Corporate events can often feel like they lack imagination, but that doesn’t mean they have to be. When thinking of hosting a corporate event, you want to create a long-lasting impression that reflects your organisation. To avoid bland catering, lackluster theming, and awkward speeches, all it takes is someone with creative ideas. Allowing an event planner, like our team at Arctic Fox Events, to plan your event means you can concentrate less on logistics and more on ensuring your guests feel welcome.
Take a look at these five examples of corporate event types, and learn how our team can help you turn it into a memorable success.
1. Gala Dinner
Think luxe, gowns, and tuxedos with champagne and more than one fork and knife at the dining table. Gala Dinners are striking occasions that can serve multiple purposes, from raising money, celebrating your company, or facilitating an awards night. These events tend to see large numbers of guests, so finding the right venue and seating options will bring your whole event together.
To make your Gala Dinner unforgettable, we recommend having a theme for your night. Setting the tone for the whole event, your theme will also drive all planning decisions and help engage your attendees. Some common themes we love are Navy + Gold, Tropical / Havana Nights, Casino Royale and Parisian Party.
2. Christmas Party
An annual staple on the corporate event calendar. Your employees put a lot of effort year-round to help build your business, and a Christmas party is the perfect way to reward your staff. An event planner can help you end the year on a high note, creating a festive party with top-notch entertainment, fun activities, and, let’s not forget, the booze.
To keep things fun and work-appropriate, we recommend having a social photo booth at the event. For those seeking the wow factor, hiring live entertainment like acrobats or fire twirlers creates an immersive and unforgettable experience.
3. Conference
Although it doesn’t sound as exciting as a Gala or Festive Party, Conferences are great opportunities to encourage networking and share upcoming business ventures. Depending on your company, they can be small or large, in-house or public, or single or multi-day.
For those of us who have attended a conference before, we know one of the most exciting things about them is probably the delicious food. We recommend creating an interactive food experience for your guests, like a donut wall or customisable cocktail bar.
4. Corporate Retreat
Get the creativity flowing by relaxing and recharging at a retreat, making a great environment for team building, brainstorming, and company planning. Planning a successful corporate retreat will leave your employees feeling inspired and your team thinking collectively.
Take advantage of the relaxing environment and stress-free minds by inviting a Keynote speaker to inspire and motivate your employees. We recommend finding a speaker who aligns with your company’s goals and ethos.
5. Team Workshop
Team workshops are a great way to get your team to share and learn new skills, although sometimes required gatherings don’t always create the excitement you are hoping for. One of our favourite team workshops we have planned was a team picnic by the beach. We wanted to create a space that maximised creativity and allowed everyone to bond.
To get your employees participating and not feel like they are in a high school assembly, we recommend creating a fresh room layout, changing seats to beanbags, changing the table layout, or having seating nooks to encourage networking. A fun idea to break people out of their distractions is to incorporate a contest into the workshop and include a prize your staff can’t resist.
If you are thinking of hosting a Corporate Event, your next step is to book a free chat with the Creative Director of Arctic Fox Events, Katie, to discuss your ideas, timeline, and how we can bring your corporate event to life and make it unforgettable.