Company Holiday Party Venue Sourcing

Planning
Written By BoomPop Team

It may seem early to start planning your team holiday party, but trust us—it’s not.

Getting a head start helps ease the stress of finding the right venue, only to discover it’s already booked. We’ve been there, and it’s never fun. Research takes time, and we want to make sure your efforts aren’t wasted.

Last week, we shared two blog posts on preparing for your team holiday party. If you need help with planning, check out this post, and if you’re looking for gift ideas, read this one.

This week, we’re diving into how to find the perfect venue for your holiday party. Whether your team is traveling in or already local, here’s how to begin your research.

Let’s dive in.

  1. Date Flexibility

Before reaching out to a much sought-after venue, consider if there is flexibility in the date you would like to have the holiday party. The most popular dates for a holiday party are the first and second Fridays of December.

Knowing this, is there flexibility to have your party midweek? This will give you a better chance of securing the location, especially if it is very popular.

2. Capacity and Space

Decide ahead of time who is invited and if colleagues will be able to bring a plus one. From there, research places that can comfortably fit everyone. When space planning, do not leave so much room that the environment feels cold. Excess empty and unused space will make the atmosphere feel sterile.

If there is a budget for decor to fill in the space, that will help warm up the atmosphere even more. Consider space for the following: dining, mingling, dancing, and any planned activities or entertainment.

3. Get Creative

How might you begin researching places that are atypical? Atypical locations for your holiday party may mean cost savings and more control over the actual date of your event—not to mention, they will be more memorable and creative. These are the kinds of places your colleagues will be talking about for years to come.

Creative Location Types that are not hotel ballrooms or restaurants:

  • Breweries and distilleries

  • Botanical gardens

  • Museums (lesser-known museums)

  • Lofts and warehouses

  • Historic estates or landmarks

  • Private homes or estates

  • Parks, vineyards, farms (climate specific)

Knowing the location where you are planning your holiday party will help lend itself to the unique landscape you are working with. Learn what your city or town is known for and see how you can infuse that into your holiday party venue.

4. Location and Accessibility

If your team is flying in for the holiday party, how easy is it to travel to? Is it close to an airport? Is it close to the hotel your team is staying at? Consider factors like transportation—you’ll want the venue to feel easy to access, unless the venue is one-of-a-kind and the trip itself is worth it.

However, if you can make access to the venue easy for your colleagues, we know they will thank you.

5. Reach Out to Your Network

If you have others in your network who have planned a holiday party before, ask them where they hosted their event. Find out what worked and what didn’t. They may have suggestions for you based on their own research, which will help you cut back on the time it would’ve taken you to do research.

Pro Tip: If you’ve found a place you really like, check the reviews or see if anyone in your network has hosted an event there. This will point you in the right direction.

6. Ambiance and Aesthetic

Depending on the theme for your holiday party, find a venue that helps you enhance that theme. If you don’t have the budget for unique decor, choose a location that may already have that decor. Especially during the holidays, many locations will go big on lights, lanterns, poinsettias, etc. Be sure to ask the venue what the normal setup will be and what is included.

This will help you visualize what will already be there and what you may need to purchase for decor. If you choose a venue with a blank slate, you’ll have to put more effort into decoration, which means budget considerations.

We’re Here to Help

Planning a holiday party should not be stressful. Our team of experts can handle everything from venue sourcing to entertainment coordination, allowing you to focus on fostering connections with your team. Contact us today for a free consultation

 

Destinations

Destinations

Resources

Resources

Featured resources

Featured
8 Steps for Planning Your Company Retreat

A resource for new organizers on creating fun, productive, and successful corporate events.

Latest posts
Company Holiday Party Venue Sourcing
Company Holiday Party Venue Sourcing

It may seem early to start planning your team holiday party, but trust us—it’s not. Getting a head start helps ease the stress of finding the right venue, only to discover it’s already booked. We've been there, and it's never fun. Research takes time, and we want to make sure your efforts aren't wasted. So, let's dive into the planning process and ensure your team has a memorable holiday celebration.

5 Ways to Invigorate Your Team To Finish the Year Strong
5 Ways to Invigorate Your Team To Finish the Year Strong

As we coast into mid-September and colleagues return from much-needed travels, it’s the perfect time to rally the team to finish the year strong. The summer break, often a time for relaxation and rejuvenation, has come to an end. With those back-to-school vibes echoing throughout the lives of your team, this is the time to capitalize on the resurgence of energy and excellence — to get back to the basics of realigning on team goals and recentering team culture.

The Best Holiday Gifts for Your Team
The Best Holiday Gifts for Your Team

As the year draws to a close, it's time to celebrate your team's hard work and dedication. A thoughtful end-of-year gift can make a world of difference in boosting morale and showing your appreciation. Whether you're looking for something personalized or a team-wide surprise, there are countless options to choose from. Let's explore some ideas to inspire your holiday gift-giving.

How to Plan the Perfect Company Holiday Party: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Plan the Perfect Company Holiday Party: A Step-by-Step Guide

With summer winding down, the crisp autumn air brings a sense of anticipation. And what better way to celebrate the end of another year than with a festive holiday party? Whether you're a seasoned event planner or a first-time organizer, we've got you covered. In this guide, we'll provide you with essential tips, tricks, and resources to ensure your team's holiday party is a memorable affair that everyone will cherish.

Best Practices for Hotel Sourcing
Best Practices for Hotel Sourcing

When planning an offsite, choosing the right hotel in the right location is crucial to ensuring a successful and memorable team retreat. The hotel you select not only provides a place to stay but also sets the tone for your entire guest experience. Your hotel is the stage upon which your offsite is set, so you’ll want to make it great.

Welcoming New Hires at Your Offsite
Welcoming New Hires at Your Offsite

As you plan your next offsite, consider it through the lens of the new hire experience. If your newest hires are meeting colleagues for the first time, how will you ensure they feel welcome? Immersed in the culture? Not overwhelmed?

How to Plan a Team Offsite
How to Plan a Team Offsite

Planning a team offsite can be a multi-month project which includes budgeting, choosing a destination and venue, planning activities and an interactive agenda, and communication.

How to Create a Team Offsite Agenda
How to Create a Team Offsite Agenda

Ensuring your team offsite is impactful, fun, and fresh begins with a well-formatted agenda, with the right balance of collaboration and downtime. Your agenda is meant to enhance your team experience so that all those involved find value in taking the time away from their day-to-day.

How meez Creates a Recipe for Culture Success
How meez Creates a Recipe for Culture Success

Connecting with colleagues in person leaves room for spontaneity as well as dedicated conversations you can plan ahead of time. When teams can cross-collaborate with other teams and get to know them on a personal level, it strengthens the overall culture, not just on the team level.

Reasons to Whisk Your Executives Away
Reasons to Whisk Your Executives Away

Planning an international retreat for a large gathering can be intimidating. And for good reason. International retreats take us to unknown places, with different cultures, foods, and ways of doing things. Plus, they tend to be more logistically complicated. But international retreats also give way to some of the most exciting and remarkable trips you can give to your employees.

International Retreat Planning Tips
International Retreat Planning Tips

Planning an international retreat for a large gathering can be intimidating. And for good reason. International retreats take us to unknown places, with different cultures, foods, and ways of doing things. Plus, they tend to be more logistically complicated. But international retreats also give way to some of the most exciting and remarkable trips you can give to your employees.

How to Facilitate Icebreakers
How to Facilitate Icebreakers

Icebreakers will set the stage and tone for the rest of the event.. Those moments where colleagues are guided to conversation topics that help them open up about who they are and how they feel.

BoomPop Team
Next

5 Ways to Invigorate Your Team To Finish the Year Strong