How to Plan Your First Post-Pandemic In-Person Holiday Party

The world is slowly but surely emerging from the pandemic. While we’re all probably still dazed and accustomed to wearing sweatpants to our Zoom meetings, we’re finally nearing a post-pandemic society.

With the vaccines rolling out for the past several months, we now stand a chance against COVID-19. In line with this, you’re most likely extremely excited to transition back to in-person parties, especially since we’ve officially entered the holiday season!

While there is a clear light at the end of the tunnel, it’s still important to be cautious when planning in-person events. That’s why we’re here to help streamline your very first post-pandemic in-person holiday party.

You can trust the experts at The Loft on King to show you how to plan a company Christmas party that will spread the Yuletide cheer, not COVID-19.

How to Plan a Company Christmas Party

Knowing how to plan a company holiday party in a post-pandemic world can be quite tricky, but everything should run smoothly as long as you cover these base points.

Choose Your Venue

This is the first step of your grand master plan for in-person events! Since it’s a Christmas party that we’re talking about, the more winterized, the better.

Mind you though, aside from aesthetics, amenities, and seating capacity, event planners have a lot more to take into consideration. COVID-19 restrictions are easing up, but that doesn’t mean that the threat itself has eased up. Make sure that you choose a venue that offers spaces wide enough for relative physical distancing without hindering the whole point of the event. What you want is to plan a successful party that keeps everyone safe while they enjoy the festivities.

Also, make it a point to have a stable contingency plan in your armoury. Until we’re totally out of the woods, you can never predict if you might need to postpone or cancel the event. So, it’s advisable to get the answers to these questions:

What is the latest date that you can cancel the event in case any problems arise?
How far in advance can you make changes to the catering and decoration requirements?
When is the latest date you adjust the number of spaces you have booked at the venue?

Communication is key to a successful event. So, remember to keep in constant contact with the team at the venue to stay informed and vice versa.

Build Trust With Your Event Guests

Before knowing how to plan a company Christmas party in a mask-wearing, physically distanced society, it’s essential to consider the perspectives of your guests. Yes, we are all looking forward to attending in-person parties; but no, we’re not all keen on the idea of doing that right now.

It has been nearly two years since most of us have been to a large-scale event, so social anxiety and health concerns will inevitably be tied to the first in-person company party.

To help make your guests feel more comfortable, it’s of utmost importance that you build trust with your party attendees. Let them know what kind of health and safety measures will be put into effect. For instance:

Will there be temperature checks at the entrance of the venue?
Will you require guests to present proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test?
Is everyone required to wear a mask during the event?
Will there be sanitizing stations?
How far apart are the tables and seats spaced from each other?

Make Use of Technology

Digital events were all the rage for the past 700 days or so. If you weren’t already using Zoom, Skype, or Google Meet pre-COVID, then you are most likely a master of the platform now. So, why not use this to your advantage during your big event?

For example, consider hosting a hybrid event that gives people the option to attend either in-person or virtually. This cuts down the number of physical attendees for better social distancing without having to exclude anyone from the guest list.

Don’t forget to ensure that your venue of choice can accommodate your audio/visual needs!

Wine and Dine Your Guests

What’s a holiday party without delicious food and drinks?

The Loft on King’s in-house catering option is thoughtfully prepared by their second-floor restaurant, Pablo’s Snack House. As your guests mingle, have a wide selection of hors d’oeuvres available for them to nibble on. You can also opt for a more formal dining experience with a seated capacity of 30 to 40 people in the restaurant itself.

How to Plan a Company Christmas Party: Post-Pandemic

The simplest way to answer this question is with The Loft on King!

Our stunning outdoor event space is decked out to bring all your winter wonderland event dreams to life. With the capacity to accommodate large and small parties, you can throw a big or small Yuletide soiree for everyone to enjoy.

Give us a call, and together we can plan the perfect post-pandemic in-person holiday party that will signify the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter.