With the holiday season rapidly approaching, so too is the time for corporate parties. Corporate holiday parties are an excellent way to connect with employees and coworkers — especially if it’s a memorable experience. It’s easy to fall into the trap of procrastination or undervaluing the importance of creating a wonderful event for your employees. These parties build company culture, strengthen bonds between you and your guests, and truly show employees that their work is recognized and valued. Here are some tips to dazzle your guests with a great venue and menu and how to avoid making your business holiday party feel like just another work assignment. 

MORE NEWS: Ranking Arizona: Top 10 indoor entertainment venues for 2024

“If you [book a venue] last minute, you have to think about what exactly you’re getting with that,” says Jennifer Russo, founder and chef at Jennifer’s Catering. “If you’re that caterer’s last slot of that date, they may pull food from other events. You want to make sure this is a priority because your employees help you run your company, so they’re very important to you.”  

Russo founded her company in 1987 when she was just 16 years old. Jennifer’s Catering provides food, service, alcohol and essentially all aspects of catering. Ranking Arizona ranked Jennifer’s Catering as a top catering service in 2019, 2020, 2023 and 2024. Russo has been featured on the Food Network show “Chopped” and was one of Az Business’ Most Influential Women in 2021.  

“If people are looking for dates, the earlier the bette,” Russo says. That doesn’t mean you have to finalize the menu right away. Even if you think, ‘My party’s not for a couple more months, or even six months,’ get your date locked in so you can get all the first picks of everything.” 

Russo also explains that selecting a proper venue is vital for creating an inviting and fun atmosphere for your event.  

“You want to make sure, obviously, that [the venue] fits the size of your group, because there are all different shapes and sizes out there,” she says. “If you have a venue that’s too big, it makes it look scarce because you have this huge room and a smaller group of people.” 

Think ahead for business holiday party

Going into your event, you should have a general idea of how many guests will be in attendance, as well as what aesthetic you are going for. With holiday parties, this is especially easy because you can follow classic themes and colors (red and green for Christmas, blue and white for Hanukkah, etc.) or you can add your own personal spin.  

“Try to find [a venue] that has some personality, especially a personality that reflects yourself or your company,” Russo says. “I always love a little outdoor space, so you have that indoor-outdoor feel, because that’s the blessing of the holiday or our seasonal time of living in Arizona. We have the great ability to have that around the holiday season, where a lot of places can’t.” 

Russo adds that it’s also important to pick an accessible location. Rather than picking an elaborate venue in Scottsdale when your office is in Tempe, try and pick somewhere relatively close to work to ensure an easy commute for employees. This will save time and gas money. 

“The other thing when picking a venue is to see what they offer,” Russo says. “A lot of places have tables and chairs, so that will save you that part of your budget rather than have to get rentals,” Russo says. “Ask those questions, ask what they provide and also ask what they have for insurance. It’s always nice to see their certificate of insurance to know that you’re putting your event on in a legit place.”  

You should also note that many venues have higher food and beverage minimums during the holiday season. Because it’s such a hectic time for caterers and venues, they focus more on larger events with more guests. It’s important to research those minimums and book a venue accordingly.  

Russo adds that it’s important to establish any dietary restrictions within the first conversation with your caterer. If you need gluten-free, vegetarian, nut-free, or any other specialized dietary accommodations, that needs to be established to create a proper menu. In this same conversation, be sure to mention any desired culinary themes. This could include Mediterranean, Indian, hearty roasts, or any other cuisine you want to center your menu around. Lastly, inform your venue and caterer of your budget so they can work within your means.  

“The hardest thing about choosing a venue is the sheer number of incredible venues available,” says Kristine Short, CEO of Atlasta Catering. “Your venue can be a focal point of the event, providing its own entertainment via the environment (think museum, botanical garden, zoo, historical), or it can serve as a blank space for which you choose to embellish through thoughtful choices of entertainment and rentals. It is important to keep your company’s demographic in mind. For example: ‘Will children and families be attending?’”  

Special touches

Short and her husband, Steve Short, team up to run Atlasta Catering, which was established in 1979 and was called “Arizona’s second largest catering company” by Arizona Foothills Magazine. 

“Working with an experienced caterer will ensure that you don’t overlook things you may not think of, such as heaters, seating for older guests, dessert, a coat rack if the event is in a cold environment and providing parking instructions for your guests,” Short says. 

Short and Russo both emphasize the importance of picking delicious food and picking good bonding activities. A bland menu can make your party less enjoyable for guests, (especially if they held off on eating beforehand). 

“When creating and planning a holiday party, one should always remember its purpose — to provide an environment where your team is celebrated and can celebrate their work and effort together,” Short says. “It should feel special, so your team feels appreciated and valued. This is achieved by incorporating personal touches via welcome drinks, centerpieces, inclusive menus, or a sweet take-home gift, such as muffins for the next morning. If you’ve procrastinated or maybe just got assigned the task of organizing a holiday party, the best time to start is now.” 

Remember this event is a rare instance where many of your employees will socialize with each other outside of the workplace. Despite seeing each other on a daily basis, most people don’t know their co-workers on an intimate level. When planning your holiday gathering, try to focus on what will spark a deeper friendship, rather than just a professional relationship. Something as simple as party games or fun music can have this effect. 

“Our favorite holiday parties are those where leadership takes turns speaking to the guests,” Short concludes. “Sharing accomplishments, growth, stories and successes always creates a feeling of camaraderie, appreciation and holiday spirit. Guests often linger longer, spend more time with each other, and laugh more when there is a spirit of thankfulness.”