What Corporate Event Planners Are Looking for During the 2020 Holidays

2020 has been a long year, and while it is almost finally over, we have to get through the holidays first! The season is looking a bit different this year, especially when it comes to our event business. We want to offer whatever we can during these times to get the attention of our corporate clients and generate some revenue at the end of the year.

Thinking about how to entice corporate clients to spend their money with your venue, here’s what they’ll be looking for during the 2020 holiday season. And with many pushing off holiday celebrations until 2021, you can be sure that you’ll be getting holiday requests well into the new year. 

Unique gift ideas 

Corporate planners will be looking for holiday gifts to send out to important clients or even their own employees. Whether you are able to help customize some wine, curate a fun gift box for their employees, or give them a great deal on gift cards — all of these options are sure to spark some interest. 

Large, open floor plans or venue buyouts

Corporate planners who are able to host indoor events will be looking for large, open floor plans to make their guests feel safe, and ensure adequate social distancing. Be sure to highlight how many people your venue can accommodate safely, as well as any flexibility you have in your space. Even better if you’re able to offer your entire venue to the corporate client. 

Outdoor venues with heating or enclosed patios

If corporate planners are meeting in person, they may still not feel comfortable with their group meeting indoors. Corporate planners will be looking for outdoor venues that can accommodate their groups and — depending on the climate — venues that have a heated or enclosed patio to keep their guests warm while keeping them safe. Highlighting any outdoor spaces that clients are able to utilize in the winter is a good start to getting some more business.

Virtual options/virtual holiday experiences

Unfortunately, many planners are still in virtual purgatory. They will be looking for a unique, interactive experience (like these) to keep their guests entertained during their zoom happy hours or holiday parties. Having packages put together specifically for groups to celebrate virtually is a must for any restaurant or caterer. Venues that can offer their space up for streaming holiday meetings or entertainment are a plus and in demand also. 

Onsite catering 

Corporate planners who aren’t hosting large holiday parties, but maybe smaller, business meetings or celebrations will for sure be looking for onsite catering options. Even if your business normally doesn’t do catering, these smaller parties are easy enough to create a menu for – and will give your corporate clients that 5 start service they expect from your venue or restaurant.

Use TripleseatDirect for bookings and sales

There are many ways to offer unique, virtual experiences to your corporate clients that can showcase your brand and will leave a lasting impression, and TripleseatDirect feature can help! TripleseatDirect offers restaurants, hotels, and unique venues the ability for their customers to complete the entire event or catering booking process, from choosing the perfect space or room to selecting their menu to making payments in just a few clicks.

If your venue isn’t currently using TripleseatDirect to book in-house events and catering orders, there’s no better time than the present. There is no additional fee associated with TripleseatDirect. You must be a Tripleseat customer and have online payments set up with one of our online payment partners: Clover Connect or Stripe. For help setting up your TripleseatDirect feature, reach out to our support team. You’ll be on your way to generating holiday revenue with TripleseatDirect in no time.