The late fall is an opportune time to finalize plans for the company holiday party. And at this time of the year, we typically write about the benefits of hiring a car service for holiday parties. Reserving with the right transportation service is key to ensuring your guests have fun, without the worry of getting home safe. These events are a great way to give thanks back to employees for a successful year and boost morale.
As with planning any occasion throughout the holiday season in New York, transportation is essential. A reliable car service can be a deciding factor for guests as an alternative to subway delays or surge pricing. Ride-sharing services use surge pricing to capitalize on rising demand during holidays. In large metropolitan areas, surge pricing can reach as high as 9.9x on Christmas or New Years’ Eve, according to Forbes.
Your guests are not only safer but also guaranteed to have more fun when traveling as a group in a limo or luxury coach bus. A car service like Delux Transportation has a full-spectrum fleet with the perfect option of any group size.
Each vehicle is fully equipped for client comfort and convenience, whether you are traveling for business or leisure. Be sure to have your corporate travel services department secure ground transportation by mid-November.
Calling a Delux customer service representative is the best way to learn about our service and vehicle choices.
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We’ve curated a list of key items to consider when planning a holiday party for your company this fall. Be sure to have your corporate travel services department secure ground transportation by mid-November.
The Venue Defines the Company Holiday Party
Choosing the perfect venue is one of the most important parts but can be a daunting. First, take a moment to envision the ideal evening and ask a few key questions.
- What atmosphere best fits our company?
Are we looking for a more formal dinner or gala setting or an informal cocktail hour? Do your employees enjoy a high-quality dinner and performance in the town? Trending ideas for a more adventurous activity is an improv session, axe throwing competition, or cooking class. Understanding the atmosphere you’d like to create is key to planning.
- How many attendees do we expect?
Many employees are busy during the holiday season and may not attend due to vacations or family commitments. It is vital to get a general sense of who will be available for the party and who will be away. Unfortunately, this can feel like threading a needle to find a date that works for most of your workplace.
You must also decide if your company holiday party should include guests outside of employees. Choosing to allow partners or spouses to attend is always tricky but necessary. We’d also suggest booking a venue that allows for 10% in extra capacity to the number of expected attendees.
- How far is the venue from our office and homes?
It is essential to make attending the holiday party as easy as possible. Therefore, we’d suggest leaving direct from work. Make transportation painless by booking with business travel companies such as Delux this holiday season.
Activities to Make or Break Your Party
The most innovative company holiday party events will feature creative activities. Two of the most popular are fundraising drives for charity and a white elephant gift exchange. Fundraising and charity drives are becoming more popular for employees to combine fun and social impact. Forty-six percent of employees surveyed said their company would participate in charitable activities, according to the 2018 Holidays at Work Survey.
Easy activities include penny wars, silent auctions or food, clothing, and toy drives. An engaging white elephant gift exchange is also a great way to anonymously display a sense of humor that may be hidden at work. Exchanges include gag gifts like a Bob Ross painting set, a fun Lego set, or the hat of a rival sports team.
Holiday parties can also benefit from simple acts like an employee appreciation speech by a worthy executive and a “no cell phones” policy. Partygoers may at first balk at the prospect of being away from their phones, but eventually, they’ll appreciate the sense of community the plan helps to foster.
Don’t Let Your Guests Go Home Hungry.
A sit down, plated dinner creates too stuffy of an atmosphere where partygoers are hesitant to interact. Plated meals are often more costly than roving appetizers and often do not provide the range of options to fit general food preferences. Buffets can also be a logistical nightmare. An ideal choice is a menu of passed appetizers and hand-held entrees for a range of pallets. It is also encouraged to find menu options that fit the theme of the party.
As we’ve established, an essential goal of any corporate holiday event is to create a safe and engaging sense of community. A safe setting is a reason that 71% of corporate holiday events control maximum alcohol consumption through the use of vouchers or tickets, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. Limiting alcohol consumption may not be a popular option, but it creates a safer environment for all involved.
Time is running out to finalize plans for the company holiday party so make sure you secure a reliable transportation company this season. We are happy to have your business and are always interested to see how companies express the holiday spirit, so do send us some pictures of your holiday fun! Call Delux Transportation to learn more about our chauffeur-driven service. We are open 24/7 516-883-1900.
