A couple of weeks ago, Jeffrey (a friend of mine… real name used to harm the guilty) sent out an email trying to organise a Halloween drinking party. Due to the lack of persistence to get everyone to reply the email… the whole idea fizzled out and the gang split up and attended other private parties. This sounds familiar right? Every so often you try and roundup the gang to do something together but due to a lack of a driving force, unifying factor or a catalyst, you end up staying home on a Saturday night watching old DVDs… or worst, sleeping early… WITHOUT alcohol! Saturday night gone down the drain!
Which brings me to my topic… an early Valentine’s Day. First things first, I’d like to make known my opinion that Valentine’s Day… is Valentine’s Day only because we (or the public at large) agree for whatever reason that the 14th of February of every year deserves special treatment. If we didn’t support it, the 14th would be like any other day… and all commercial promotions would cease and there would be no Valentine’s Day. Collectively we make it a day of soft toys, cards, chocolates, sex, flowers, competition (to outdo the next couple) and romance which normally peaks during dinner at a restaurant. Anyway, back to the topic… Dina from Dubrovnik asked a very interesting question recently.
“We need an opinion…..Next year Valentine’s Day falls on the first day of Chinese New Year. Do you think it would be better to organise a Valentine’s Day celebration on a different day? (few days before or few days later)”
Romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner
This question is huge! It has dollars and cents tied to it for restaurateurs. Every year, occasions like Valentine’s Day is a sure bet for restaurants. Next year however… might be very different as it falls on the first day of Chinese New Year. People will be out of town (some for 2 weeks)… many Chinese owned restaurants will closed… a great loss of potential revenue. That said, I think this question is much bigger than just one restaurant deciding when to do Valentine’s Day… because as mentioned previously, it is the collective energy and buzz that we give it which makes it Valentine’s Day. If every restaurant decided on their own promotions on different dates… it just won’t be the same. Some might do promos for the week before Chinese New Year, others a week after… I mean who knows what the variations will be like. The Valentine’s Day meaning will be lost… because it will be spread over a few weeks. Imagine the consequences… wedding proposals will be held off, soft toys will be sitting on shelves with no new home… condoms drying up!!! Ooooh what a catastrophe!
So here is what I am proposing (hoping to play the role of the driving force and unifying factor)… for the love of the F&B industry and all other vendors that wanna ride the occasion… jointly promote Valentine’s Day on the 12th of February (Friday). Jointly promote it as together we all stand to gain from the collective energy. 12th feels like the best possible option. A week earlier and it feels too soon… a week later and it feels too delayed. Dubrovnik at Solaris Mont Kiara is most likely going with the 12th.
I do love the mood at Dubrovnik
So restaurateurs… what say you guys?
…and boys and girls… don’t lose out on that lovin’ feelin’… remember to book your tables at theQguides.com …. the last thing you want is to be turned away because the restaurant is full. I hear Dubrovnik is gonna do a really awesome celebration… so keep an eye out for updates on their Facebook page.
Note: Images were provided by Dubrovnik.
oo.. i like the way ur mind works! but erm, i think most chinese restaurants will promote both CNY and Vals day.. like a joint celebration.. prices might still go up, even more hor?
having said that .. we (c&c) do not celebrate Vals day.. mwuahahaha
I think most guys would be happy…cos they don’t have to spend a bomb on V-day. They will most probably come up with the excuse, “but it’s also CNY ma…how to celebrate?” T_____T
i have to say….make every day a valentine’s day
what’s this lah. everyday’s valentine’s day. Me romeo munkey. Not rodeo munkey ok!
How about valentine’s month? It happens to silly things like Secretary’s week which ends up being a month long celebration and they’re all sold out.
From the restaurateurs’ point of view, of course Feb 12 makes sense la since it’s twice the revenue. The question is whether or not Malaysian commercial establishments can get together and promote that as the day to celebrate. And how are we going to get the message across to the people on the other end of the stalk of rose – the loverboys and girls? You’ll have to start campaigning now, young Frat. So what’s the game plan now?
No one to celebrate V-day with so no comment! Haha…
Hmmm. But I think it really depends on the restaurant – not many people would celebrate V-day at (let’s say) a place like King Crab or conversely celebrate CNY in a place like Bruno’s, right?
valentine’s day is my grandmother’s death anniversary.
me personally, detest all forms of commercialisation of public displays of affection. i should start a DEATH TO V DAY on facebook…. ptoooi.
I’m sure some heart broken prepubescent kid has already created a page… save your strength for more important things in life… like heavy drinking… get your priorities sorted man!