Holiday Planning Is Cool When The Weather’s Hot
By Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM, and James S. Rota
Have you heard people say they’re a right-brain or left-brain thinker? Right-brainers tend to be creative and instinctual, left-brainers analytical and logical. That’s how Beauty & the Brain was born. James Rota’s creativity meshes with Christy Lamagna’s strategic thinking to bring, ideally, a well-rounded approach to events and why holiday planning is cool when the weather’s hot.
Holiday Planning
From the Beauty
Savvy planners know it’s best to strike when the weather is hot. Most people are probably focused on the business at hand, but a seasoned planner knows that this is when to get your date locked into the holiday calendar, so you can snare the most coveted venues, entertainment and vendors before the post-Labor Day rush.
Keep in mind that a holiday party is not unlike any other large event you must organize. The only major difference is that once the season hits, competition and demand are at their peak, and you’ll have little, if any, bargaining power.
Those living in Florida, Arizona, Southern California, Hawaii, etc., should also keep this in mind: The winter months are prime time in your region and rates go up between October through April. Plan early and take advantage of booking rate deals now.
The Fourth of July holiday may just be past us, but now is the best time to book your fa-la-la festivities. Check the calendar, pick a date, and start calling the vendors who’ll create an event of which you’ll be proud.
From the Brain
For a strategist, it’s all about the plan. I not only book my holiday party well in advance, I get all my holiday planning done each summer. That means writing copy for holiday cards, updating mailing lists, purchasing gifts and creating a timeline to have everything proofed, approved and sent out.
I tackle the gift project all year long. I have a file folder that I put magazine clippings in as well as an online file folder where I paste links of things I’ve seen that I want to research further. Food baskets with clever contents, technology gadgets and great travel accessories go into the file. I check online reviews, compare pricing, get info on personalizing, and order samples of items that make the cut. The team weighs in on the samples and the order is placed. This system lets us take a new direction if someone has a late-breaking brainstorm. It avoids rush shipping and almost guarantees that items are in stock. Most of all, it keeps the process enjoyable since we’re not up against a deadline.
I write the copy for our holiday cards and choose a custom design, both of which take some attention. Often, I walk away from the project and come back to it, so starting early lets me do that without feeling pressure or having to rush. As an extra bonus, I can take advantage of summer promotions and sales.
September arrives and everything I need has arrived. I set aside two Fridays for the team to sign cards, assemble the gifts and get the packages ready to ship or hand deliver. By the time we’re done, the air is crisp, the stores are starting to show signs of the holidays, and we’re able to enjoy the season.
Bottom line: Planning for the holidays when it’s hot is the cool thing to do!
Keep watching for B&B’s list of the best gifts to give this holiday season. Have an idea you’d like to recommend or a corporate gift you consider an all-time great? Email me at: Christy.Lamagna@strategic.events.
Tags: Holiday Planning Is Cool When The Weather’s Hot, Holiday, Holidays, Planning, Event Planning, Event Planners, Strategic Planners, Strategic Events, Plan Your Meetings
