, are all important things to keep track of. This way, preparing for future events will take less time and thought operationally, so you can focus on what's most important: your guests.

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