“Have you booked your office holiday party yet?” was the question the manager asked after I finished lunch at a restaurant the other day. I was caught off guard only because I was on the beach the day before!

She handed me a very fancy, glossy flyer and attempted to walk away. I had only one question: “Why should I book my office party here, instead of at one of the other 200 restaurants in the area?”

She looked puzzled, thought for a moment and replied, “If you book early I am pretty sure we offer a discount?” Wrong answer! Before anyone considers price, they have to WANT to book with you! The flyer was boring and did not make me say “WOW! This looks great!”

Let me give you a few examples of ways restaurants we have booked with WOWed us:

1. Gave us a custom designed cake with my company logo on it – plus matching cupcakes for each guest to take home to their families (I am certain that this was folded into the $/head charge)

2. Supplied an amateur photographer dressed up like an elf (a member of the wait staff)

3. “Multimedia pack” - They allowed us to bring in our own musical playlist and slide show for the LCD screens in the private room

None of these examples are terribly creative (or expensive) and I am certain that you and your team can come up with 5 better ideas in a 20 minute brainstorming session.

So if you want to BOOK OUT your venue this year, give your staff AT LEAST 3 GOOD REASONS to sway business in your favor.

To your success,