Every year, companies and event planners rush to book their Christmas party to ensure they lock in their preferred venue and date before anyone else. According to new research, venues across the UK are reporting a significant increase in early festive bookings for exclusive Christmas parties, with some confirming a date as early as a year prior.
There are several factors spurring the move towards earlier Christmas bookings in 2024 specifically. One is a shift towards hybrid working with more people working from home now than ever before. Companies are eager to capitalise on occasions that bring employees together by planning events well ahead of time. Not only does this ensure they secure the venue they want, but it also allows businesses to share a date well in advance to gurantee maximum attendance.
Sales and Events Manager at Foxhills Club & Resort, Sian Hayward, is just one event planning professional who’s noticed the trend for earlier bookings, and explains that people are booking ‘a lot earlier in advance to ensure availability'. She even cites booking requests in November and January from people who can’t secure their preferred date in December.
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On the hunt for somewhere central? These are the best Christmas venues in the City of London.
Alongside early bookings, there are a wealth of other trends being reported across Christmas party bookings in 2024. An uptake in interest for tailored experiences has been noted across many major UK venues as people seek parties that are memorable and meaningful. This includes events with an experiential or immersive element.
For example, Foxhill’s Club & Resort has revealed it's receiving ‘a lot of requests through for activity-based Christmas parties, such as casino nights, cocktail making and wine tasting’, with a view to bolster team bonding and create experiences that look good on people’s social media feeds.
Those looking to book their Christmas party this year are being urged to start the planning process as early as possible, with some venues warning planners to be flexible and consider midweek options, as Fridays tend to book up fast.
Yet to book your Christmas party? We've updated all our Christmas venue guides for 2024, providing you with the very best party venues to book in London and across the UK. Discover the best large Christmas venues for big blowouts, intimate private dining rooms for festive dinners, and gorgeous restaurants you can hire for your Christmas party.