Planning a Corporate Holiday Party
By : Hilary Hart , Tradicao Brazilian Steakhouse
If you ’ re reading this and you haven ’ t scheduled your corporate holiday party yet , DON ’ T PANIC ! Yes , you are a little behind , but that ’ s okay . There are plenty of options available for you to host a successful holiday party !
At this point , reserving a private room at a restaurant is the simplest solution . They have the food , spirits , tables , chairs , linens , staff , and a lot of the time , holiday decorations . You only have to pick a date , provide a guest count , select a menu and show up for a stress free night of fun ! If you want to customize your room or add decor , most restaurants will allow this with a few restrictions such as no glitter or confetti .
Another option are event venues where food and drinks are catered in . This is a little more involved because you will need to ask what the venue provides . The less the venue offers , the more vendors you will have to work with and expenses may add up . Do they provide tables , chairs , linens and decorations ? Is there a kitchen for the caterer to use ? They may also have preferred vendors that you will be required to use . This may be great if the caterer serves the kind of food you like but , if not , ask if you may have your own caterer bring food and don ’ t forget to ask if there ’ s an additional charge for this . While an event venue gives you more customizable options , the costs can add up and so can the time it takes to plan and execute your event !
If an office party suits your needs , you may only need catering and a few decorations . Make sure you ask whether your caterer includes dinnerware , utensils , chafing dishes , beverages , dessert and additional tables , chairs and linens that you may need . Many of your favorite restaurants can provide catering or you may go for a potluck meal with guests bringing their favorite dishes .
To find the best restaurant / venue consider the following : Location : Is it central to guests or close to your business ? Is parking easy and free or is a valet service available ?
Date : The most desireable dates are the first two Fridays and Saturdays in December . To save money , consider a mid November date before rates increase for the busy holiday season .
Time : Evening is usually the most desirable but consider a lunch party . This can offer more available days and fit your budget better plus your employees do not need to use their personal time if scheduled on a weekday .
Food : You want the tastiest , highest quality food offered and plenty of it ! All you can eat options eliminate the stress of possibly running out of food . Many restaurants and caterers offer tastings so you can make sure your guests will enjoy .
Space : Make sure you have enough space ! Let the venue know if you plan to have casino tables , gift exchange , dance floor and DJ or a photo booth . You will also need to coordinate set ups and deliveries .
Bar Options : Most restaurants provide flexible drink options . The most popular being drink tickets . This helps minimize your company ’ s liability . Ask if you can get personalized drink tickets with your company logo !
Choose the best option for your guests , budget and situation . Just remember everyone is there to have a good time and enjoy themselves ! And , after all your hard work , you deserve to enjoy yourself too !!
MOMENTUM / October 2016 15