If you work in HR, look after employer branding or run a company, the end of the year means pressure. You have to organise a Christmas party that won't be just another box to tick.
The questions are the same every year. How do you get people to mingle rather than sit in cliques with their own department? How do you please a 22-year-old developer and a 50-year-old accountant at the same time? How do you show that the budget translated into a better atmosphere in the team?
A company Christmas party can be an opportunity to strengthen the team. There's one condition: the programme has to address specific problems. Below are five of those problems and the attractions that help solve them.
1. People only sit in their own cliques
The simplest solution is a shared creative activity. When people are doing something with their hands, they find it easier to start talking. It's a good choice for mixed teams, where introverts and extroverts need to find common ground. Instead of forced conversation, they have a calm task to get on with.
What works at a Christmas party:
- Floristry workshops. Participants make their own wreaths or Christmas table decorations. They relax while they work and take the finished piece home.
- Art & Wine. Painting winter landscapes over a glass of wine. The atmosphere is relaxed and anyone can give it a go, even those who "can't paint". Relationships build here with no strings attached.
- Scent Workshop. Guests make their own soy candles scented with gingerbread and orange. A calm, sensory activity that fits the festive mood perfectly.
2. A week later, nobody remembers the party
A party stays in people's memories when guests feel noticed and leave with something personal. An ordinary party photo easily gets lost in a phone. A keepsake made especially for the guest lasts longer.
What works at a Christmas party:
- AI Photo Booth. Instead of props, in a few moments guests become characters from "A Christmas Carol", elves or figures from a winter wonderland. They get a digital keepsake they can share straight away.
- Holographic pyramids. After a quick face scan, each participant gets their own 3D hologram. They display it on their smartphone using a special pyramid.
- FotoMozaika. A large panel with the company logo or a festive motif is created live from photos of all the guests. Everyone has their own piece in it.
3. The party is stiff and lacks energy
This is where games and friendly competition help. A game show format everyone knows from TV quickly draws in even shy people. The competition feels safe because it's played in teams. And that helps break down the formal atmosphere.
What works at a Christmas party:
- Game shows: Family Feud and Name That Tune We'll prepare Christmas editions for you. "Name That Carol" is a musical challenge for the whole room. Family Feud with questions about company customs offers plenty of laughs.
- Human Joystick. The whole group controls a character on screen using nothing but their body movements. Nothing works without cooperation, so everyone has to get in sync.
- NeuroSky. For tech fans. The game is controlled by the power of concentration. A great talking point at the table.
4. The company is all about innovation, but its parties are dull
A company party is also part of employer branding. If you describe yourselves as modern day to day, traditional beetroot soup and pierogi alone might say otherwise. The Christmas get-together should reflect the company culture.
What works at a Christmas party:
- Holo Assistant. A holographic Santa welcoming guests, or the CEO delivering season's greetings as a 3D figure. A good way to show off the company's modern image.
- VR. A virtual sleigh ride, a snowball fight or a trip to Lapland. All it takes is putting on a headset.
- Tattoo printer. Guests choose washable winter designs, such as snowflakes or reindeer. They can also design their own pattern with the help of artificial intelligence.
5. You're not sure how to hand out gifts in an interesting way
Instead of handing everyone a bag on the way out, make it the finale of the evening. Getting a gift is nice. Winning it yourself is more fun.
What works at a Christmas party:
- Vending machines. Our interactive machines turn collecting a gift into a game. You can use them to give out prizes, vouchers or branded gadgets, and we'll match the look of the machines to your branding.
- Prize Claw Machine. Guests have to catch their prize themselves. The machine can be fully branded, and a crowd of supporters quickly gathers around the game.
A good company Christmas party meets the team's needs
A successful Christmas party isn't just about food and music. It's about people getting to rest, having something to talk about and feeling appreciated. Attractions help with this if you choose them to solve a specific problem.
You don't have to source each attraction separately and coordinate several subcontractors. You can book all the attractions described here from us, in one place.
Want this year's Christmas party to strengthen your team?
Get in touch. Tell us how many guests there will be and what you want to achieve, and we'll pick the attractions for your Christmas party.
