Last-Minute Holiday Parties

Last-Minute Holiday Parties

The holidays are the most exciting time of year, and there is no shortage of parties to attend. But sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Your outside caterer may have an emergency, or a venue you had booked may suddenly be unavailable. So, what do you do in such a case?

Do you cancel the event?

It’s much easier to go with an event venue such as Villa Ragusa, which is still accepting last-minute bookings.

If you plan to host a holiday party, make sure that your party will be fun, exciting, and memorable. Here are some tips for hosting a successful last-minute holiday party:

Location

Just because your first choice location was canceled doesn’t mean you can pick any venue. Two wrongs don’t make a right!

At a minimum, the location should be appropriate for your guests. There should be plenty of room for everyone to move around and have space to dance or mingle.

Food and More Food

Food is the spice of every party; without it, the event is just a tasteless gathering – we don’t want that, do we? While you may miss out on an event venue, nothing is worse than missing out on the food – and not just any food, but delicious bites.

Make sure food is available everywhere where people sit down to eat or drink during the party. This may mean rolling out some trays of finger foods or setting up drink stations throughout the venue or outdoors on the patio. People can enjoy their snacks while they talk with friends or family members.

Entertainment

Entertainment is the next best thing after food at a holiday party. Don’t let the last-minute rash for a venue skimp on it.

Provide entertainment during the party so people will want to stay long enough for songs and dancing as well as food and drink! Have someone play music on an iPod or portable speaker system so that everyone can listen

Wondering where to hold your holiday party at the last minute? Talk to us at Villa Ragusa. There are spots on the calendar still available at discounted rates.

Big Savings with Our Banquet Hall Deals

Big Savings with Our Banquet Hall Deals

Cultivating a savings habit is critical for the financial success of individuals and businesses. As an entrepreneur, fishing for deals and opportunities for savings is vital wisdom.

We’ll help you save.

Villa Ragusa offers special rates for events booked midweek or during slow times of the year. It’s an excellent opportunity to save hundreds of dollars – could making savings for your business be this easier?

How the Banquet Hall Deals Benefit Your Business

Banquet halls are sometimes the bee’s knees for small businesses because they provide a space for the company to hold meetings, training, and other events.

The business connects with its customers and employees more personally, which can lead to better relationships and more sales. Banquet halls offer an excellent opportunity for small businesses to network with other companies.

By taking advantage of banquet hall deals, small businesses can save money on meeting space while still getting all the benefits of using a banquet hall.

The savings then add up to the bottom line.

Businesses can save money on meeting space, food, and other expenses by taking advantage of these deals. This can help the company keep its costs down and improve its profit margins.

Typically, the banquet hall deals benefits extend to the stakeholders. The business can show its customers and employees that it is committed to providing a high-quality experience. A better relationship with the customers and employees has a ripple effect throughout the organization.

Book a Premium Banquet Hall and Saving

Our special rates for events booked midweek or during slow times of the year are excellent opportunities you can leverage to impress your customers and employees. It also helps make savings that can add up to the benefit of your organization. It’s the little things that matter the most. Ask our event coordinator about discounted days near your ideal booking dates.

Creating Forever Memories with a Retirement Party

Creating Forever Memories with a Retirement Party

Retirement is a once-in-a-lifetime event, a milestone and worth a party of its own. It is a cross between a longing for the work-life and the sweet nostalgia the retirees are moving from. It, therefore, makes sense to mix things up between testimonies of commitment to a career and fun.

The focus should be on the retiree; they should have much fun and feel appreciated. It should be an event to cherish for ages.

Here are pointers to creating the most memorable retirement party.

Research is King

You’ll want to research everything about the retiree so that the party is about them. Who are their best friends, food items, accomplishments, people they’ve helped along the way, and the theme? For the theme, ask about their favorite activity and use it.

There are people the retiree wouldn’t want to miss the event, and others they don’t fancy attending. Honor their wishes.

Work out the seating arrangement so that only agreeable people sit close to each other. You wouldn’t want feuding parties sitting together, and affecting the event’s mood.

Food and Drinks

Good quality food, events, and memories go hand in hand. Choose the food and drinks the celebrant loves and other classic entrees like what we offer. Consider food restrictions, intolerances, allergies, and preferred diet.

Pick the Right Venue

You want a venue that shows respect for the celebrant – something classy like Villa Ragusa, with the attraction of European architecture, mahogany bars, and sufficient space for various activities.

The venue rentals’ inclusions are a vital part of a successful event. For example, our serving staff and catering department are up to the task, and our experienced events manager is at your disposal. You’re free to use an outside caterer if you choose. Contact us today to book your space and discuss caterer requirements.

Planning a Class Reunion? Here’s What to Keep in Mind

Planning a Class Reunion? Here’s What to Keep in Mind

So you have a high school reunion coming up, and you’re thinking of the good times everyone will have catching up. School reunions reminisce about the times when the perspectives on life were hilarious, create opportunities of learning what everyone is up to, and maybe leveraging the benefits of networking.

Whatever the case, creating the ideal environment for the reunion is vital. So, what does that take?

Early Planning

The event will have hundreds of former classmates, and bringing them together is no walk in the park. It’s not a week’s work.

Start arrangements at least a year in advance to track your classmate, send the invites and secure a fitting venue. Social media is invaluable in tracking down classmates. For example, create a Facebook group and encourage members to add other classmates.

Select the Right Venue

The pick of venue can make or break the reunion. Therefore, make the right choice the first time round. Typically, an event venue with crowd-pleasing aesthetics, such as the charm of European architecture, natural woodwork, and a balcony wrap-around would be excellent.

In addition to the aesthetics and amenities, Villa Ragusa has a capacity of up to 650 people, which may be more than enough for the purpose. We allow outside catering for those who want to replicate the high school menu.

Choose Right the Activities

The theme of the reunion should be from the year of graduation. If it was in the 90s, the 90s music or the movies would be an excellent center of focus. Choose the best couple, other activities that were a hit at the time, and stories that remind you of your fun.

Avoid anything too embarrassing for particular individuals. You don’t want anything that’ll force anyone to go on a defensive or dampen the mood of the reunion event. While the idea is to have fun, it shouldn’t be at the expense of particular people.

An open bar is handy for people who struggle to sit through the reunion and relive their high school memories. Our mahogany beverage bars are stocked with your favorite drinks that keep the fun going. Talk to our event organizers today to get your high school reunion underway.

The Benefits of Villa Ragusa Event Space for Event Planners

The Benefits of Villa Ragusa Event Space for Event Planners

As an event planner, you must look for new and innovative venues to host your events. Our event space offers a unique and memorable backdrop for any occasion. Plus, our experienced team will work with you to ensure your event is successful.

Size of the Event Space

You can’t very well have a big party in a tiny space – unless you want your guests to be cramped and uncomfortable. But who wants that? Nobody, that’s who!

Determine how many people you plan to invite, and once you have the number, you can start looking for an event space that will comfortably accommodate all of your guests. And trust me, it’s worth taking the time to find the right size Venue.

Because there’s nothing worse than an overcrowded room – except maybe an empty one. Villa Ragusa gets you sufficient space for a crowd of 650 people, and that’s often more than you need.

Ambiance

The term “ambiance” can be challenging to define, but we all know it when we feel it. Whether planning a small dinner party or a large corporate event, the right atmosphere is essential for creating a memorable experience.

A converted warehouse might be perfect for an edgy fashion show, but it probably wouldn’t be ideal for a gala fundraiser. Likewise, an elegantly appointed ballroom might be just the thing for a black-tie affair, but it would be out of place at an outdoor concert. The key is to choose a space that complements the tone of your event.

Services and Amenities

When planning an event, you must ensure that the venue you choose has the right services and amenities to make your event a success. After all, you don’t want your guests to be left without a place to sit or not have enough outlets to charge their phones. And food and drink are essential for any event, so you’ll need to ensure a catering kitchen on-site.

Of course, if you’re planning a truly unforgettable event, you’ll want to choose a venue with all the bells and whistles, like a dance floor, state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment, and an in-house event planner. Whatever your needs, Villa Ragusa has the services and amenities you need to make your event a success.

Must-Haves for Not-for-Profit Fundraising Events

Must-Haves for Not-for-Profit Fundraising Events

Unlike other events, fundraisers can easily be underwhelming, mainly because it involves asking for money from well-wishers. So, what do you do to get the most out of them?

Make the Events Fun

There are many ways to make a fundraising event enjoyable while still maintaining its purpose: raising funds for a cause. For instance, you could have a themed dress code or host games with prizes to be won.

Adding an element of fun to the event would not only make it more memorable for the attendees but also encourage them to come back for future events. Furthermore, it has been proven that people are more likely to donate money when happy.

Engaging Activities or Speakers

Why should your not-for-profit have an engaging activity or speaker at your fundraising event? Because otherwise, people might, you know, get bored. And then they won’t want to give you money. And that would be terrible, right?

Seriously, a good activity or speaker can liven up a fundraising event and make it more enjoyable for everyone involved. Plus, it’s a great way to get folks talking and networking with each other.

And when people are having fun, they’re more likely to loosen their purse strings and show some support for your cause. So if you’re looking to raise some serious cash at your next fundraiser, make sure you’ve got something fun and engaging planned!

Variety

Not-for-profit organizations often find themselves in a bit of a bind when it comes to fundraising. On the one hand, they need to raise money to support their cause; on the other hand, they don’t want to alienate potential donors with too much begging. Often, the solution is to hold various fundraising events throughout the year.

This way, there’s something for everyone. For example, a gala dinner might appeal to more traditional donors, while a fun run or Walk-a-thon could attract younger supporters.