10/02/2022
It is that time of year again. We need to start talking about hosting Holiday Parties.
Here are some great tips for hosting a Corporate Holiday Party at R'z Venues.
Book today to get your event scheduled! Dates do fill up fast!
BASICS FOR YOU HOLIDAY COMPANY PARTY
Of course, like any other event or project, you need to create a project plan that identifies the event details for the employee holiday party. Theme, venue, time, date, guest count, food and beverage selections, decor, and event agenda must all be considered before you begin to execute your event.
CHOOSE A DATE AND TIME
Unfortunately, not everyone may have the opportunity to participate in the event because other commitments or business obligations.
You may choose to host the event over a long lunch hour, or have a more formal evening event, you'll have to consider which is best. While some may think that Friday is the top choice because most employees will be off for the weekend, it's also the most popular day of the week at restaurants and other venues. Take time to book in advance to make sure your party is accommodated properly. Few organizations will want to consider Sunday evening, so it seems the next best option may be Monday night, as it's usually the slowest night at restaurants.
HOST A LITTLE OUT OF SEASON
Instead of defaulting to the annual Christmas or Thanksgiving party, why not consider hosting an event that's specifically for employee appreciation, when nothing else is clogging up the office calendar?
October and late January are great times to hold an annual appreciation party.
CHOOSE A PLANNING TEAM
The quality of your planning team will directly correlate with the caliber of your event. It's important to find the right team and select members that are skilled in making a memorable get-together.
A smaller group of individuals will likely make the planning more expedient and cost-effective, but many organizations involve a large committee of individuals so that more employees' voices are represented in the planning the event. Since party planning will take time away from members' regular work responsibilities, it's probably best to create the smallest possible team that's still representative of your company overall.
No matter the size, you should select individuals for their ability to positively influence other employees. An appointment to the planning team can also be used as a reward or incentive. The organization's event planner should work with an empowered leader in human resources or marketing—someone authorized to approve the plan—to help drive these decisions and choose the best members of the team.
CREATE A MENU
When it comes to choosing what to feed your employees during your holiday party.
Of course, your menu needs to reinforce the theme of your event, and you should try to choose items that incorporate your event colors or brand, but that doesn't mean you need to rent expensive holiday linens and other decor.
Selecting simple items for centerpieces and hosting at a venue that has standard holiday decorations are all excellent ways to create the perfect atmosphere.
ALCOHOL CONSUPTION AND LIMITS
For years now, organizations have been limiting the alcohol at holiday parties for a variety of reasons. This cap is one of the easier ways to control the budget, and it limits distraction from the message of the event.
Still, most employees don't want to attend a company party that doesn't feature some form of alcoholic beverage. For this reason, you want to narrow your booze selection or even create cheap signature cocktails to reduce costs and keep intoxication levels down.
You might also consider limiting the menu to only wine, closing the bar early, or offering drinks only during the meal to help cut costs further and limit the risk of employees getting too rowdy at a company event. In any case, you should definitely check your insurance policy to make sure you're covered if any issues arise from alcohol consumption.
PROPER ETIQUETTE
The best advice for everyone who attends a holiday party is to make sure you remember etiquette for arriving and making others feel comfortable. But it's also a good idea to lay out any specific ground rules in an office-wide memo beforehand.
Etiquette mistakes to avoid at the holiday party include avoiding excessive drinking, eating, complaining, arriving too early or leaving too late, wearing improper attire, and bringing excessive guests—all of which can not only impact others' experiences at the event but also company costs.
Although an annual company holiday party is meant to bring the team together and lower inhibitions around the workplace, remind your guests that they still represent the company even when attending this after-work event, and are therefore expected to behave in a manner suitable for the workplace.
DONATE TO A CAUSE
Food, clothing, and toy drives are part of the culture in many organizations, and some even encourage cash donation drives. Still, consider whether your company-wide employee appreciation party is the right venue for a fundraising opportunity.
While it’s very useful to highlight a particular cause for the Christmas party, it may be helpful for the organization to encourage only non-cash gifts and in-kind donations that may benefit the charity being supported. This way, everyone is allowed the option to offer a gift at a value that fits their own personal budgets.