by officePROhub.com on 12/11/2011 - 05:32 pm
Tag: Office Catering
Teresa Ooi From: The Australian
`There won't be anyone swinging from the chandeliers this year,' says Georgina Damm of Damm Fine Food, setting up this week for a party at Melbourne's Alto. Picture: Aaron Francis Source: The Australian
THE traditional year-end Christmas party has been pared down and become more subdued this year as companies grapple with global financial uncertainty.
Instead of the lavish party with lots of booze and food, companies are opting for more staff family gatherings such as picnics in the park, says Peter Rowland of Peter Rowland Catering in Melbourne.
"We are seeing a downsize in Christmas parties as companies become more circumspect and apprehensive about the global fiscal problems. Most companies are pulling back on lavish bashes, preferring to opt for smaller staff lunches or a family-day outing like picnics in the park," he says.
"The Christmas spirit is alive, but more subdued this year and numbers have been shaved."
Owners of small- to medium-sized companies are also cutting back on big bashes and hosting smaller cocktail parties instead, Mr Rowland adds.
Bruce Keebaugh, of catering and event organiser The Big Group in Melbourne, has noticed fewer corporates are splashing out this year, except for those in the mining sector.
"We are not seeing many extravagant parties. Budgets are tighter and some companies are opting for a day at the beach," Mr Keebaugh says. "Things are more subdued, but people are still having fun."
He notes those in the banking sector are taking a more reserved approach and holding quieter gatherings.
Georgina Damm, founder of caterer and event management company Damm Fine Food in Melbourne, says corporates have also cut back on inviting partners of staff .
"In this climate of economic unease, many companies are more conscious of where the hospitality dollar is being spent," she says.
"There are less sit-down dinner parties, and some companies have reined in inviting staff partners to the party. Others have limited the duration of the party to two to three hours instead of the usual four to five hours.
"Traditionally, radio and media companies have held over-the-top parties. This year there are no bells and whistles and parties for up to 1000 people have been reined back.
"There won't be anyone swinging from the chandeliers this year."
She says that even one major food company has told their staff they are not allowed to attend their clients' Christmas parties.
Peter Jones, of Peter Jones Special Events, says companies are deliberately keeping a lower-profile this year and not rolling out entertainers for the annual party.
"Most companies and government departments have not invited partners of staff members to minimise cost and numbers," he says.
"Corporates of today have a different mind-set and are socially more conscious about how they spend their hospitality dollar. Some have cut out champagne and spirits at parties."
However, Aussie Home Loans founder John Symond was in a festive mood when he shrugged off any concerns about the global fiscal uncertainty, throwing a cocktail party for 300 people at his harbour-front house in Point Piper this week.
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