The mince pies are hitting the shelves, your festive rota is coming together, and now is the perfect time to get your Christmas tickets on sale.
Whether you're hosting a magical grotto, an illuminated trail, or simply adding seasonal sparkle to your existing offer, a successful event hinges on getting your ticketing, pricing and guest journey right from the start.
Here are proven strategies to help you maximise sales, elevate the guest experience, and make the most of the festive season.
Families are planning further ahead than ever. Many now book their festive days out as early as September, particularly for popular events or peak weekends.
Launching early gives guests more time to choose their preferred date and builds anticipation. It also helps spread bookings more evenly across your calendar, reducing pressure on peak days and improving the guest experience.
What you can do:
Instead of one flat ticket price, consider a dynamic pricing approach. Adjust prices based on demand, day of week, or what’s included. This helps you protect revenue at peak times and fill quieter sessions.
You can also implement a decoy pricing strategy, a smart psychological tool used across sectors. For example, if a hot chocolate is £3 and a deluxe version is £6, a “premium” £5.75 option makes £6 feel like a better deal. It’s subtle, but incredibly effective in nudging guests to higher-value purchases.
Try:
If you're unsure where to start, we can help you analyse your past sales data and set up a more flexible structure within Merac.
Not everyone is looking for a budget Christmas day out. In fact, 16% of the UK public report they’re not affected by the cost-of-living crisis (VAC), and high-end festive experiences are often the first to sell out.
Take inspiration from Paddington The Musical, which sells a £34 Marmalade Sandwich in VIP seats. It’s not just food. It’s a themed, emotionally resonant souvenir. Scarce, theatrical, shareable. It becomes part of the story and the experience.
Ask yourself:
This is your chance to elevate the experience, increase margins, and tap into a segment that’s eager to spend more for something special.
<AP> Add Twixmas
The period between Christmas and New Year is prime time for multigenerational family days out. Think about it, we’re been cooped up inside with people we love and care about but maybe don’t spend a lot of intense time with. Getting the family out of the house and engaging in a shared activity could be very welcome.
Do you have a hyper local mailing list that you can use to drive visits in that week? Are there activities and events you can put on that appeal to this audience - “Stuff the turkey and the sprouts?
Once tickets are on sale, think beyond the visit. Festive events are the perfect opportunity to introduce giftable experiences, especially for those shopping for meaningful presents.
Consider offering:
This can open up an entirely new revenue stream over the season, especially in the lead-up to Christmas.
Black Friday isn't just for retailers. It’s a major opportunity to promote memberships, multi-visit passes or experience upgrades, particularly as guests look for high-value gifts.
You don’t need to discount heavily. Instead, focus on limited-time bundles, exclusive upgrades or added value like a free drink or digital photo.
Make it feel seasonal, but avoid generic discounts. Think: “12 Days of Christmas Offers” or “Festive Family Perks.”
Managing a high volume of bookings can be overwhelming if you're manually handling confirmations, payment links or reminders.
Using the tools already available in your ticketing and CRM platforms, you can:
Let us know what you're planning and we’ll help you streamline communications using the best tools in your Merac setup.
Your campaign should meet guests where they are: on your website, social media, email and even on-site signage.
But what matters most is consistency.
Make sure:
The goal is to create a seamless guest journey from awareness to action.
The guest experience doesn’t start when they arrive. It begins the moment they book.
A frictionless, thoughtful booking journey builds trust and opens up new ways to upsell, delight and encourage return visits.
Make the checkout fast and mobile-friendly. Apple Pay and Google Pay are must-haves.
Then follow up with:
This kind of smart, well-timed communication can turn a one-time booking into an annual tradition.
Our Experience Engineers are here to help you get the most out of the Merac platform this festive season. Whether you're looking to simplify admin, launch smarter offers or streamline your sales setup, we’ll work closely with you to ensure your event is smooth, scalable and ready to sparkle.
Get in touch and let's make this your most magical and profitable Christmas yet.