Submitted by: Shetal Vyas, CEO, No. 29 Events, LLC
As you consider various options for this year’s corporate holiday party – both client and employee appreciation, you may be looking for ways to control costs without compromising overall value. Of course, many are also seeking ways to create a cheerful environment without appearing wasteful in any way – a common objective for all corporate events these days. In the end, hosting even a smaller scale holiday celebration will motivate your employees and clients more than not having one at all!
“We believe many companies – from small-size to large firms – will need to re-focus the holiday event on business over frivolity, striking a balance between fun and content,” explains Shetal Vyas of No. 29 Events, a full-service event planning and production company in Philadelphia, PA, and specializing staging corporate, association, government, nonprofit and social functions.
Vyas offers the following holiday planning tips that won’t convey the wrong message to your important internal employees and external constituents:
- Make the holiday party an awards program. Give this year’s holiday party a business focus and emphasize the appreciation message with an optimistic future. This helps to associate the event with more measurable and tangible benefits.
- Host a lunch event. It is always more cost effective to build the holiday party event catering from a luncheon menu vs. a dinner menu. Not only will this save money, but it usually helps to limit the guests to employees or clients only (no spouses or personal guests) – another way to save on the budget.
- Limit alcohol beverages. Many more organizations have been doing this in the last few years. A couple successful strategies include offering a signature drink, limiting options to beer and wine, and offering a two drink maximum. Another suggestion is to eliminate alcoholic beverages completely, which also eliminates any potential liability.
- Choose mini-desserts rather than full servings. The rule of thumb is that most guests take two bites of dessert and the remainder is tossed. Consider setting up a dessert station with small portions and smaller quantities, and skip the full size slices of chocolate mousse this year.
In the end it’s the celebration and time to reflect on this year’s accomplishments that your employees will value. A seasoned event planner will be able to help create the perfect mix of celebration and motivation for your holiday celebration.
Shetal Vyas is CEO of No. 29 Events, LLC, a Philadelphia, PA based event planning firm. She has worked countless events to ensure that they reflect her clients vision with the best quality and style products.
