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It’s all about balancing business with personal, Mojica says. “Going out for drinks for the sake of being authentic might be too casual, while trust-falls, formal icebreakers and name badges might be too structured.” Selecting a vendor or activity that can help strike that balance, he continues, can allow your team to unplug from work and re-engage as people. This, in turn, creates a holiday party “your team will actually want to attend.”
To strike that balance on their own, businesses can add small elements of surprise to their corporate holiday events, like friendly competition, silly prizes and end-of-year awards designed with a humorous twist. “Consider something you would do for fun with friends, or something you would love to do with friends, but have never had the opportunity,” Mojica suggests for planning the perfect event. “Also, make sure your staff gets a chance to connect with people other than the ones they work with day-to-day.”
Interactive Atmosphere
Another important element to consider when planning corporate holiday events is atmosphere, says Lauren Hammond, communications director at LM Restaurant Group. There’s no better way to build atmosphere, she explains, than by making everything about the event interactive—including the food and drinks. “A great way to take a standard dinner party one step further is to make the food interactive,” adds Lesley Rottsolk, catering sales manager at LM Restaurant Group. “Having multiple stations where guests can customize their food helps get people out of chairs and mingling.”
Ideas for interactive food experiences can include a DIY s’mores station—which Rottsolk says is “incredibly popular” at a variety of events—or live action stations where chefs prepare custom food-to-order. Mariel Iverson, senior catering and events manager at Waldorf Astoria Chicago, suggests finding a way for guests to bring home interactive experiences as well. “Host a wine tasting with a pairing of appetizers during which guests can create a recipe book to bring home for the holidays,” she says. “Or plan reception stations with holiday-themed trivia in order to move on to the next station.”
Interactive vendors are another big success at corporate events, Iverson explains. “Photobooths are always a big hit,” she says. Businesses can even brand photo frames or backgrounds with their company logo. “They are fun for guests of any age to participate in together and create memories that will last long after the event is done.”
Adding Value
Since the holidays are a time to cherish and celebrate loved ones, Iverson suggests extending corporate event invites to employees’ families. “One of our beloved events is a breakfast with Santa, which resonates with our employees and conveys an understanding of the importance of family, especially during the holiday season,” she says. “We love to host events that encourage our employees to bring their families along, turning our hosted festivities into lifelong family memories.”
Being able to travel to a venue, Iverson continues, also helps employees feel that much more valued. “To be able to travel to a venue is an exciting treat for a corporate crowd,” she says. “Give employees the opportunity to get dressed up for an elegant holiday evening, bring along their significant other and go somewhere new for a memorable, out-of-the-norm experience. Plan an event away from the office or places of work.”
Still, bringing a little work into the picture doesn’t hurt. “Share enthusiasm for the year ahead by highlighting company initiatives and upcoming rollouts, while also celebrating milestones,” says Lorelei Kroulaidis, director of special events at Chicago History Museum. “When corporate holiday events demonstrate enthusiasm for what’s to come, it can be contagious. A combination of a unique atmosphere, engaging moments and memorable takeaways can keep employee morale up as you head into a new year.”
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