How this year’s Christmas party season will change due to COVID-19

Expect huge changes this Christmas party season, with bookings for corporate events down due to COVID-19. But that doesn’t mean end of year bashes are cancelled.

COVID-19 may not kill off the corporate Christmas party altogether but the events will be more boutique than blockbuster in 2020, hospitality figures say.

A 2017 survey found that Australian workplaces spent an average of $9722 on their annual Christmas party, and four per cent splurged in excess of $100,000.

But 2020’s economic downturn and reduced crowd limits for public venues have already prompted some companies to drop their end of year celebrations, while others will go ahead in a different format.

John Green from the Australian Hotels Association told News Corp there had been “a downturn in deposits for Christmas parties”.

“It will definitely be a quieter Christmas than what we are used to, but we are hoping for further relaxations in the coming weeks,” he said.

A good Christmas season can “set a hospitality business up for the coming year,” Mr Green said.

The office Christmas party may be scaled back a bit in 2020. Picture: Thinkstock

“Ordinarily a lot of venues take party deposits in July, and that deposit will take them through the winter period, or help pay for a refurbishment. We just haven’t seen anything like that this year.”

One financial services company famous for a lavish end-of-year party had already opted to pay staff a bonus rather than stage an event in 2020, Mr Green said.

A new survey by Bastion Insights revealed more than three-quarters of Australians – 76 per cent – are expecting to attend fewer Christmas parties in 2020. Seventy per cent of respondents said they expected Christmas to be different this year.

(In Victoria, the figures were even more pronounced, with 85 per cent of respondents saying they expected to attend fewer events, and 87 per cent anticipating a very different festive season.)

“Our latest survey shows that loneliness looms as a bigger threat to many this Christmas, more than any other year. Without the freedom to travel, Christmas plans remain up in the air or completely off the cards,” said Bastion Insights CEO Dianne Gardiner.

“There is also a reluctance for large gatherings, with many citing the need for small, more intimate celebrations.”

Sydney bar owner Hamilton Kings. Picture: AAP

Hamilton Kings, owner of Sydney venue Honkas said some big corporations were arranging “department style” events rather than whole-of-company celebrations.

“The large office-wide part isn’t really occurring this year, even if the venues can accommodate them,” he said.

One major beauty brand was arranging parties for staff in each store rather than one all-in shindig, he said.

“We’re also seeing a massive rise in interest in arranging experiences for staff,” Mr Kings said. “Things like cocktail making classes or dumpling making classes – people are wanting to do something a bit different.”

Other companies are looking to turn their Christmas parties into picnics for 2020.

In Canberra, the National Capital Authority has announced it will waive fees for accessing public land for companies and organisations wanting to hold outdoor end-of-year parties.

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Originally published as How this year’s Christmas party season will change due to COVID-19