New Year, New Valet Team? How to Decide If It’s Time to Upgrade Your Valet Service

The new year is when many venues hit reset. Menus change, décor gets refreshed, calendars fill with new events, and teams take a hard look at what worked—and what didn’t—over the past season. One area that often gets overlooked in this review is valet parking, even though it’s the very first and last part of your guest experience.

If your valet team isn’t performing at a high level, it quietly erodes your brand, frustrates guests, and creates problems that show up later in reviews, referrals, and revenue. So as you plan for the year ahead, it’s worth asking the question: New year, new valet team?

1. Did Guests Complain About Parking Last Year?

Start with the most honest source of feedback you have: your guests. Look back at:

Online reviews mentioning valet, parking, or arrival experience
Wedding or event surveys with comments about parking
Emails and phone calls from clients or planners

If you notice recurring themes like “long wait,” “rude valet,” “confusing drop-off,” or “traffic was a mess,” those aren’t small issues. They are signals that your current provider may not be supporting your brand the way they should.

2. Was the Arrival Experience Organized—or Chaotic?

Think back to your busiest nights or biggest events. Did the valet team:

Control traffic flow at the entrance?
Stage cars efficiently instead of blocking your driveway or street?
Keep keys and tickets organized so cars were ready quickly?
Prevent bottlenecks at arrival and departure?

A strong valet operation brings order to the curb, not chaos. If you or your staff frequently had to step in, direct cars, or calm frustrated guests, that’s a sign your valet provider may not have the systems or leadership to handle your volume.

3. Did the Valet Team Match Your Level of Hospitality?

Your servers, bartenders, and event staff are trained to greet guests warmly, stay professional under pressure, and reflect your brand’s voice. Your valet team should do the same.

Ask yourself:

Did attendants look sharp and professional?
Did they greet guests with eye contact and a friendly tone?
Did they seem rushed, distracted, or disinterested?

Guests don’t separate “the valet company” from “the venue.” To them, it’s all one experience. If your curbside impression doesn’t feel as polished as what happens inside, there’s a gap worth fixing this year.

4. Were There Any Safety or Trust Concerns?

Safety and trust are non-negotiable. Review the past year for:

Any vehicle damage that wasn’t handled professionally
Reckless driving or speeding in the lot or on nearby streets
Unclear insurance documentation from your provider
Guests feeling unsafe walking long distances at night

If you had even a few uncomfortable situations in these areas, the new year is the perfect time to upgrade to a valet partner that takes safety, training, and insurance seriously.

5. Did Your Current Provider Communicate Well?

A great valet partner doesn’t just show up—they stay in touch. Consider:

Did they confirm schedules and staffing in advance?
Were they reachable when you needed to make changes?
Did they show up on time and fully staffed for big events?
When issues came up, did they take responsibility and follow up?

If you spent too much time chasing answers, reminding them of details, or hoping they’d “pull it together,” you deserve better going into the new year.

6. Is Your Valet Team Helping or Hurting Your Reputation?

Your venue spends a lot of time and money creating memorable experiences inside—food, décor, music, service. Valet can either support that investment or quietly undermine it.

A great valet team:

Makes guests feel welcomed the second they arrive
Reduces stress, so people start the event in a good mood
Keeps neighbors, streets, and lots orderly and respectful
Turns parking—usually a hassle—into a positive surprise

If your current provider doesn’t deliver that kind of experience, “new year, new valet team” might be exactly the move that protects and strengthens your brand.

Start the Year With a Valet Partner You Can Trust

The beginning of the year is the best time to make a change. New contracts, new event bookings, and a fresh calendar give you the perfect chance to upgrade your valet experience before the next busy season hits.

MB&L Parking Solutions specializes in hospitality-first valet service for restaurants, catering halls, country clubs, private residences, and event venues. Our trained, uniformed attendants focus on professionalism, safety, and a smooth arrival experience that reflects well on your brand every single night.

Contact MB&L Parking Solutions:
Phone: (201) 414-1255
Email: info@mblparking.com
Click here to contact us online

Logan MoskovitzDecember 29, 2025