Attention event planners: it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Okay, so maybe not quite yet, but that doesn’t mean it’s too soon to book your company holiday party. One of the keys to having a successful corporate event (besides not calling it ‘corporate’ is booking early—for more than a few reasons.
In this blog, we’ll go over them in more detail, sell you on why you should choose to leave the office, and give you an idea or two of where to host your private event.
Hint: it rhymes with “nasha.”
Why You Should Book Early
That old saying about the early bird getting the worm applies to corporate event planning. Here are the top reasons why that is:
Creativity Takes Time
Some parties take longer to prepare than others, as you have numerous bases to cover from the venue and menu to the coat check and the holiday-themed party favours. Give yourself time to bring your master plan to life!
Better Attendance
You want everyone on your guest list to be in attendance. The earlier you book, the earlier you can send out invitations. Early invitations give people more time to sort out their personal calendars and make it work.
Beat the Holiday Rush
It's no secret that the holiday season is both the jolliest and busiest time of the year. With that in mind, it's nearly impossible to book anything in December. So, booking at least a few months in advance is how you can secure the best private venues.
Reduced Stress
Do we really need to elaborate on this one? More time for the planning process equals lower levels of stress. Corporate events can be stressful enough as is, so the last thing you want is to be worrying about securing a venue. Just book early, folks.
Why You Should Party Outside the Office
Yes, you can throw your company holiday party at the office. With that being said, the key to a successful event is booking someplace fun—let us tell you why.
First off, you and your colleagues know the office like the back of your hand. You're at work five days a week, you’ve seen all it has to offer. It’s hard to sell people on a night of fun when it’s being held where they have their performance reviews.
On top of that, booking a venue for your event opens up more space to host activities without having to rent tables, chairs, audio/visual equipment, caterers, and whatnot. The odds are that the venue already has them for you. You might think hosting at the office is cheaper, but booking somewhere else might actually be the better economic play, too.
Lastly, booking outside the office creates more entertainment options, too. Whether you’re looking to have a whole-staff karaoke sing-a-long or something else, you likely won’t be able to pull it off at your office.
So, the moral of the story is this: feel the holiday magic somewhere new!
Some Party Planning Tips
There’s a lot you need to consider once you’ve booked your venue. While we won’t break it all down to every minute detail, we did feel it appropriate to share a few tips that you might find helpful as you plan your party. Here they are!
Send Out Fun Invitations
No corporate event planning checklist would be complete without invitations! The trick is to make sure your party invitations look cool, and generate some excitement for the event—nobody wants to be invited to a party via a Teams message.
You have options as the corporate event planner: you can opt to get them designed and printed, or just send out those cool designs virtually. No matter which you opt for, just be sure to send them out early and RSVP with people to make sure they show up.
Food + Entertainment = Win
You want your menu to wow the crowd. Perhaps the venue already has a stellar culinary lineup, so you won't have to worry about booking a separate caterer. Remember that, this time, your target audience is your team!
You should also book some kind of entertainment. Whether you prefer a live band or a DJ, provide a playlist and other special requests you may have. Remember: it may be a corporate event, but that doesn’t mean it should be boring.
Make Everyone Feel Included
The holiday season should include everyone, no matter what they choose to celebrate. Your party should reflect that everyone comes from different walks of life, and may have different ideas of what the time of year means—but fun is universal!
Keep that at the front of your mind during your corporate event planning process. Rather than leaning too heavily into traditions that may exclude some people, focus on creating an inclusive event that connects colleagues through memorable experiences.
DASHA'n Through the Snow
Need a restaurant for your holiday party? Book a spot early at DASHA!
DASHA is a Pan-Asian fusion restaurant that is perfect for your corporate events. At our culinary paradise, you won't only find a sophisticated menu from the East, but spectacular karaoke entertainment and a million-dollar ambiance, too. From small soirees to lavish bashes, DASHA is the ultimate destination for your next event.
We see a successful holiday party in your future!
