Family-friendliness, inclusivity and personalisation are among the trends for corporate Christmas parties this festive season.
Stephanie Hall, group director of sales and marketing for
Exclusive Collection said: “While there’s a pent-up demand to get back together,
we’re seeing new forms of entertaining and ways to reward employees this year.
“The trend is being driven by event organisers who are aware
that the traditional Christmas party may need a refresh. After all, not everyone
enjoys enforced fun and more so there’s greater responsibility around
inclusivity at events”.
Hall shared Exclusive Collection's top party trends for Christmas 2022:
Family time
A new demand for family-friendly events. These events are
less about individuals enjoying dinner, drink and dancing and more focused on family-friendly
activities. Santa’s Grotto, afternoon tea and a small gift from the
corporate employer bring families together and ensure high employee engagement
and big brand talkability.
All-inclusive
All-inclusive used to mean dinner, drinks, and a
well-stocked bar for unlimited beers, wines and softs. Today’s all-inclusive
focuses on the diversity of attendees, the diversity of diets and the growth in
guests who demand a wide selection of low and non-alcoholic
beverages.
The gift of time
Some corporates are swapping the business bash for personal gifts or experiences. Voucher sales for experiences within
Exclusive Collection are in high demand as corporates recognise the gift of
time and the positive impact it can have on their employees.
Conscious festive celebration
“Provenance and seasonality are now par for the course;
organisers want to know what happens to any left-over food from events” added Hall.
“We’ve been working with OLIO for more than a year now to
ensure that all unused ingredients and food are given to those in our local
communities that need it most. And, where we can, we grow our own plus South
Downs Water is on our doorstep and we have a partnership with Ridgeview who not
only is our house pour but we’re growing a vineyard together.
Our commitment to
sustainable business practices is engrained in our business practices and
adapts in line with ever-changing guest dynamics”.
As a certified B Corp, Exclusive Collection ensures that all purchasing decisions, products and
services fulfil its obligations to being a conscious business focused on
limiting its impact on the planet and the people it reaches. Most
recently the family-owned company has also partnered with event:decision to
further contribute to its B Corp certification.
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
