5 Event Types that Can Win Big For Your FEC

Offering a variety of well-planned events is one way to set your business apart from the competition. Events bring in new guests, encourage repeat visits, and create memorable experiences that keep people coming back for more. And, because they’re such an important component of your offering, we’ve built customizable setup options to help you sell, manage, and track the success of any event you decide to book.

Read on for some of the most profitable event types that can significantly boost your bottom line, and how Advantage Events makes it all easy.

No. 1: Keep it Simple With Pre-Packaged Birthday Parties.

It’s a no-brainer that birthday parties are an absolute must; they’re a fantastic stream of revenue that’s easy to sell and provide you with nearly endless marketing potential to a whole new audience. Package parties with a simple flow, such as a 90-minute party that includes one or more timed attractions or attraction passes, party foods like pizzas and pitchers of soft drinks, a private party room with all the supplies, and a small amount of game play per guest. Be sure to think about adding upsell options like adult food platters, additional game play, goody bags, or adult attraction passes to boost spending and provide a better guest experience.

You can easily define your party packages,  including everything from attractions to food, and all the way to available day and time slots. The Reservation Automation Wizard automatically adjusts capacities, food and beverage needs, and pricing based on the number of guests. Industry-leading Cascading Scheduling features will also schedule and time attractions, rooms, and food prep at the exact times you decide based on when the party starts. No overbookings, and your kitchen always knows what to prep! Best of all, Advantage Events lets you sell these packages online, over the phone, and onsite, ensuring you meet guests wherever they prefer to book.

No. 2: Personalize Your Group Offerings and Boost Revenue with Custom Events.

Off-the-shelf packaged group events for schools, churches, or company outings are a smart choice. But don’t forget the power of customized events for enhancing the guest experience while driving revenue. In sales conversations with group leads, be sure you ask the right questions so you know whether they need a prepackaged event or something that requires manual handling. Offering flexibility shows you’re dedicated to making their event absolutely perfect, and many groups will pay more for this flexibility and personalization.

Easy calendar views within Advantage Events allow you to create a custom event and easily pick the right times, attractions, rooms, and even add resources like party hosts or mascot appearances. This flexibility empowers your sales team to craft the ideal experience for any group, no matter how unique their request.

No. 3: Create Buzz and Engagement With One-Time Special Events.

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box! What about those special, one-off ticketed events that create a huge buzz and bring in crowds during slower times or for specific seasons? Breakfast with Santa, Cosmic Mini Golf nights, or even hosting a local concert or celebrity greeting can be goldmines of engagement (and revenue). They create excitement and keep your facility top of mind for your community, can attract new guests who might not have heard about you, and increase spending with items like extra F&B or merchandise, among others.

Just like with attractions or other event types, your Advantage Suite gives you the tools to set and manage event times and capacities, sell tickets, and track the success of those special events.

No. 4: Give Guests a Reason to Return…Again and Again with Recurring Events, Camps, or Classes.

Recurring events, such as bowling clinics, “Mommy and Me” classes, summer camp, or even VR or axe-throwing leagues, are fantastic for building loyalty and generating steady revenue. Classes, in particular, run for a set amount of time (like a six-week bowling league). They turn casual visitors into dedicated participants, leading to predictable income and often filling in off-peak times.

Advantage offers a Classes feature set that makes setting up and managing these ongoing programs incredibly easy. You can define class schedules, keep track of who’s signed up, monitor attendance and staff, and process payments for the whole series or per session. This means you can effortlessly manage your recurring offerings and build a strong, engaged community right at your facility!

No. 5: Give Back to Your Community with Fundraisers and Charity Events.

Your business is at the heart of your community. Showing you care by hosting fundraisers and charity events can be a powerful way to build strong local ties and earn positive recognition. Like other event types, these events attract people who might not typically visit your FEC, but come to support a cause. Once they experience your venue, they’re more likely to return for regular play. And, with a little promotion, charity events can also get local media coverage, providing free publicity for your venue. Plus, groups or individuals who organize fundraisers may also be great candidates for future group events or parties in other areas of their lives, as long as you make it easy.

There are many ways you can set up fundraisers in Advantage: as a pre-packaged or custom group event, a one-off ticketed event, or you can even simply dedicate sales from open play to fundraiser participants during a specific time period, such as the fourth Wednesday of the month from 7-9 pm. The real magic in Advantage is that the system makes it easy for you to track participation and donations for the charity at the end.

Next Steps?

No matter which event types you choose to offer, the goal remains the same: to create memorable experiences that keep guests coming back and boost your bottom line. We hope that with the right tool set, you have everything you need to streamline your event management, from initial booking to final reporting. To learn more about these event types and their asset up, reach out to your CenterEdge Customer Advocates at support@centeredgesoftware.com.