Too many people leave organising Christmas parties to the last minute

August 13, 2009

Recent research from an online events company has found that half of office Christmas party organisers are not planning to start looking to book their event until December this year, which is many cases is far too late.

The figures may be unsurprising in light of the current economic climate, as many firms will be waiting to see if their budgets can stretch to an office party this Christmas. As a result, many will wait until the last minute before they try to book their party venue or event.

Although understandable, leaving booking until the last minute can prove to be a false economy. Booking later leaves organisers with fewer choices and larger bills for their events.

Larger groups who leave their Christmas party search till November or December, will almost certainly find it impossible to find a suitable venue, particularly in metropolitan centres like London. July and August are the best months to organise yuletide office parties for groups of over 50 guests.

Over a third of the 250 respondents said they will be aiming to spend less than £30 a head for their event this Christmas. The survey also found that 10 per cent plan to organise their event in November, 15 per cent in October, 17 per cent in September and 10 per cent in August.

Although money is tight for many firms, a Christmas party is one of the best ways to thank your staff, retain loyalty and help employees to bond and work well in teams.