In almost every other industry, Christmas seems so far away… even the slightest mention of the ‘C’ word in May would be met with shudders and frowns.
However, in the events industry, Christmas is something we talk about all year round- especially when it comes to planning the perfect end of year party!
Whether you’re new to holding events, or a seasoned party pro, our team at Techniquest wanted to share our tips for creating the perfect Christmas party in Cardiff in 2018.
Create a buzz by booking a unique venue
Throughout the year, your teams may have visited many hotel and bar venues for conferences and networking events, so they might think they’ve seen it all.
When it comes to selecting your Christmas party venue, show them you care by thinking outside the box. The right venue will start to get excitement bubbling, even weeks before the party date!
Tickle their taste buds and make sure the food makes an impression
One thing’s for sure: if the food standards fall short, so will the event!
Food is at the centre of any party, so a lot of thought, planning and preparation needs to take place to make sure that it’s a talking point of the night. Select a caterer that you have confidence in, and that can be flexible with menus and dietary requirements.
Epic Caterers provide catering for all of our events here at Techniquest. With premium catering services, delicious, varied menus, and flexible staff, it’s no wonder they won the Best Caterer award at the Food Awards Wales 2018!
Try to entertain them!
Food and drink will only take you so far, and if you want your party to go off with a bang (and not die out with a fizzle), then entertainment is key.
Engage your staff in some activities or entertainment during the event, whether this is with live music, unique performers or party games with a competitive element.
Interaction is key, because it encourages guests to speak to people they may not normally interact with, so the main goal here is to get them talking.
Some venues such as museums and science centres, will have points of interest integrated within the event space. You can also go one step further by adding DJs, singing waiters, stilt walkers, casino tables and more…
WOW your guests with a theme
It all starts with the invitation… If you’re planning a big event, set the tone with a creative, crowd-pleasing theme and follow it right through to the venue.
This means that décor is crucial, otherwise, what’s the point? Adding table centre pieces, props and photo opportunities are always recommend, as well as themed menus and appropriate entertainment. It’s a great way make your guests feel part of the experience and will keep them talking long after the bar closes.
We’ve worked with WOW events to deliver some incredible results!
Leave the formalities at the office!
Your team work so hard throughout the year, so try to keep the end of year celebration as informal as possible. This means no talking shop over dessert!
Try not to plan long speeches and avoid going overboard with corporate branding at the venue. Encourage conversation by forgetting the formal seating plan and letting people sit where they want to.
Thinking of ditching the sit-down dinner? You could even consider leaving the dinner format behind for a year and add themed food stations to a standing party!
We hope these tips have been useful and let us know if you have any others to add to this list!
In case you missed it: As well as being able to hire Techniquest for dinner dances, parties and networking events, we are running our first shared party experiences this year.
So far, we have launched two evening events and a lunchtime festive afternoon tea! For more information please visit: www.techniquest.org/corporate or call the team on 029 2047 5466