14
Christmas
Dear Santa…
Christopher Cashman, sales & events manager at LSO St Luke’s
says what to include on your Christmas checklist
Yule never
believe it
• 5 glasses of wine are
knocked back by the
average female party-goer.
A man will have 11!
• 6 % of us have spilled drink
over a colleague at a
Christmas bash and the
same number have
revealed something
embarrassing.
• 45 to 54 is the age group
most likely to get amorous
at the Christmas party,
according to travel website
lastminute.com
• 11m of us will go to a work
Christmas party
• 265m pints of alcohol will
be knocked back by Brits
in December
• £740m is the total cost to
business for the UK’s
hangover after Christmas
Define your vision
It’s important to pin down what it
is you are trying to achieve so that
you always have a vision to refer
back to. Whether you want to
create an intimate event, or a
more elaborate statement event,
narrowing it down at the early
stages will save a great deal of
time in the long run.
Set a budget
Setting your budget at the outset
is a crucial first step and will help
determine what type of venue,
catering and entertainment is
within your price-range. It’s a good
idea to consider what the most
important expense is and allocate
accordingly. Always keep a
reserve in case of unexpected
costs.
Source your venue early
The venue is usually the first port
of call for planners and can often
be the most costly element of the
event. This should be the first
thing on your planning list as
venues book up fast and knowing
how much you’re spending will
give you a clearer idea of what the
overall budget will be.
Create an atmosphere
A great way to create a sense of
occasion is through the use of a
theme. Consider setting a dress
code to intensify the communal
aspect of the party but don’t feel
that you can’t add your own little
twists too.
www.conference-news.co.uk
Ensure safety and security
A venue needs adequate security
provision. Ensure there is ample
security staff on hand for the
number of guests and staff are
briefed and equipped to deal with
any issues that arise. First aiders
should also be on hand to provide
immediate medical attention.
Everyone should be made
aware of the nearest fire exits and
evacuation procedures. Staff
should be aware of safe alcohol
consumption protocols as well.