Long-term sustainability for a venue is always the goal for both owners and management alike, and keeping a property in tip-top shape for each event is what keeps the profits rolling in. You want to make sure that the space looks just as fresh and updated as the last event, and it’s important to stay on top of site repairs and upkeep.
Walk the property
Getting into a habit of walking the property regularly (even daily) is the key to keeping the details in-check. Outline a checklist of what to look out for – scuffs on walls, peeling paint, fingerprints on glass surfaces, plants or flowers that need watering or trimming, etc. Doing so will always have your event space ready for a client walkthrough, and this eliminates the need for a deep-clean beforehand as well as removing any risk of looking unprofessional.
Whether in the off-season or during busy season, there are some site repairs and updates that can’t afford to be rushed or put off until a later date. If the repairs can’t be finished within a few spare hours, schedule them to be finished on non-event days. Utilize weekdays as much as you can and avoid maintenance on event days.
Photo courtesy Ken Kienow Photography - http://www.kenkienow.com/
Keep a master to-do list
It should be noted that your master to-do list will look a little different than just a routine checklist. This is reserved for issues that pop up that aren’t necessarily of large priority at the moment, but ones that could cause issues down the line, however minor or major.
Post the list and keep it collaborative for the venue’s team, that way everyone can bring their concerns to your attention. For example, those that work in the kitchen may come across issues that you wouldn’t normally encounter as an owner or part of the management team. This way, you can monitor concerns as a team, everyone knows that their issues are being addressed, and you can sort the repairs by priority.
NCO days
We like to refer to our Neat, Clean, and Orderly days as NCO days. At least once a month, we involve the whole team in deep-cleaning the venue and overall restoring the property back to its spotless state from the month before. Doing so helps remove any built-up grime that’s accumulated from recent events and we have a fresh start on the month ahead. Not only will your venue be event-ready for the following weekend, but it’ll make your property much easier to maintain.
Keeping your venue sustainable requires a lot of love, attention to detail, and patience, but receiving feedback from clients on having such a well-kept event space is worth the effort! You’ll save more money in the long run by practicing good upkeep, and you’ll extend the overall life of your property.
