Hoorah for Fa La La La La. Early Christmas bookings are back in trend!
Earlier lead time for Exclusive Party Bookings
Event venues across the UK are reporting a significant increase in early bookings for exclusive Christmas parties. This proactive approach ensures companies lock in their preferred dates and venues, guaranteeing a memorable celebration for their teams.
Ascot Racecourse’s Senior Sales and Planning Manager, Abigail Elkins, has observed this shift clearly, noting that this year, “exclusive Christmas party enquiries have a much longer lead time, with people requesting to book their next party a year out.”
Similarly, Ailsa Ross, Director of Sales at DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh reports that some clients were planning their Christmas parties as early as the start of the year. “We’ve had people booking in January! It did slow down a little, but we are starting to see a real push for people to book over the past couple of weeks,” the venue shares.
Sian Hayward, Sales and Events Manager, Foxhills Club & Resort in Chertsey, Surrey believes companies are booking “a lot earlier in advance to ensure availability” and has even seen booking requests spill into November and January as the more popular December dates fill up. Meanwhile, a few miles down the road in Dorking, Sharon Power, Director of Sales for Wotton House also echoes this sentiment, stating, “we have been taking bookings since February”. This earlier booking window is a significant change from previous years, which Power says “had a much shorter lead.”
According to Victoria Poole, Sales Manager at Principal York, January is not only becoming a more popular time for bookings to be made, but it is even a popular choice of month to host post-Christmas parties, saying the month has “always performed well”, adding they “currently have more business on the books for 2025 than the actuals for 2024.”
Why the Early Rush?
Several factors contribute to this trend.
Similarly, Damian Frewer, General Manager of Holiday Inn London Brentford Lock, has noticed an increased demand in ‘experiential immersive’ parties whereby clients want those ‘Instagram moments’.
Foxhill’s Club & Resort also say they are receiving “a lot of requests through for activity-based Christmas parties, such as casino nights, cocktail making and wine tasting” to help companies bolster team bonding.
Such a level of customisation requires more time and planning, no doubt encouraging these earlier bookings.
Planning Tips for PAs and Event Organisers
Given this trend, PAs and event organisers should start planning sooner rather than later to secure the best venues and dates for their company Christmas parties. Here are some tips to help navigate the early booking landscape:
- Start Early: Sharon Power, Director of Sales for Wotton House advises event planners to “begin discussions and planning sessions with your team as soon as possible. Identify preferred dates, guest numbers, and any specific requirements early on to avoid disappointment.”
- Be Flexible: Jessica Gallagher, Venue and Hospitality Manager at the Royal Society of Chemistry at Burlington House shares that “while Fridays prove popular, consider midweek options if your preferred dates are already booked. Many venues report high demand on these days, but midweek can still offer excellent experiences often at a reduced rate.”
Confirm Early: “Once you’ve identified your venue and date, confirm your booking as early as possible. This not only secures your spot but also allows you more time to fine-tune the personalised details of your event with peace of mind,” suggests Damian Frewer, General Manager at Holiday Inn London Brentford Lock.
