Most employees have been working remotely for at least a year and a half, not to mention those who were recently hired and have never met their colleagues in person. The importance of getting together is no longer to be underlined, despite the fear raised by the arrival of a new variant. Companies have therefore thought about how to celebrate the work accomplished and strengthen the bonds between teams in the most festive, inclusive and creative way possible.

Close together, in small groups

“People are hungry to get together in a gym and socialize,” confirms Thomas Giraudo, president of Altitude C , a corporate event planning agency. Of course, health guidelines have restricted capacities and mixed up the cards. “We have just delivered an outdoor event, which we set up according to health regulations and the temperature,” he explains proudly.

Small businesses can prioritize in-person meetings in restaurants or bars, with their employees who are vaccinated. Larger businesses have opted for subgroups. This is the case at Cogeco: “small celebrations by department, but no big parties ,” says one employee. Same story at BRP: “there are 18 of us in my team. We went to have fun at the Escaparium then had a drink at the Shaker together, and we ended it in style at the restaurant.”

Group reservations are allowed without limit of participants, with a maximum of ten guests per table. "Several have chartered the restaurant, it's mind-blowing. I've been fully booked on my large tables for a month for December and January; I'm turning down requests every day!

"Of course, with distancing and masks, we can no longer dream of big events, standing cocktail dinners with canapés, having an open bar and ending the evening dancing, but we're not complaining after being closed for a year and a half. Since reopening, people have really been there," confirms Denis Lessard, owner of Le Serpent on the famous Prince Street in Montreal.

In virtual or hybrid mode, bring experiences to life

These joyful gourmet escapades nevertheless raise the question of inclusivity in the face of employees who are not vaccinated. The office party behind a screen remains the safe formula. Tried last year and definitely less expensive. On the other hand, it is not necessarily the greatest fun ! A statement echoed by the Altitude C agency: "Virtual is still popular, but it has definitely changed in scope."

Increasingly, firms are hiring creative agencies that brilliantly use digital technology to captivate the audience, be more professional and interactive with experiential platforms where guests can communicate with each other, do activities and immersive journeys. “At the beginning of the pandemic, we created a technical division and set up our own filming studio to be able to produce high-quality virtual events,” says Mr. Giraudo. The entertainment offer that is being put forward is now closer to a tailor-made television production, highly technical and creative for a personalized experience.

Using a hybrid formula is also a wise combination, which allows you to be inclusive and reach a wider audience, so that virtual guests can join others in person. It is still necessary to know how to segment the two portions fluidly to optimize the performance of the social and the distribution of content, which can be recorded and staggered according to time zones, for example. “We held an event in three cities simultaneously. It was offered in virtual mode on the Internet for those at home, then broadcast in the hotel rooms of those who were present and who then gathered for the banquet,” illustrates Mr. Giraudo.

Making the impossible possible and recreating a little magic: office parties have a great mission to accomplish this year because we will have to rebuild these bonds that are gradually fading as a society is building itself differently.