Time to start planning the Christmas party

THE Christmas party is alive and well with managers and staff seeing it as a great way to bond with work colleagues, leaving the usual stress and strain of work at their desk for one night, and enjoying a fun, all inclusive night with their work colleagues.

However, getting the party organised is where many companies fall down, often leaving it so late in the year that it eventually becomes a case of ‘we’ll take anything we can get’. Don’t fear, however, party venues have gotten very competitive - so there are some good deals around. Also, party venues are getting ever more inventive, so there’s a lot of variety out there.

So, if you’ve left it a bit late - don’t fret; but do get your skates on now. The office party depends on the office - not all employees will agree to dress up as sumo wrestlers, even though the very thoughts of grabbing the boss in a firm headlock is but a long cherished dream.

Some offices go all out and adopt a theme for the night with the Roaring 20s, Elvis and the traditional black tie proving to be very popular.

Many hotels, restaurants and other venues create specially tailored packages to suit the smallest business or retailer right up to the large multinational. Most venues create party packages which includes menu and entertainment with some of Ireland’s top performers.

In recent times many companies have also opted to enjoy a day-time lunch as it can offer a more convenient time frame for those with families to consider.

Christmas party events may also include golfing packages or other activity based events and local venues are always on hand to custom make a package that will suit your company’s needs.

It may be a nice idea to travel to another town or village in another part of the county or indeed to stay in the local vicinity, either way if accommodation needs to be arranged don’t leave booking any later. It may also be a good idea to think about hiring some transport, such as a bus or minibus, or indeed speaking to a local taxi company to see what they can offer.

Restaurants throughout the county also offer many excellent Christmas party packages for lunch and evening meals, with a selection of the finest dishes on offer. If you have a smaller workforce that would benefit more from this type of intimate setting and again, in order to select the best venue and most appropriate menu, now is the time to start making enquiries.

Christmas parties offer an outlet where co-workers can come together and reflect on the year and from an employer’s perspective, they are potentially one of the best ways to boost morale and encourage co-operation and team building in the workplace. And, of course, Christmas parties are great fun, providing a talking point for weeks, and indeed months afterwards.