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Crain’s Corporate Holiday Guide
Experiences, inclusivity and philanthropy are hallmarks of spirited company celebrations
Your guide to holiday party planning
BY WEB BEHRENS
2024
L
ike the pines, firs and spruces we see so often during endof-year festivities, some traditions for corporate holiday parties are evergreen.
In keeping with custom of recent years, several party planners say you can’t go wrong by arranging for fun group experiences. Think “social, not seated” — thanks to semi-structured activities that encourage people to mingle, interacting on a level playing field and discovering new things about their coworkers. (Just don’t call it a “team-building exercise.”) “A sit-down dinner isn’t always going to be enough,” says Kate Ahern, associate director of marketing and events for Vandalay Brands, whose restaurants include Millennium Hall (beneath Cloud Gate in Millennium Park). “Whether it’s cookie decorating or even pizza-making classes, incorporating unique experiences into holiday events has been very popular.”
“Philanthropy can be a great connector for a holiday/end-ofyear celebration for a company.” -Lorelei Kroulaidis, director of special events at the Chicago History Museum.
The Chopping Block agrees: Experiential parties are a hit. “Good food makes people happy, and they enjoy it even more when they have the satisfaction of being able to say, ‘I made that!’,” says general manager Kate Augustin. “The Chopping Block’s events combine cooking and fun, so they make a unique option for holiday parties.” “Companies want team members and guests to bond over shared experiences like ice skating, cooking or competition. They’re seeking unique venues that offer unique activities,” concurs Melanie Kamme, head of hospitality for Wrigley Field Events. Building on that concept, Kamme notes that Wrigley Field offers tours of the Friendly Confines, and party planners can also arrange meet-and-greet experiences with Cubs legends. Of course, there’s more to planning a party for the workforce than brainstorming interesting activities. One big-picture strategy for pulling off a successful 2024 bash is to review how recent events have gone.
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“Start with a base of inclusivity for your employees,” says Lorelei Kroulaidis, director of special events at the Chicago History Museum. To that end, she advises planners to “really look at what was done in years past. What was the feedback? Were there pinch points that should be addressed?”
CRAIN’S CORPORATE HOLIDAY GUIDE 2024
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