How to Host the Perfect Company Party

If you’ve been asked to plan the next office party, all eyes are on you to ensure the event’s success. In this blog, we will share tips on how to host the perfect party to outshine all other business events with your exceptional party hosting skills.

Understand the Office Party Budget

Office parties tend to have a strict budget that can make it difficult to create the type of event you envision. Make sure you understand the budget so you can decide where to allot money for the venue, menu, entertainment, and other considerations such as prizes, activities, or guest gifts.

Decide on an Office Party Theme

While it might seem like themes are just for kids’ parties, a theme can provide inspiration for your party hosting plans and also create more cohesion for your guests. Party themes are often based on the purpose of the event, such as an awards/rewards night or holiday party. A theme can provide focus to make planning easier.

Depending on your company culture and the event’s purpose, an event theme touches all aspects of the party, from what guests wear to the activities you choose, and the decor to the menu and entertainment. At the least, you should make it clear whether it is a formal or casual event and choose a consistent colour palette such as your brand colours as a good jumping-off point.

Understand the Corporate Objectives for the Office Party

Objectives should tie in with the event theme, but from a business point of view. Answer the following questions to ensure the company party helps the management achieve their underlying goals.

• Is this a team-building event?

• Is the company thanking the team for their hard work?

• Is the event designed to make a specific announcement?

• Is there any type of recognition or awards related to the event?

• Is there specific messaging involved?

• Is the event for employees, vendors, suppliers, clients, or a mix?

• Is the party taking place at the end of another event such as a conference, training seminars, onboarding, etc.?

Choose the Right Venue for Your Office Party

Your business event venue is the most important decision for your office party. If you choose something too far away or difficult to reach, no one will come. If you pick a venue without the right amenities, you’ll increase your stress level.

However, when you choose a venue with the ideal location and ample amenities, you’ll see a good turnout, reduce stress, and showcase your party hosting skills to elevate your career opportunities. Some things to look for in a business event venue include:

• Convenient location to your office 

• Ample parking and access to transportation and highways

• In-house catering with customized menus

• Access to free, reliable high-speed Wi-Fi

• In-house audio-visual equipment

• Attractive, well-maintained decor suited to the occasion

• Superior serving staff

• Event planning expertise

Know Your Office Party Guests

Your guest list is also your target audience, helping you make critical party hosting decisions:

• Is it company employees only? If so, you might have more leeway in casual, fun planning ideas.

• Is it for upper management? In this case, there might be higher expectations with a more sophisticated approach to your plans.

• Are clients involved? When entertaining clients, branding is top of mind.

• Are you appealing to prospects? Again, branding is going to play a key role in your plans.

Create an Engaging Office Party

With a better understanding of your party guests and business objectives, you can focus on engaging activities and entertainment. Consider the following questions:

• Are you creating team-building competitions amongst tables, departments, or management vs. workers?

• Is this a strictly fun event where activities such as virtual reality experiences and trivia/quiz games will work, or does something more interactive and cooking classes or wine tasting make sense?

• Are you hunting for prospects where education, expertise, and influencers will help highlight your brand?

• Is this an awards night where having an entertaining master of ceremonies is critical?

Serve Great Food

The menu can make or break an office party. Business events call for exceptional food, so people feel valued.

Choosing a venue with an in-house chef allows you to create a customized menu of quality foods, whether it’s based on the theme, formal or casual dining, or an eclectic selection to reflect your brand’s commitment to diversity. Some things to consider might include:

• Food stations offering different fares such as pasta, carving stations, BBQ, etc.

• A formal multi-course meal for more formal events such as management parties or entertaining clients.

• Buffet-style, allowing guests to choose the foods that suit their preferences, including specialty dietary needs like vegan or gluten-free items.

• Tasting experiences.

• Appetizers with servers mingling among guests at arrival.  

• A trip around the world with global cuisine, or a specific cuisine suited to your guests.

• A menu based on the event theme such as barbecue for a country music theme.

Consider Spirits

While the office parties of days gone by were like a scene out of Mad Men, the trend towards sober curiosity means including creative non-alcoholic options. The mocktail figures more prominently at today’s office parties, where drinking and work don’t mix.

Although more people are choosing a sober lifestyle, they still want fun beverage options. You can also provide a selection of spirits, create a customized cocktail/mocktail menu, and ask your venue chef to recommend wine pairings at formal sit-down meals. Just be sure you have cabs available to get everyone home safely.

Build Excitement About Your Office Party

Use social media to whip up excitement as your office party gets closer. Social media posts are the ideal way to maintain ongoing event communication, creating interest and inspiring thoughts of FOMO (fear of missing out) for guests who were thinking of sitting this one out!

Include daily teasers about entertainment, can’t-miss activities, and the menu, and encourage participation based on the company’s desire to thank the team, etc.

Contact the Company Party Experts at Château Le Jardin

These tips for office party hosting will help create a memorable business event to promote team building, build brand awareness, or close high-value deals with new prospects.

If you’re planning an office party or corporate event, the experts at Château Le Jardin can help. Our business event venue in Vaughan, Ontario is the perfect, full-service location for office parties with chef-inspired menus tailored to your needs. 
To learn more about our corporate event packages, call us at 1-888-529-8573 or request a consultation here.