6 Ways to Keep Private Event Sales Strong All Year Long
As an event manager, salesperson, or restaurant owner in the vibrant hospitality and events industry, you know the importance of cultivating effective private event sales practices and strategies. These techniques are the cornerstone for driving revenue growth for private gatherings and events at your restaurant, hotel, or unique venue.
What you may not realize is that if you make habits out of our sales tactics, you may be leaving money on the table. It’s crucial to stay updated on new event sales strategies to leverage private event sales opportunities.
1. Start with your Website
Allowing potential private event customers to instantly inquire via your website 24/7 with a section dedicated to events and private parties is extremely important. You need to have this page within your site to drive traffic for social and/or corporate events. Make sure that these pages of your site are targeted to the audience and include helpful information about your event offerings.
A Tripleseat lead form or TripleseatDirect 24/7 ensures you can collect correct contact information and quick responses to close the business. An event management platform, like Tripleseat will automatically create a lead in your account. This eliminates a lot of the typical back-and-forth communication between potential event planners and your events team. All communication will be tracked and accessible to you and your team and help you close more private event sales. Remember that whatever restaurant or venue responds quickly to the planner usually gets the business.
2. Answer All Calls
Whether your restaurant relies on a single event coordinator or boasts an entire private event sales team, it’s crucial to prioritize answering all incoming calls related to events. This personalized interaction can significantly influence the success rate of event bookings. Take the time to strategize coverage so that even if an events specialist isn’t immediately available, they can still acknowledge the incoming call and schedule a prompt callback. This simple gesture demonstrates attentiveness and professionalism, enhancing the chances of securing event deals.
3. Promote All Year Long
Every month presents an opportunity for celebration and an opportunity to promote your private events. From graduations and weddings to large conferences and festivals, there’s always something to promote on your calendar. Don’t forget about seasonal tourist attractions and local events that draw crowds to your town. Collaborate with universities, businesses, and your Chamber of Commerce to connect with organizations seeking event spaces.
Consider adapting your offerings to the seasons, whether through menu changes or utilizing outdoor spaces like rooftops if available. During slower seasons, entice clients with private dining specials featuring reduced room fees or discount codes. You can also sweeten the deal with complimentary amenities like onsite bartenders or free valet parking for meeting certain requirements.
Once you’ve crafted your special offer, spread the word! Utilize all your social media platforms and send out email newsletters to past clients who have booked events with you. By sharing the details of your promotions, you’ll ensure that your event space fills up quickly.
4. Follow Up with Past Event Planners
Reaching out to past event planners by phone is a fantastic way to reconnect and boost your sales. It’s all about nurturing those existing relationships and reminding them of the fantastic experiences you can offer. A friendly call not only re-establishes a connection but also opens up opportunities for future collaborations. So don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and catch up with your past event planners – you never know where it might lead! If you’re using a private event software like Tripleseat, revisiting previous event and client relationship information is easy.
5. Build Strategic Partnerships
Engaging in deliberate partnerships with non-competing businesses within your industry, particularly vendors frequently utilized during events, is a strategic move that can greatly benefit your business. Cultivating relationships with professionals whose services complement your own not only establishes you as an industry expert but also enables you to provide comprehensive and attentive customer service. Additionally, collaborating with partners allows for mutual promotion through the sharing of specials and marketing content across social channels, amplifying your online presence and fostering positive word-of-mouth referrals. It’s a win-win situation for bolstering your marketing efforts and enhancing your reputation within the industry.
6. Post-Party Check-ins
Checking in with the event planner the day after the party is a total game-changer in event sales. Not only does it show that you genuinely care about their experience, but it also gives you a chance to gather valuable feedback. Plus, it’s the perfect opportunity to subtly plant the seed for hosting another amazing party in the future. Building these post-event connections not only strengthens relationships but also sets the stage for future collaborations. So why not reach out and spread some post-party positivity?
Tripleseat Drives More Private Event Sales
Tripleseat has all the features you need to generate event inquiries, manage your events, communicate with customers, and report on everything. Interested in giving it a shot at your venue? Schedule a free demo online.
