CORPORATE WINTER EVENT IDEAS & BRAND ACTIVATIONS
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A new year and a new decade mean new opportunities for your family entertainment center. In order to keep guests engaged and coming back for more play, it’s crucial to stay on top of the latest family entertainment center ideas and emerging trends.
People are craving unique, instagram-worthy experiences. A night at the bar is no longer the ideal night out as social gaming establishments have become the marker for a fun Friday night.
In 2020, Family Entertainment Centers will continue to be a go-to activity for millennials and Gen Z, as visits from the 18-to-49-year-old age bracket have increased by 10% compared to previous years. In fact, people of all ages are choosing to spend their time and money at Family Entertainment Centers, with average attendance up by almost 30% in comparison with previous years. As more Family Entertainment Centers pop up around the world to take advantage of these trends, it’s important to differentiate your location(s) to attract the fun-seekers.
So, how do you get those people to choose your Family Entertainment Center in 2020? New, innovative offerings are needed to keep guests entertained. See below for some of the top emerging family entertainment center trends and new ideas.
Out with the old, in with the new
Innovative offerings are key to keeping guests coming back for more. In 2020, consider removing Family Entertainment Center equipment and attractions that are decreasing in revenue, including bowling, arcade games, laser tag, indoor playgrounds, and miniature golf.
As group sales continue to increase, your Family Entertainment Centers should focus on team activities that allow guests to play together and promote friendly competition. Interest in skill and competition-based games will continue to grow in 2020 as adult entertainment centers become more popular than entertainment centers for children. Axe throwing, escape rooms, and other entertainment center equipment and activities geared for adults will grow your returns in 2020 and beyond.
Street Curling is both low risk and low cost compared to other alternatives, through their hourly and drop in rates, leagues, and tournaments, Street Curling can quickly bring in FEC profits. - FEC OPERATOR, IAAPA 2019
A low-risk option with high returns is a great way to begin updating your FEC for 2020. If you are seeking new family entertainment center ideas, a high-quality product like Street Curling will keep guests coming back for more.
Location, Location, Location
Whether you own one location or many, there are a number of factors to consider to keep attendance up and profits growing. Owning multiple locations is becoming more popular, with the number of Family Entertainment Centers owners operating 10 or more locations increasing by 65% in the past 2 years.
When managing multiple locations you can provide guests with the same experience at all locations to create a strong and consistent brand or specialize offerings specific for each location.
With one location it’s even more important to bring in unique activities that will draw interest to your Family Entertainment Center. Consider adding an activity that guests can’t find anywhere else in the proximity — like curling!
When deciding what activities to bring in, consider your geography. To entice visitors, ensure you provide unique offerings and out-of-the-box ideas. In hot climates, bring in winter-themed attractions. Where it’s cold, offer the best of both temperatures by offering summer activities like beach volleyball beside winter activities like curling.
There is an increasing trend of Family Entertainment Centers offering both indoor and outdoor entertainment. This heightens the importance of attractions that can be used either indoors or outdoors.
Regardless of your climate, take advantage of indoor and outdoor space to create memorable year-round or seasonal socializing hotspots. FEC attractions that can be used indoors and outdoors, like Street Curling, allow you to have ultimate flexibility in how you take advantage of your space.
Competition Continues
In order to take advantage of the growing competition-based games trend, look for ways to encourage friendly competition. People are spending more on visits (ticket prices have increased by 8% to 48%) and are looking for social gaming experiences that live up to the price. By providing unique activities that encourage repeat play, your guests will be willing to pay to play. An addition to pay-as-you-go tickets, you should also consider adding recreational leagues for specific attractions that will bring repeat visits as users compete on a weekly basis. Weekly leagues also pair well with the social drinking culture in North America, as millennials seek new experiences with friends.
In addition to weekly leagues, look for opportunities to create one-of-a-kind experiences, including themed nights, special events, group rentals, and birthday parties. Add to the experience of your Family Entertainment Center by bringing in unique food options, musical offerings, and other one-night-only events.
A Can’t-Miss Experience
In order to establish your Family Entertainment Center as an activity that people can’t pass on, ensure that the overall experience is just as good as the games. Food and beverage options should be thoughtfully chosen to pair well with the games, including themed options. Offering food and beverage options, including alcoholic drinks, provides groups with an opportunity to mingle when not playing.
As your demographic continues to seek experiences instead of products, make sure your Family Entertainment Center is their first choice by bringing in new, innovative options in 2020.
