Christmas party planners predict better 2010 than 2009

August 20, 2010

A poll of party planners seems to indicate optimism for this year's Christmas party industry, with 50 per cent of people believing that the revenue generated by seasonal revelries will be up on last year.

In a survey taken on Event magazine's website, half of all respondents expressed that they had measured optimism for the forthcoming season, declaring that the market will be up on the 2009, but still not quite at 2008 levels.

Eighteen per cent of people thought the market would go down slightly, while the same amount of people believe that it would stay roughly the same as 2009.

Just eight per cent, however, thought it would be the best season in years, demonstrating that many industry insiders are well aware of not running before they can walk when it comes to the economic recovery.

The Christmas party industry experienced a staggering 30 per cent drop in profits in 2009, with some parties that had sold for £120 a head in 2008 selling for just £40 per person in 2009.

At the time, events expert, Simon Mitchell said, "They've been going for literally half the money and less. Overall the business has done really well throughout 2009, but Christmas has been shocking."