Dial events

On a budget? Don't let the Christmas Grinch spoil your festive fun!

Under pressure to book a great Christmas party, but without spending a lot of company cash? Expotel’s specialist events team can help you keep within your budget – and still party the night away in style!

This year has been about tightening our belts, but just because you have less to spend doesn’t mean you have to compromise on the perfect office Christmas party.

After all, not only is it an opportunity for staff to let their hair down, but the team-bonding and staff-morale-boosting effects are great for long-term productivity.

Expotel is a specialist hotel and venue finder; here is its events team’s top ten tips for delivering fabulous Christmas parties, bang on budget…

Be flexible with your dates

Friday and Saturday nights are snapped up quicker than you can say Christmas cracker, so, if you can, opt for a mid-week date instead. That way you stand a better chance of getting a good deal.

Join a ‘joiner party’

This is proving a really popular option for 2009, say Expotel’s events team. The set price per person typically includes food, wine and a few festive goodies into the bargain – the only real difference is you don’t have exclusive use of the room or venue. Joining a larger do brings costs down for smaller parties, and joiner parties are often themed, for added festive fun.

Consider drinks vouchers or nominal fees

Give staff drinks vouchers, instead of a free bar, to help keep the party on budget. Also, consider charging a nominal fee per person, as some firms have done for staff parties for 2009. Expotel can then set up a dedicated website to manage the RSVPs and payment.

Don’t cut back on basics

Simple things like chair covers and table decorations are inexpensive, yet really help partygoers get into that Christmas party mood, so don’t skimp on these small touches.

Simple things like chair covers and table decorations are inexpensive, yet really help partygoers get into that Christmas party mood, so don’t skimp on these small touches. Good lighting – be it candles or disco lights – can also get the party going.

Have one or two talking points

Expotel’s events team reckons that a small outlay on something like a chocolate fountain or an ice sculpture on the buffet table can really pay dividends in terms of instant impact. Plus it provides a talking point both during and after the Christmas party and helps the event go with a swing!

Let Expotel make your budget go further

The events team has the experience to negotiate with venues on your behalf and has huge buying power, so simply let them know your Christmas party budget and they’ll do the hard work for you.

Look outside the city centre

Escape the centrally located venues and the high price tags that can come with them. Rural venues are often cheaper and hotels near motorways are also easy to get to and from and often host joiner parties.

Make the most of Expotel’s expertise in venue-finding

Let Expotel take the hassle out of venue-finding on a budget – they have access to many different venue types and price brackets to suit everybody’s pocket.

Beat the January blues

Why not simply host a party in January instead? As well as being less expensive, it’s also an opportunity to cheer everyone up in that post-Christmas slump.

Book early next year

If you’ve left it too late to snap up a bargain this year, make sure you make the most of early bird deals for Christmas parties in 2010. Ask your Expotel agent for details.

To find out more about booking your Christmas party, contact Expotel on 0844 793 7300.

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Village Hotel Coventry in Coventry. The British motor industry was born here. Lady Godiva paraded starkers through its streets. Now a multi-million pound redevelopment is making England's eighth largest city a major centre for leisure and shopping. **Bed & Breakfast - Sun-Thurs**. £59

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