How to Plan a Hybrid Corporate Holiday Party

As companies continue to embrace remote work and hybrid work models, hosting a hybrid corporate holiday party has become a popular way to include employees both in the office and working remotely. A hybrid event allows everyone to participate, regardless of location, and ensures that all employees feel connected during the holiday season. In this article, we’ll explore how to successfully plan a hybrid corporate holiday party that keeps both in-person and virtual attendees engaged, entertained, and involved.

1. Set Clear Goals for the Event

The first step in planning any corporate holiday event is to define clear goals. For a hybrid event, you need to consider how to create an experience that is equally engaging for both in-person and virtual attendees. Having a clear objective will guide your planning process and help you choose the right activities, entertainment, and technology to make the event a success.

Consider the following goals for your hybrid holiday party:

• Inclusivity: Ensure that all employees, whether in-person or remote, feel equally valued and included in the event.
• Team Building: Foster collaboration and connection among employees by offering interactive activities that encourage teamwork.
• Entertainment: Provide entertainment that can be enjoyed by both in-person and virtual attendees, ensuring a fun and engaging atmosphere for everyone.

Defining your goals ensures that your hybrid holiday party is purposeful and provides value for all attendees.

2. Choose the Right Technology for Seamless Integration

Technology is at the heart of any hybrid event, and ensuring smooth integration between in-person and virtual attendees is crucial to the success of your holiday party. Choosing the right platform and technology will allow you to host the event effortlessly and create a seamless experience for all participants.

Technology considerations for your hybrid event:

• Virtual Event Platform: Use a reliable virtual event platform that allows remote attendees to join the event easily, interact with others, and participate in activities. Platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Hopin are great options for hosting hybrid events.
• Audio-Visual Equipment: Make sure that your in-person venue is equipped with the right audio-visual equipment, such as microphones, speakers, and cameras, to ensure that virtual attendees can hear and see everything clearly.
• Interactive Features: Incorporate interactive features like live polls, Q&A sessions, and chat functions to engage both in-person and virtual attendees throughout the event.

Using the right technology ensures that your hybrid event runs smoothly and allows for seamless interaction between both groups of attendees.

3. Create Engaging Activities for All Attendees

One of the key challenges of planning a hybrid holiday party is making sure that both in-person and virtual attendees are equally engaged. To achieve this, you’ll need to plan activities that can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of location. Offering a mix of virtual and in-person activities helps keep everyone involved and adds a fun, interactive element to the event.

Engaging activity ideas for your hybrid holiday party:

• Trivia Games: Host a trivia game with questions related to the holiday season, company history, or employee interests. Virtual participants can join via the event platform, while in-person attendees can participate on-site using handheld devices or team boards.
• Gift Exchange: Organize a virtual gift exchange or Secret Santa, where employees can send digital or physical gifts to one another. Use a gift exchange platform to facilitate this for remote workers.
• Photo Booth: Set up a photo booth at the in-person event and encourage virtual participants to take and share photos via a hashtag on social media. You can also offer digital props or backgrounds for virtual attendees to use during their photo session.
• Virtual Karaoke: Add some fun and excitement with a virtual karaoke session. Both in-person and virtual attendees can participate by singing along to their favorite holiday tunes, creating a lighthearted atmosphere.

Offering a variety of interactive activities ensures that everyone, no matter where they are, feels included and engaged in the celebration.

4. Provide a Shared Experience Through Entertainment

Entertainment plays a huge role in making any holiday party memorable. For a hybrid event, you need to select entertainment that can be enjoyed by all attendees, whether they’re in the office or joining remotely. The key is to choose entertainment that translates well to both in-person and virtual formats.

Entertainment ideas for your hybrid event:

• Comedy Hypnotist Show: A comedy hypnotist show is perfect for hybrid events, as it allows virtual attendees to watch the fun while in-person attendees can enjoy the humor up close. The interactive nature of hypnosis keeps both groups engaged and entertained.
• Live Music or DJ: Hire a live band or DJ that can stream their performance to virtual attendees while also performing in person for the on-site guests. This allows everyone to enjoy the same music and energy, no matter where they are.
• Holiday Performances: Consider hiring a virtual performer, such as a magician or stand-up comedian, who can perform live for both in-person and virtual attendees. This ensures a consistent experience for everyone.

Choosing entertainment that can be enjoyed by all attendees creates a shared experience, making the holiday party feel inclusive and exciting for everyone.

5. Send Special Gifts to Virtual Attendees

To make your virtual attendees feel included in the celebration, consider sending them a special gift or holiday package in advance. This could include festive treats, company-branded items, or a gift card for a local restaurant or store. Sending gifts creates a personal touch and shows appreciation for their participation, making them feel like part of the event even if they aren’t physically present.

Gift ideas for virtual attendees:

• Holiday Treats: Send boxes of seasonal snacks, cookies, or hot chocolate kits to virtual attendees to enjoy during the event.
• Company Swag: Include branded items like mugs, T-shirts, or notebooks to make employees feel connected to the company.
• Gift Cards: Offer gift cards to popular online retailers, coffee shops, or local businesses as a thank-you for attending the virtual portion of the event.

Sending thoughtful gifts to virtual attendees adds a personal touch to the event, ensuring that everyone feels appreciated and included.

Conclusion

Planning a hybrid corporate holiday party allows you to include all employees, whether they are in the office or working remotely. By choosing the right technology, offering engaging activities, selecting inclusive entertainment, and sending thoughtful gifts, you can create a memorable experience that brings your team together for the holiday season. With careful planning and attention to detail, your hybrid holiday party will be a fun, inclusive, and successful event for all.

Ready to plan your hybrid holiday party? Consider adding a comedy hypnotist show for an interactive, entertaining experience that everyone will enjoy!