Have you heard? Social and corporate event planners are turning to hotels to make their event dreams a reality. Maybe you are not surprised since you have the trifecta of offerings that many planners want, a variety of event spaces, sleeping rooms, and AV. But are you ready for the growing wish lists now that they can finally turn their event plans into reality?

We have pulled together 10 trends directly from planners to help you earn more bookings and revenue as we wrap up 2022 and head into 2023.

1. Hotels are No. 1

It seemed fitting that the No. 1 item on the list is that hotels stood out as the No. 1 choice for event venues. It makes sense given the amenities you offer planners. Make sure your promotions talk about the unique amenities that consumers want for events, including bars, dance floors, audio-visual equipment, and lounge areas.

2. Corporate Holiday Parties: Celebrations and sleeping rooms

When it comes to corporate holiday parties, the top desired amenity is bar packages. To balance fun and keeping guests safe, it is not surprising that 68% of corporate planners are booking hotel rooms for holiday party attendees, making hotels a simple choice.

3. Business and bleisure travel is on the rise

Business trips and events are picking up, and consumers are combining this travel with leisure activities (this has created a new trend known as bleisure travel). 43% of recent travelers said they are planning a leisure trip, and 40% were traveling for both business and leisure. Consider working with corporate planners to extend group rates to encourage bleisure travel and include hotel perks during those non-conference times.

4. Technology is a must

Prioritizing technology amenities will help capture business travel and event bookings. Corporate meetings are the top types of business events being planned; they require technology such as Internet access, video conferencing equipment, and audio equipment. High-speed Internet is the No. 1. amenity travelers are looking for.

5. Birthdays are big

Consumers said that birthdays are the top event type that they’re planning. Hotels are in the perfect position for birthday celebrations and can handle everything from a small gathering in the hotel restaurant or bar all the way to a blowout vacation or ballroom bash. Create some birthday package options to appeal to these groups.

6. Consumers are making the time and effort for celebrations

People are serious about their events. 40% of consumers are planning 3 to 5 events this year. They’re spending an average of $6,947 per event, and they’re spending the time getting every detail right; 40% of consumers book their venues 1 to 3 months in advance.

7. Your customers and online presence have a lot of influence

When consumers were asked how they find venues to book for events, they said referrals from friends and family were their top source. They also find venues via Google searches and social media. That’s why it’s important to make sure your marketing includes reaching out to loyal and repeat customers, as well as having a solid online presence for prospects.

8. Your website is the first impression

When it comes to event planning, consumers want as much information as possible at their fingertips so they can decide what venue they’re going to choose to host their event. Here’s a list of the top five things consumers look for when researching venues:

  1. A professional photo album of the venue
  2. Videos
  3. Pricing minimums
  4. Detailed descriptions of event spaces
  5. A list of amenities

9. Provide every detail in your events packages

Giving potential clients all of the information available will help them make a decision as soon as possible and get that booking on your calendar. Consumers say they want the following information when your venue responds to their inquiry: an event menu, prices, a floor plan, an events packet, and a contract.

10. RFP requests require answers ASAP

Everyone has heard, time is money. But in this case, long wait times could result in losing the deal. Even though consumers are spending several months in the planning process, they want to book venues and vendors as soon as possible. The first business to respond often wins. In fact, 92% of consumers would like a response within 48 hours.

Start now to get ready for the busiest time of the year

Responding to these trends and having procedures in place now is crucial. It will put you in the best possible position to handle the holiday season, which is the busiest time of the year for the hospitality business, and your best shot at growing your bottom line. Having the top cloud-based sales and catering management software will help you manage it all.

To learn more about Tripleseat or to schedule a demo, please visit www.tripleseat.com.

Tripleseat for Hotels is the leading cloud-based group sales and catering management platform used worldwide. Tripleseat for Hotels makes it easy for sales teams to create and send group booking proposals in minutes, saving them hours a day and increasing productivity while decreasing workload. Tripleseat for Hotel's features, paired with its integrated CRM and various software partners, make it the leading software for today's hotel.

To learn more about Tripleseat for Hotels or to schedule a demo, please visit, https://tripleseat.com/products/hotels/.