The holiday season is the perfect time of the year to show your employees that you appreciate all the hard work that they do. Throwing a holiday party for your employees can be a daunting task, but here are some tips to make your next company party a hit!

CREATE AN ICE BREAKER

No matter what kind of party or event you are throwing there is always the awkwardness of not knowing everyone. Whether it’s people bringing their plus ones or people from different departments who do not work together at the same event, there can be an awkward vibe. No matter what you do there is always going to be that initial awkwardness as introductions are made and people make their way over to their tables. So this feeling doesn’t cloud over the whole event, try adding something to break the ice. The Capital Region has a diverse mix of venues, some with built in activities like bowling or arcade games. Even if your venue does offer those activities having a casino night is a great way to get people to interact with each other.

THE FOOD MATTERS

Don’t create an overly complicated or foodie menu. Create a menu that will be appealing to all of your guests. You don’t want anyone to go home hungry! Work with the event-coordinator at your venue to create your menu, after all, it’s what they do best!

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

The holiday season is often the most stressful time of the year. No matter how many times a day you look at the calendar both Thanksgiving and Christmas have a tendency to sneak up on the best of us. Between preparing large holiday meals, holiday parties, and holiday shopping, it’s hard to find time for anything else during this month. Instead of adding another party for yourself and team members to stress over, plan to have your corporate holiday party after the new year begins! Once the New Year’s Eve festivities settle down, people are looking for any excuse to get out of the house. Plus, having your event in the “off-season” can help save a little on the essentials and may allow for more room in the budget to make this year's event even more spectacular!

NAME THAT THEME

Just because you have the yearly holiday party at the same place every year doesn’t mean your event has to be predictable. A change in color scheme and decor can completely change the look of a space (trust us it’s what we do!). Going beyond just decor, have fun with the dress code; if your office requires a suit and tie, relax the rules and have a more casual event! Just because you’re throwing a holiday party, that does not mean it has to have a holiday theme. Take a step back and consider the people you work with; would they love a decade’s throwback party or masquerade? The more creative you get, the more memorable your event!