Christmas Office Parties in New York

The most special time of the year is approaching fast, and many businesses are now busy preparing for their Christmas office parties. These end-of-the-year celebrations are often regarded as an effective way of rewarding staff for their hard work, boosting employee morale, and starting a new year with a positive frame of mind.

However, some have claimed that corporate holiday parties are not as popular as they once were, and that in many cases they are below staff expectations and fail to fulfil their purpose. Seamless (an online food ordering and delivery company based in New York) surveyed more than 1,000 companies and asked them about their Christmas celebration habits and plans. The data they collected showed some interesting trends, which are summarised below.

Lower overall expenditure

One of the main conclusions reached following the survey is that the belt-tightening measures taken by many companies have also affected the overall expenditure allocated to their annual Christmas parties. There seems to be an increasing preference among employers to organise office parties on a budget, since approximately 42 per cent of all firms surveyed said they were spending less than $25 per person on their corporate Christmas event. In fact, only 10 per cent of companies spent between $51 and $100 / employee, and a further 20 per cent opted for a mid-range budget of $25 to $50 / person.

Open bars are no longer the norm

The Seamless survey also revealed that only 50 per cent of the companies interviewed were planning on including an open bar during their corporate Christmas party. In 2012, the percentage of no-alcohol office parties in the city barely reached 21 per cent, but two years later that figure had more than doubled at 44 per cent. Moreover, the survey revealed other data related to the type of holiday entertainment offered at end-of-the-year office parties: up to 70 per cent of the businesses surveyed mentioned there would be no dancing at their annual Christmas event.

With the Christmas holiday quickly approaching, many business owners and managers are thinking about the office Christmas party. There is always a question on what to do, how to structure the party, and what to eat. The planning process often becomes excessive and stressful making the Christmas party a chore instead of a celebration.

The truth is, the annual Christmas party does not have to be an elaborate occasion filled with mind numbing “get to know your co-worker” games and tasteless finger foods. Your office Christmas party can be a fun and relaxing occasion that leaves everyone feeling good.

Setting The Time And Date

Business owners must take into account that their employees are also planning their own holidays at home. Having the party too close to the holidays could place everyone in a stressful mood. Opt for a time near the beginning of December when everyone is not feeling the holiday stress. This also helps your business if you are scheduling the party off site. By planning your party early in December you will avoid many holiday pricing schedules.

If you plan on throwing an office Christmas party in New York City, then you will want to go all out to turn your party into a special event. As you put your party together, there are a few guidelines you should follow to make it easier for your guests to have a good time.

Places To Have Your Party

New York City is filled with great places where you can have your office Christmas party. There are five places in particular that will offer you and your employees a memorable Christmas party event.

Minus5 Ice Bar

The Mius5 Ice Bar is made completely of ice, but it is open all year round. This chilling venue is ideal for a memorable office Christmas party.

The Elm

The Elm is a relatively new restaurant in Brooklyn that has been growing quickly in popularity. It features four-star food and an excellent wait staff.

Malbec and Tango House

The Malbec and Tango House has a very rural feel to it, which makes it unique for New York City. It has a larger hall that will definitely create atmosphere for your office Christmas party.

Andaz Wall Street

The Andaz Wall Street room is fun because it is a throwback to the 1960’s. You feel like you walked back in time the moment you walk through the door. This room could bring back some nostalgic Christmas memories for your employees.

The season of good will is upon us once again and along with it the annual office Christmas party. Even in this recession ridden time, we can still celebrate together and look back on the past years accomplishments. You could organize some drinks or a meal, depending on your company’s budget, or perhaps if you really feel like pushing the boat out, hiring a venue and entertainment. Organizing a Secret Santa with your colleagues means everyone feels part of the festivities, and adds a little fun to the office party.