Venues in for huge cash boost as Xmas party bookings soar
VENUES across Coventry and Warwickshire are preparing for a festive business boost for the first time in three years with many fully booked for Christmas parties. The hospitality sector is gearing up for a muchneeded boom having been hit by Covid for the last two years.
Business were forced to shut and social distancing rules were in place in November and December 2020 following the spread of coronavirus at a time when vaccines were not readily available. And while those restrictions had been lifted this time last year, a surge in Covid-19 cases, due to the then emerging Omicron variant, led to late cancellations of Christmas bashes.
But, due to improved confidence, and in spite of financial headaches arising from the cost-of-living crisis, 2022 has seen a huge increase in corporate bookings, private parties and tables being booked for party nights. Village Hotel Coventry is just one venue that has seen a flurry of enquiries.
The Canley hotel opened its festive season on November 25 and quickly became fully booked. Frank Leo, director of sales at the hotel, says the festive period is important commercially, particularly as the conference industry decreases in the lead up to Christmas.
“It is very important for us as a venue to make the most of the Christmas period,” he said. “We host a lot of business events during the year and this always lessens in December in line with industry trends, but the private parties not only fill our event space, but also contribute to high occupancy levels in the hotel. “We are certainly still worried about the cost-of-living impact and whether that will lead to people changing plans, but ultimately everyone at the hotel is very excited now.
“We’re seeing great interest for our party nights in January too, which will give people who work over the Christmas period in hospitality a chance to celebrate too. Paula Moran, group hotel sales manager for Best
Western Plus’ Manor Hotel and Windmill Village Hotel, says demand is very high at both Coventry hotels.
Christmas nights at Windmill Village and the Marco Pierre White restaurant at the Manor Hotel are both fully booked. The bookings are for up to 250 people and range from festive lunches and dinners, to family events and parties with Santa.
“We are really busy for Christmas this year and we have seen a lot of corporate business come back after what was a difficult season last year,” said Paula. “It is a great time to work in hotels in terms of the festive feeling, but it doesn’t necessarily provide a huge boost to our bottom line - particularly with costs continuing to rise.
“We’re reliant on the regional market at the Windmill Village and we’re seeing a lot of people coming back to us over Christmas who have visited us throughout the year. We’re looking forward to a great festive period.”
Warwick Conferences, one of the region’s premier conferencing venues, will still be delivering its schedule of conferences and business events throughout the festive period, but is also set to receive a boost from corporate party bookings.
Head of business development Gail Tomlinson-short, says she has seen bookings increase at The Slate, one of its venues. “In recent years we have launched a corporate offer and private, exclusive party packages, as we think it’s really important as an industry to host festive celebration events, giving people the opportunity to come together and celebrate at Christmas time,” she said.
“We have several major exclusive Christmas events booked at The Slate.
“We are looking forward to a diary full of events this Christmas.”
We’re seeing great interest for our party nights in January too, which will give people who work over the Christmas period in hospitality a chance to celebrate too