With the holiday season approaching, it’s a good idea to start thinking about your annual Christmas events. With situations returning to some semblance of normality, businesses will be able to enjoy a little more freedom and actually come together with fewer restrictions in 2021. So, while you may still have certain rules to abide by when planning events, you can definitely start to amp up the office Christmas party this year.
Here are some tips on hosting the ultimate work Christmas event this year.
Book a central venue
It’s always important to find a location that’s easy for people to get to. Because there is often drinking involved at such events, you ideally want somewhere that’s easily accessible by public transport so that people can leave the car at home and let their hair down. Whether you’re booking a private function room or going out for dinner, make sure it’s in a great location.
Urban Hub’s licensed bar and function room is located in the heart of Wellington’s CBD, making it an attractive venue that’s easily accessible for everyone.
Provide some music
Things were a little dour in 2020, and the best you could hope for was a Christmas-themed playlist for your work events. Now, with live music back up and running, there are no doubt plenty of local performers itching to get out and entertain you.
Depending on the size of your venue and the type of event you’re hosting, consider bringing in a live band so that people can dance. Alternatively, something more laid back might benefit from an acoustic duo or even a string quartet for background music.
Consider indoor/outdoor spaces
When choosing a venue, remember that the weather is usually pretty nice in New Zealand around the holiday period. So, if you can find a venue with both an outdoor and indoor area, your guests will appreciate it. They may like to step out for some fresh air, have a drink outside or simply enjoy the nice weather. Urban Hub has a licensed bar where all your food and drink needs are taken care of, but there’s also a beautiful outdoor terrace where people can mingle and socialise.
Make it a classy affair
People have been starved of events for so long that they may have forgotten how much fun it can be to get dressed up and have a classy evening out. So, why not add a touch of elegance to your Christmas event this year. Encourage people to dress up in their finest clothes, and plan your event accordingly. You can consider splashing out on some fine food and snacks and choose a beautiful venue, making it a classy affair for everyone.
Provide unique experiences
Speaking of stepping up the class factor, you can include some interesting experiences at your Christmas event too. Of course, the Christmas theme of giving gifts is always popular, but why not do something more?
Consider things like customised cocktails, charcuterie or cheese stations, oyster shucking bars for the classier affair. For something a little more fun, maybe try something like a photo booth, or even make it a costume occasion. There are plenty of small things you can do to liven up your event.
Consider inclusivity
Finally, it’s important to remember that diversity and inclusivity are big parts of the modern workplace. Some people in your teams may not celebrate Christmas for religious or other reasons. So, you’ll need to be respectful of that. You could either promote your event as a holiday party and skip the traditional Christmas theme. Alternatively, if you have in-depth knowledge about how people celebrate differently at this time of year, you could respectfully integrate a whole range of themes through your event. If choosing this option, always be sure that everybody’s preferences are considered so that nobody feels left out.
Let Urban Hub make your Christmas event easy
If you want to take the hassle out of organising a Christmas event, why not let Urban Hub do the hard work for you? We offer a fully licensed bar which is great for Christmas events. We can even take care of the catering, drinks service, and provide staff to greet your guests with a drink on arrival. All you need to do is send out the invites and turn up for a good time! Contact us at Urban Hub today to secure your booking now for the busy holiday season.