Corporate holiday parties come in all sizes and shapes, but there is a basic checklist of must-haves for every corporate holiday party. From there “the devil is in the details” as they say, and the result is diversely different: a Caribbean Christmas getaway, a traditional holiday village, a night out at the holiday theater, a sophisticated winter wonder dinner. So before you start ordering table coverings for your corporate holiday party, sit down and start going down the basic checklist of corporate holiday party must-haves—or hire a professional who can.
Purpose & Vision
We put this must-have first because this should be your first step, and a definite must, in planning a successful holiday party. Nail down your logistics: date, time, budget, expected attendance, guest list, primary guest demographic, schedule (for invitations, save the dates, RSVPs, etc.) and theme. You don’t have to get too “themey” during the process but you should give your party direction so your corporate gathering is not a mishmash affair.
Location
Apply the same concept to your corporate holiday party as you do to a real estate transaction: location, location, location. Try to avoid holding your corporate holiday party at your business—after all, that is where you and your employees are every other week of the year. Choose your venue carefully: based on expected attendance numbers, budget, location, holiday party vision, etc. If you feel lost trying to choose from all the choices, hire an event planner to narrow down your options.
Food
Food brings people to your party, and good food keeps them there. Research your options to make sure that your event cuisine is more than just budget-friendly. Keep the demographic of your guests and vision in mind as you make decisions about the appetizers and cuisine for your holiday party.
Entertainment
The right entertainment is vital to bringing your corporate holiday vision to life, and to enhancing your guests’ experience. Notice the catch here: the right entertainment. Not every entertainer is right for every crowd; the right entertainers can take a fabulous holiday party to the next level. The wrong entertainment act can tank even the best-planned event. If you need assistance selecting the right entertainers for your holiday party, hire an experienced entertainment agent for recommendations. An entertainment agent can set an entertainment schedule for your holiday party and finalize all the details of your holiday party entertainment.
Atmosphere
Atmosphere is a must-have for every event, and one of the hardest objectives on the holiday party checklist to achieve. It’s also an intangible that takes a fair amount of skill and connections to create. Frankly, it’s not something that everyone can produce so turn to an experienced event planner for the perfect holiday party filled with atmosphere. The result: a holiday party that checks off all your must haves, wows your guests, and leaves a lasting impression even past the holiday season.
