The Christmas season is already here!
The festive season rolls around with the most looked-forward-to event in the business calendar – the Christmas party. For Milton Keynes businesses, the trick isn’t just about organising a venue and some mince pies to munch on. It’s about delivering an event that your team will actually remember for the right reasons.
Why Getting It Wrong Matters
Let’s face it: no one wants to find themselves at another cringe-worthy office party with people mingling and making small talk with lukewarm finger foods. A Christmas party done right can really turn a firm around and give everyone a chance to let loose after a tough calendar year. But if it flops, you’ve simply blown money on a party that people would rather not see.
The good news is that there are plenty of options available at Milton Keynes to choose from, some of which even go beyond a simple dinner. It is all a matter of matching your choice with your team’s preferences.
Starting with the Basics
But before you find yourself swept up in the thrill of exploring the options, make sure you lock in the basics. How many guests are you catering to, and what is your budget per head likely to be, and even more importantly, when are you planning to have such an event?
December dairies fill up quickly. If you are reading this in autumn, thinking you will sort something out in a few weeks, you are late. The most popular Christmas markets in Milton Keynes are usually booked well in advance, especially on Fridays and Saturdays in December. Tuesday and Wednesday evenings are usually better, and maybe cheaper as well.
As for budgeting, consider beyond the costs of renting a hall and catering. The costs for transport if delegates are flying in would also matter. You may also consider what you will spend on entertainment and a “contingency” amount for all sorts of miscellaneous expenses that always pop out. How about £40-£100 per person?
Picking Your Venue Type
Christmas parties Milton Keynes doesn’t have a shortage of options when it comes to the choice of venues for parties. They have hotels with functions rooms, private dining areas at restaurants, as well as venues for entertainment which come with meals.
One of the reasons why people prefer to organise a night out in a hotel is that these places provide them with reliability and convenience. Hotels are accustomed to hosting business meetings, and they know how to handle food. Moreover, should a person have one or two glasses of drink and decide not to return home, there might be a room available for them.
At least restaurants offer a better atmosphere, especially when you choose one that has some character. The fact that there are private function rooms available also means that when you’re there, you won’t find yourself vying for attention with the rest of the public, and the quality of the cuisine is likely to be higher than when in a hotel restaurant. The only problem is capacity; most of them can only cater for about 30-40 people at any given time.
If you are looking for something different, why not consider hosting the meal at a venue where there are associated activities, and where food and drink are served? Whether it’s a competitive socialising venue, a venue for a night of bowling with a party package, or even a cooking experience, these are particularly useful for a team who may find it a bit formal at a traditional meal.
The Entertainment Question
Do you have entertainment in mind, or will good food and conversation fill the bill? That’s completely up to the group you are entertaining. Some groups are content socialising amongst themselves all night. Others will require something a bit more stimulating.
Functions, music, DJs, quizzes, casino games, photo booths, to name but a few options. Just be sure that the event isn’t overshadowed by the entertainment options. If, as a guest, you’re not able to hear yourself think, you’re not, in fact, able to socialise, which rather defeats the purpose of the night out in the first place.
The things that tend to be overlooked are the diet, the transport connections, and the access. Send out the questionnaire well in advance to allow things to be gathered on allergies, vegetarians, veggies, mobility needs, the lot. Much easier to manage this beforehand rather than on the night.
Is the venue easily accessible by public transport, or will it be necessary to arrange coaches? If people are traveling by car, is there sufficient parking? None of this is very exciting, but this is the type of thing that may make or break a conference.
Making It Actually Inclusive
Not everyone drinks. Not everyone wants to stay till midnight. Perhaps a formal component of the night can be followed by a more casual component where people can leave if they want to. This gives people a way out if they have early starts tomorrow or caring commitments. They won’t feel like they’re missing out.
The Follow-Through
Once you and the prospective venue have agreed on a location and date, it’s time to nail everything down – in writing. This includes asking about the cancellation policy and what the price includes. The devil may be in the details, but you want to know the details before the bill comes due.
In fact, a good office Christmas party doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. All it has to do is demonstrate that you care enough about what will actually interest the people in your office. Milton Keynes has the space and the infrastructure to make for a memorable event – the rest is down to good planning and a bit of commonsense.