Planning a corporate holiday part is exciting. It’s the time of year when the whole team gets together to celebrate achievements and build company culture. However, it can be challenging to put together an event that really wows. With the holiday season just around the corner, it’s crucial to start organizing so you can put on a seamless, enjoyable event for all attendees.
Start Early
Ideally, you should start planning for a corporate holiday event at least three or four months before the month of the event. This will give you enough time to iron out all the important details like choosing a theme, finding a venue, and booking a caterer and entertainment. Plus, you’ll need ample time to design and send invitations and give employees time to figure out their schedules or arrange childcare. The sooner you start this process, the less stressful it will be.
Define Your Goals and Budget
Early on, you’ll want to determine what the goals of the party are. Will this event celebrate company and employee accomplishments, have team-building opportunities or is it just about having fun? This is also the time to develop a vision for the gathering. How do you want this event to look? Is there a theme, and if so, what do you need to incorporate it? Knowing the goal, theme and budget will help you narrow down venues, catering, entertainment and decorations.
Choose a Date and Time
Between personal and work obligations, selecting a date around the holidays is always going to be a little tricky. Having your event occur before or after the holidays can help ensure greater attendance. For example, some companies choose to have a holiday party within the first two weeks of January (rather than in December) to book in-demand venues and give attendees time to enjoy their holidays without fitting in a work event. No matter when you plan on hosting a holiday party, be sure to send out invitations a month to a month and a half in advance and have attendees register their responses quickly so you can finalize numbers and menus.
Select an Appropriate Venue
When choosing a venue, size and style should be at the top of the list. Not only does the venue need to comfortably fit a full guest list but it also should match your desired atmosphere, whether that’s formal, casual or themed. The venue should also be easily accessible for all attendees, either with plenty of parking or close to public transportation.
The Powerhouse, located just outside downtown Buffalo, is a 22,000 sq. ft. multi-purpose contemporary event space. This reclaimed building features stunning original masonry, large arched windows, tall ceilings and a large open floor plan, creating a flexible space that can be decorated to fit your exact theme or vision. The Powerhouse also has outdoor amenities and rooftop access, weather permitting.
Book Entertainment
A party wouldn’t be complete without some fun. Some corporate holiday party ideas might include a photo booth, game station, live band, DJ or performers to add excitement and keep guests engaged. Ideally, your entertainment should complement your theme in some way, though you can go outside the box if you want to bring an element of surprise to the event.
Have Good Food and Drinks
A corporate holiday event should have a variety of food and dining options that leave every guest feeling satisfied, no matter their dietary needs. This means it’s a good idea to have alternative options for vegetarians, vegans and those who are gluten or dairy intolerant. Have your guests list their dietary restrictions on their RSVPs so you can confirm food needs with your caterer. It’s also a nice touch to create festive signature cocktails or mocktails or add in a dessert station that allows guests to create their own treats. If you opt for The Powerhouse, you can count on Rich’s Catering and Special Events to help take care of everything for your event. Rich’s Catering carefully crafts custom menus to suit the exact needs of every client for an exceptional experience.