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The holiday event planning season is upon us! From family gatherings to company parties, schedules can get crowded and complicated. Follow these pieces of advice to whip your event planning skills into shape.
MUST-DOS: When & Where
Determine date & time.
Most organizations schedule holiday parties during the second week (33%) or third week of December (28%). Holiday parties are less common during the first week of December. Fridays are generally the most common day of the week for holiday parties (50%), with Saturdays (16%) and Thursdays (15%) following.
Luncheons are generally the most common type of company holiday party (51%), and evening parties are the second most common (38%). The type of holiday party can affect the date you select. For example, evening parties are often hosted on Saturdays nights (83%) while luncheon parties are most commonly hosted on weekdays. Also, luncheons tend to be a budget-friendly alternative for holiday parties, while evening parties tend to be more costly.
Determine venue & caterer.
Since the main event at most holiday parties is probably the food, catering is a popular attraction to attendees! In fact, 74% of organizations that host holiday parties (74%) use a caterer.
Organizations use a wide range of local venues for their holiday parties. These venues most commonly include country clubs, restaurants, and hotels.
About one-third (36%) of employers still host their holiday party on company premises. Some employers select venues that incorporate some sort of recreational activity or entertainment into the party as well.
MAKE IT SPECIAL: Entertainment & Acknowledgement
Add Appreciation. Apart from being generally festive, holiday parties can be a great opportunity to show appreciation to your employees for their hard work throughout the year. It’s important to recognize the successes of your staff as a whole and communicate how much you appreciate their efforts. Some organizations also incorporate annual recognition and rewards of employees or teams into their holiday parties.
Add Enjoyment. In addition to presenting delicious food, some employers provide entertainment during the party (21%) or raffle off larger ticket “gifts” such as electronics or larger sums of cash to add to the festivities.
Whether your budget is big or small, it’s the meaning behind the holiday party that matters. You want employees to leave feeling appreciated and with a sense of pride in the accomplishments of the organization and each other throughout the year.
Source: https://www.yourerc.com/blog