Company Holiday Party Ideas

Are you in charge of planning your company's holiday party this year? Here are some tips and suggestions to help you plan an event that everyone is certain to enjoy.

Scheduling Considerations

When planning a company holiday party, you'll need to carefully consider scheduling options. December is a particularly busy month for many people; if you schedule a weekend or evening event during the peak of the holiday season, you may find that your employees already have other plans by the time the event is announced. Scheduling conflicts are less of a concern for daytime events held during the workweek.

Invite everyone to the holiday party early!

To avoid scheduling conflicts or holiday celebration burnout, consider scheduling your party in late November or early December - or even waiting until the beginning of January to host the event as a kick off for the new year. Alternately, provide "save the date" announcements to your employees six to eight weeks in advance so they can be sure to mark off the time on their calendars.

Company Party Venues

Figuring out the right venue to host the company holiday party is one of the most important things to consider. Use your budget and expected attendance as a guideline when considering options. Places tend to book early and fast during the holiday season, so getting a place secured as soon as possible is important. The best places may book as early as September - particularly if you want to hold your event on a weekend during December - so plan accordingly.

Banquet Halls

Companies with over one hundred employees may find that renting a banquet hall is the best option for a gathering regardless of the time of day the event is scheduled. Hotels, convention centers and independent special event venues have halls available for reservation, often seating anywhere from fifty to five hundred people at a time.

Banquet and restaurant facilities may include decor.

Note that banquet halls may require you to use their catering services and charge a minimum amount of money, no matter the head count. However, they often have large spaces available, a diverse menu, and take care of clean-up themselves.

Restaurant Rental Rooms

Small to medium sized companies can use rental rooms at restaurants. This creates a more casual atmosphere and offers people a chance to mingle more intimately. Restaurant rooms are perfect for buffet-style meals or for offering sit-down dinners. This option can be appropriate for breakfast, lunch or dinner celebrations.

Consider offering a limited menu to expedite serving speed if you choose this often. Choose a restaurant in a convenient location where ample parking is available.

Company Facilities

Planning a party with a tight budget may require you to use a meeting room in your company's building, as doing so can free up money for other parts of the holiday party. If you plan to hold a lunchtime celebration or a party at the end of the workday, using your own facility may be a good idea.

It's important to consider, however, that this may not be the best option for evening parties.Attendance may be down at parties held in your company building, as people may be ready to go home and stay away from the office once the workday is through. It also may keep people from getting to know each other, as they may feel more formal while still at the workplace.

Company Holiday Party Ideas for Food

Planning your holiday food menu for a company is an important task. If the food is not good, people will leave early and the money spent will be wasted. Be sure to have tasting sessions in order to choose the best items.

The time of day your party is held will factor into the kind of food you serve. A party held right after work may simply be cocktails and appetizers, while an evening affair should offer more hearty dishes.

A diverse menu is best. A formal sit-down dinner is nice, but not always in budget. Therefore, consider these alternatives:

Buffet style family dishes, like pot roast and chicken
International foods buffet, with Chinese, Mexican, Thai, and American dishes
Cocktails and appetizers
Dessert buffets

Companies located in warmer parts of the country during the Christmas holiday season may opt to have their party at a local park or outdoors. Making the party a family potluck picnic helps keep costs low and assures a wide variety of foods. The company could provide meat, condiments, and drinks.

Details Matter

Because the company holiday party ideas you come up with may reflect on your position within the company, you want to be sure to have the details worked out beforehand. Even if party planning duties are not part of your job description, you want to make a good impression on your bosses and co-workers when planning this party.

Entertainment

Incorporate a theme into your party!

Entertainment is one such detail that should not be ignored when it comes to the party. A live band or DJ can provide great adult party entertainment for employees and their significant others. Magicians and comics can provide more informal entertainment at parties where the whole family is invited. Get recommendations and check references before booking, and double check your reservations the week before the party.

Decorations

Decorations can be as simple or as extravagant as you wish. If you want to decorate the space yourself, be sure to give yourself plenty of time. Simple icicle lights lining the room with garland around doorways, and holiday bows around chair backs can create a festive mood without going over the top.

Rented halls can sometimes provide decorations. Be sure to find out if they are included in the price, or what the cost of having them set up and take down rental pieces would be. This can save you time during an otherwise busy season.

Christmas Gift Exchange

Companies often use the holiday party as a time to exchange final "secret Santa" gifts for those who chose to participate. Additionally, the boss may choose to hand out bonuses or employee gifts at this time. If so, the staff may want to present their boss with their present at this time.

Important Employee Appreciation Event

Planning the corporation's holiday party is an important task, as the event is a great way to demonstrate that employees are truly appreciated and to build camaraderie among co-workers. Think of the party as a big "thank-you" to everyone who has spent the last year working at your company and plan accordingly.