While the holiday season may be the most wonderful time of the year (at least according to song), it can also be the most stressful. From avoiding overdone themes to putting a new take on a holiday party that eludes the standard end-of-year event, here are key tips from two meetings and events veterans on how to bring holiday magic to your events this season.
Michael Cerbelli, Founder, President and CEO, Cerbelli Creative
Celebrate the Team, Not the Holiday
An end-of-year celebration is more than a festive drink and a bite to eat; it’s a moment to take a step back and truly celebrate your company.
Through the successes and struggles a company faces each year, it is important to acknowledge the completion of one cycle and the beginning of a new one.
“Companies have to think about how do you celebrate your employees at the end of the year? How do you celebrate your teams?” Cerbelli asked.
Cerbelli is a veteran events industry leader who annually stages Michael Cerbelli’s The Hot List, a cavalcade of cutting-edge events and entertainment ideas.
According to Cerbelli, successful end-of-year events create a “moment.” A moment that defines more than a holiday gift; it rewards well-deserved work at the end of the year. It is about thanking staff members and placing value in the fact that the company cares about its employees.
Coming together in congratulations creates that moment of kindness that is often overlooked during the stress of the work year, and is something that is truly needed and valued by employees.
Less Structure, More Fun!
An end-of-the-year party or holiday event doesn’t have to follow a corporate structure. Cerbelli said there’s always a flow to any event, and holiday events are typically a three- to four-hour celebration. And maybe that flow should start with... dessert?
“There are some people that want their sweets at the beginning,” Cerbelli said.
Holiday season or not, Cerbelli is always a fan of mixing it up to give attendees something unexpected.
Cerbelli recalled a recent experience where he took his team out and they did the whole nine yards with food and beverage, but they also played shuffleboard all night.
“It's something that's not just the norm of going out with your team,” he said.
But it was fun, less structured than their standard events and it was an idea that was outside of the box.
[Related: Better Meetings Through Effective Storytelling: Pro Tips]
Another outside-of-the-box idea Cerbelli suggested was ditching the end of the year party and celebrating at the beginning of the year. At that point, staff members have evaded the stressful closing of the year and are ready to come back refreshed after the holidays and excited to ring in the possibilities of a new year.
Jessie Whitman, Senior Director of Planning, Convene
Lock in Your Venue and Vendor Early
With the busy season in mind, Whitman placed emphasis on booking venues and vendors for the holiday season as soon as possible because everyone is planning their events in the same two-week window.
Whitman said that considering the limited availability of dates, Convene Hospitality Group’s venues come with the benefit of preferred vendors, which becomes one less thing to worry about as December dates start to fill up.
Picking a Theme
Having a theme helps guide the rest of the decision-making for any meeting or event. Picking a theme will also help navigate selections for decorations and entertainment.
Much like Cerbelli, Whitman suggested selecting a theme that is unique, specific and inclusive.
For example, if “...the theme is holiday, that makes it a little bit hard,” she said, because it is too broad of a theme.
In lieu of a standard Holiday theme, Whitman suggested planners could select an Après-ski theme, which would include lodge vibes with fur and hot chocolate.
It is also important to be intentional when selecting a food and beverage menu, as it should be tied to the theme.
Whitman explained that Convene venues curate a holiday menu with fruit tarts, figgy pudding bites, spiced apple cider, mulled wine and, of course, holiday cookies, among many other menu items. Whitman said these items are intentionally selected to give guests a warm and festive feeling, no matter what spin the theme puts on the gathering.
“Tying everything back to your theme is the biggest piece,” she said.
