It’s everyone’s favourite time of year – the season of Christmas parties! If you haven’t already got yours sorted then you really ought to hop to it – you don’t want to be worrying about finding a venue while you’re already dealing with other important questions such as ‘which horse will win the Melbourne Cup this year?’ and ‘where is the sun?’

For those of you who are highly efficient and are all sorted for your end of year festivities, ask yourself – what will make your Christmas party unlike all the other parties your colleagues have previously attended? Keep in mind no amount of good tunes or roving entertainment can make up for not enough food or a rubbish venue. Your colleagues should feel like they are part of something special, and memorable. Don’t forget that your event, whilst being full of festive cheer, does need a hint of professionalism!

Don’t forget as well that you are part of this brilliant EA network, and you have already been exposed to some wonderful people and businesses that can help you pull off a magnificent and memorable function – whether it’s a board meeting, EOFY party, sponsor presentation or your 2017 Christmas party (it’s never too early to find the perfect venue!) Use your network, that’s what it is there for. For instance, at the networking event we hosted here at Etihad Stadium, all your senses were engaged and you were exposed to function spaces that you hadn’t even considered; you sampled food and beverage from a renowned caterer; you witnessed a variety of entertainment styles; you experienced world-class lighting displays; you met some of Melbourne’s best-regarded event industry suppliers; you hob-nobbed with some of Australia’s famous footy players; and you went in the draw to win some outstanding prizes. All of these companies are available for you to engage with, for your own event.

Your Christmas party is no doubt one of many special events that you organise throughout the calendar year for your organisation. Hosting events is the best way for your business to engage with your portfolio of clients, connect with new prospects, motivate employees and ultimately create strategic relationships that lead to increased growth. Events are an amazing avenue that will allow your business to reaffirm your values and let your brand shine, which in turn can transform your audience into your brand ambassadors.

With the end of year fast approaching it is time to think about what you are doing in 2017, so that you start the year on the front foot. There is immense value in having a strategic event plan for your business, no matter what the purpose, size or budget is for your calendar of events. But what legacy is your event leaving in the minds of the attendees? Often the legacy is considerable but hard to quantify. In the long-term, there is little doubt that events can greatly benefit those hosting them, and it’s important to remember that it’s not just about the dollar figure hitting your bottom line. Before you develop your event plan, you must ask yourself these questions:

• What goals does the company want to achieve this year?

• What events will assist us in achieving these goals?

• What will be the purpose of each event?

• What are the determining success factors for each event and how will they be measured?

• What professional resources does our company have in place to execute these events and measure their ROI?

Then you need to figure out what your calendar of events will be made up of. Suggested events and the motivator for each event type are outlined below:

The question we always ask our clients is “what is the experience that you are looking to provide?” Industry suppliers and venue representatives such as our team at Etihad Stadium are here to make you look good in front of your bosses and teams. We want you to hit your targets and exceed your outcomes no matter the shape or size of the event. But remember, your ROI will not necessarily happen immediately – it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

And just remember, in the famous words of Fergie “a little party never killed nobody.”