Have Your Annual Work Event at an Ottawa Restaurant this Holiday Season
It’s hard to imagine while we’re in the middle of a November heatwave, but Christmas is right around the corner, and it will arrive sooner than you can say, “Ho-ho-hold the phone, I gotta prepare the annual yuletide office party!” That’s right, it’s never too soon to book your Christmas party and begin inviting staff, making plans, and getting the (snow) ball rolling. First things first, you should go out of your way to host it anywhere but in your office. The quickest, most sure-fire way to kill all the fun of your evening is to spend it in the same place where you do your job, sipping punch and trying to pretend to have fun amidst the photocopiers and the calendar of project deadlines. Fortunately, there are plenty of beautiful venues like restaurants in Ottawa that can accommodate you and keep the holiday cheer high.
Hosting your party in a place like a restaurant that is used to having corporate events, especially around the holidays, also means that you can take it a little easier—these are the holiday party professionals. From creating the perfect winter wonderland atmosphere to making sure everyone has a hearty meal in front of them and the eggnog never gets too low, they will be a major help in ensuring the success of your office party. Now you just need to bring the rest of the ingredients together.
Now that you’ve found the right Ottawa restaurant to bring your coworkers together, you should select some sort of theme or activity—or both—to add to the cheer. A popular one is the ugly Christmas sweater. It lets people take a night to not take themselves too seriously, and adds an element of fun as people compete to bring the most cringe-worthy outfit. A secret Santa exchange is also a recipe for fun—but a price cap or a fun twist such as only vintage items you already owned means no one has to spend an arm or a leg on it. If I may suggest one cardinal rule, however—avoid office gossip, shop talk, business politics, and everything else that belongs in the office. After all, this is meant to be a night to be enjoyed. Leave work at work, and take the time to get to know the people you work with as regular, everyday people.
Of course, the best ingredient to a successful holiday party at an Ottawa restaurant is the right attitude. While that may sound like the corny message of a children’s Christmas TV special, it’s a truism to any get-together. Create a welcoming atmosphere, and make it clear that, regardless of whether you call it a Christmas party or not, all people of all faiths are welcome.
Merry Christmas, and here’s to an office party to remember!
