As the holidays come around, it’s time for celebrations, including the office holiday party. If you’ve been assigned the task of planning a holiday party, you might not know where to begin. This guide will advise how to plan a company holiday party, so you can easily curate an event.

Company holiday parties are an excellent way for employees to bond and feel appreciated during the holiday season. These company holiday party events are a way to recognize employees’ hard work throughout the year by providing a fun environment filled with drinks, delicious food, and activities (like a gift exchange).

Continue reading to learn more about how to plan a company holiday party.

 

Why Should You Plan a Corporate Holiday Party?

If your company is on the fence about planning a holiday party for the employees, it’s essential to consider the following. These points will offer benefits for companies that hold corporate holiday parties

 

1 Holiday parties help employees build relationships
These relationships are between coworkers and those with higher positions, such as management. Employees and managers can learn about each other on a human level in a more relaxed environment. This way, employees feel seen as individuals. Plus, holiday events can help create a positive company culture.

 

2 It provides a more personal method of employee recognition
Employees will appreciate gifts and bonuses during the holiday. However, adding a holiday event to the calendar will also make employees feel more appreciated. Taking the extra step to plan a special event shows that the employees are cared for, especially if awards are also presented. These awards can recognize employees for specific characteristics or accomplished tasks.

 

How to Plan a Company Holiday Party

Now that you’re decided on crafting a party for the employees, it’s essential to work through the steps to plan a company holiday party. This holiday party checklist will aid in curating a party that the employees will want to attend.

 

Select a Date

The first step in planning a corporate holiday party is determining the date that works for most employees. It’s important to note that most employees’ holiday plans will be different and fall on different days. So, there is a likelihood that not all employees will be able to attend the annual company holiday party. To ensure as many employees can make it to the party as possible, you can send an email inquiring about the best date for everyone.

Once you have received responses, select the date that works for the most amount of employees. Ideally, you’ll be planning the activity at least a few months in advance to allow attendees to make arrangements to get to the event. Planning further in advance will also ensure that more people can attend.

 

Plan the Budget

Now that you have the date set, the second step is planning out the budget. Consider the cost of every party aspect, from food to drinks, entertainment, activities, gifts, venue, and more. Even with a smaller budget, there’s a way to plan an event that employees will love.

You can rank the party priorities if you’re unsure where to allocate your budget. For example, food is a large priority, so you’ll likely want to put that option at the top. Once you have your priorities ranked, you can allocate percentages of the budget based on your priorities.

 

Decide on the Type of Party

There are many different types of corporate parties that you can host for employees ranging from half-day parties to after-hours events, virtual holiday party events, activity-centric options, and more. Below are some types of parties you can plan.

 

After Hours Party

These are common for holiday parties for a few different reasons. Typically, an after-hours gathering consists of going to a local restaurant or bar to enjoy the celebration. This event requires less planning as you don’t have to figure out entertainment, transportation, etc. However, since it’s outside of work hours, not every employee will be able to attend.

 

At Work Party

If you’d like to ensure more employees can make the party, consider hosting it during normal work hours. For example, you can schedule activities and food for the second half of the day and relieve the employees from their regular duties. In this case, nearly all employees will attend with some exceptions.

More planning is required for this type of party. However, it helps boost morale as the employees get a few extra hours without the stress of their daily tasks.

 

 

Corporate Party Package

Corporate party packages are a great way to create corporate events if you’re short on time and want to host a memorable get-together. These events can occur in the form of a venue providing food, drinks, entertainment, etc.

These events can be in alternative venues, such as on a yacht, for an even more special experience. For example, if you’re searching for a New York corporate event on the water, you can opt for a yacht that holds anywhere from 120 to 1,000 people. The only planning you’ll need to do for an event like this is deciding on the date. Also be sure to check out other destinations such as:

• Philadelphia Corporate Events
• Boston Corporate Events
• San Francisco Corporate Events
• Long Beach Corporate Events
• Marina del Rey Corporate Events
• Newport Beach Corporate Events
• Chicago Corporate Events
• Washington DC Corporate Events
• San Diego Corporate Events

 

Create and Send Invitations

Sending invitations is another important step in the process. Once you’ve determined the type of party, budget, and date, you can create the invitations. If you’d like, you can provide employees with a physical invitation. However, a digital invite is also sufficient.

 

 

Choose a Location

You can select a final location based on your budgetary needs, whether a nearby restaurant, the office, or a yacht. Consider choosing a location 30 minutes or less from the office, making it easier for employees to get to a closer corporate party location.

 

Select the Food, Drinks, and Entertainment

Opt for food and drinks that most people will enjoy when considering how to plan a company holiday party. Or offer them the option of selecting their meals ahead of time.
As for entertainment, it’s necessary to choose between options like board games or a DJ.
The type of party will help dictate which type of entertainment is appropriate and even help you come up with holiday party ideas.

 

Finalize Arrangements

Once the selections are made, you can finalize the arrangements for the perfect company holiday party. Book the venue, catering company (or make restaurant reservations), and start putting together the employee gifts. It’s time to let your employees shine at an unforgettable company holiday party!