Mixed messages for corporate Christmas

Suppliers to the functions market are hoping for a reverse of last year’s ‘grinch like’ attitude towards Christmas following the onset of the global financial crisis. However, while some caterers and venues report a reasonably strong build-up to the festive season, others report that companies are continuing to be cautious.

Terry Holt, of Crowne Plaza Auckland, says the hotel certainly seems busy on the key nights of Friday and Saturday leading up and into December.

He says it is possibly too early to get an exact fix on Christmas, but he says general corporate activity would indicate less dinner type business and perhaps a shift to cocktails and finger food functions.

Holt says there is also a lot of short lead business still occurring and this is likely to continue through the coming months.

‘We have got 25 people staying for three nights, and having three dinners - one here onsite, another one offsite and then something special on the last night. They are also having a day at Waiheke. That was an event confirmed post MEETINGS (late July) and it is happening on September 9, 10 and 11.’

Cyril Brace, of Austin’s Food Design, is fairly upbeat about the season. ‘We’ve got a number of big Christmas events confirmed and it is definitely both better and earlier than last year. Some companies say they are doing it because they did not do anything last year and a lot are looking for something different.’

Brace indicates that supplier specials may be stimulating the market. ‘We are doing an attractive package and people have come on board.’

A spokesperson from SKYCITY Auckland says the venue is seeing similar trends to last year. ‘People are being conservative and we suspect the late booking pattern will continue.’

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