Key hospitality dates for Q4
So whether you build a whole event around World Food Day, or you just use Stress Awareness Day as a reason to post on social media, here’s our guide to the key dates for retail and hospitality in Q4 2024.
October key dates for hospitality
LGBTQ+ History Month (US)
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Book Month (US, UK)
5th October – World Teacher’s Day
10th October – World Mental Health Day
14th October – Indigenous People’s Day
16th October – World Food Day
24th October – United Nations Day
27th October – British Summertime ends
31st October – Halloween
31st October – Diwali
With people already buying their Halloween outfits, and putting up home decorations, there’s no time like the present to plan your own big night, fix up your site with some spooky features and pack your house out for the Halloween holiday.
Halloween is far from the only highlight of the month, though. 16th October is World Food Day, a brilliant opportunity for your caterers to explore the cuisines of the wider world, and surprise your guests with something special.
Other October offerings include World Teacher’s Day (5th), World Mental Health Day (10th), and it’s also National Book Month in both the US and UK.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month also arrives in October, with Wear it Pink Day on the 21st. This is an important cause to huge portions of the community, and getting your business involved is a fantastic way to boost local engagement while working with your customers for a good cause.
November key dates
Movember
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
5th November – Bonfire Night
6th November – Stress Awareness Day
10th November – Remembrance Sunday (UK)
11th November – Veterans Day (US)
13th November – Roast Dinner Day
14th November – King’s Birthday (UK)
19th November – Entrepreneurs Day
21st November – Beaujolais Nouveau
28th November – Thanksgiving (US)
29th November – Black Friday
30h November – St Andrew’s Day
Towards the end of November, Black Friday sends shoppers cash crazy as they go out (and online) searching for savings on presents for themselves, their family, and their friends. But with so many people out and about, it’s a great opportunity for the hospitality industry, too, so be ready to take advantage of a day when everybody spends big!
As with World Food Day in October, Roast Dinner Day (13th) is a dedicated food day, though for a dish most people are familiar with. Celebrate the mighty Roast by packing your fridges with all the favourites, and spice up the conversation by asking your customers what they think the perfect roast should look like and watch the lively debate take over the tables!
Beyond these, November has plenty to offer, from Bonfire Night (5th) to King Charles’ birthday in the UK (14th) to St. Andrew’s Day (30th) not to mention Thanksgiving (28th). These provide ample opportunity to celebrate and to get your seasonal staff ready for the Christmas rush still to come.
Remembrance Sunday in the UK (10th) and Veterans Day in the States (11th) are important dates for both nations, honouring the sacrifices made by their armed forces. Promotions and discounts for veterans and serving soldiers, or a social media post or poster in your window, are fantastic ways to show your support, though there are plenty of other ways you can get involved.
December key dates
Decembeard
National Write a Business Plan Month
Month of Giving
1st December – Advent begins
2nd December – Cyber Monday
3rd December – National Day of Giving
9th December – Green Monday
11th December – UNICEF Day For Change
24th December – Christmas Eve
25th December – Christmas Day
26th December – Boxing Day
27th December – Leftovers Day
31st December – Hogmanay/New Year’s Eve
With Christmas looming, December is hectic enough, even before you consider other key dates. Cyber Monday arrives right at the start of the month, following Black Friday. Online retailers should also keep a close eye on Green Monday – another busy ecommerce day.
Charitable and community-minded dates in December include the National Day of Giving in the US (3rd), followed by the UNICEF Day for Change (11th).
Then, after Christmas it’s New Year! Managing your stock and keeping on top of the queues at the bar will be a challenge, but these are the days the hospitality business lives for, so dream big and market your New Year’s event far and wide. Then rest easy as you’ll be signing off your 2024 with a bang!
