Winter is already knocking on the windows, which means it's time to plan a festive outing for the team. Below are ten scenarios that are sure to help your colleagues recharge after the December rush and welcome the New Year with enthusiasm.
Table of Contents
- Award of the Year
- Themed party
- Corporate outing
- Excursion to a neighboring city
- Playing "Mafia"
- Secret Santa
- Guess Who? Contest
- New Year's master class
- hackathon
- Charity event
Award of the Year
- What you will need: a charismatic host, amusing figurines, and a drum for the raffle.
- Where: office, loft, or rented hall.
- Format: offline.
Remember the cult TV series "The Office": every year, they presented their own awards for the most unexpected achievements. Repeat this idea — come up with nominations such as "Deadline Guru" or "Chief Memologist," present commemorative statuettes, and organize a win-win lottery with nice prizes.
Themed party
- What you will need: decorations, costumes, a DJ, and a screen for broadcasts.
- Where: a restaurant or the company's spacious open space.
- Format: hybrid: offline + online connection of branches.
Want this year's corporate party to be truly memorable? Set the tone: a 90s-themed party, Russian fairy tales, or Barbie. Invite colleagues from other cities via video link — a joint celebration is a great way to bring a distributed team together.
Corporate outing
- What you will need: a country house or hotel, transfer, online airline tickets.
- Where: a ski resort, spa complex, or recreation center near a large city.
- Format: 1–3 day trip.
Head to the slopes of Sheregesh, the Arkhyz Mountains, or choose a cozy cottage near the lakes outside Moscow. During the day, enjoy skiing, ice skating, and the sauna; in the evening, relax by the fireplace, play board games, and take part in a gift lottery. To book your accommodation, use a budget hotel booking service to save money.
Excursion to a neighboring city
- What you will need: a guide, transfer or tickets, a place to have lunch.
- Format: offline (groups of up to 30 people).
Change the scenery: from Moscow to Kolomna, from St. Petersburg to Vyborg, from Kazan to Sviyazhsk. Urban legends, Christmas markets, and evening strolls through the lights will create the magic of the holiday. It's easy to plan using the business travel platform: book transportation and a tour guide with just one click.
Playing "Mafia"
- What you will need: role cards, a timer, music.
- Where: a meeting room or the cozy office kitchen.
- Format: offline, 8–20 participants.
A great way to improve communication skills and logical thinking. Let the quiet analyst become the don, and the charismatic manager become the sheriff: unexpected roles bring the team closer together.
Secret Santa
- What you will need: a lottery service (mysanta.ru), a Christmas tree in the office.
- Format: offline or online — for distributed teams.
Set a limit (500 rubles, for example) and ask participants to indicate their preferences in the service. On the appointed day, gifts are collected under the tree, and recipients try to figure out who their Santa is. Life hack: if your colleagues fly often, give them vouchers for cheap airline tickets.
Guess Who? Contest
- What you will need: childhood photos of employees, a projector, or a wall newspaper.
- Format: offline/online (up to 50 people).
Collect photos of colleagues before they started school, mix them up, and let the team guess who is who. Winners will receive symbolic prizes or certificates for booking luxury hotels.
New Year's master class
- What you will need: a guest craftsman, decorative supplies.
- Format: offline.
Baking gingerbread cookies, weaving pine wreaths, or painting balls with acrylic paint are great opportunities to get creative. The finished crafts will make wonderful gifts for loved ones.
hackathon
- What you will need: laptops, a facilitator, brainstorming stickers.
- Format: offline/online.
Choose a New Year's brief — "smart garland" or "gift exchange app." Divide employees into mini-teams, give them 2-3 hours, and hold a final pitch. The winners receive group plane tickets to a warm destination — a win-win motivation!
Charity event
- What you will need: a partner fund, tables for the fair, boxes for collecting donations.
- Where: office or rented space.
- Format: offline.
New Year's miracles can be given not only to each other. Invite a charity project with a fair: colleagues will buy souvenirs, and the proceeds will go to orphanages or shelters.
Virtual formats
If part of the team is remote, the holiday broadcast can be organized via Zoom or MS Teams. Five life hacks: short interactive activities, musical interludes, chat quizzes, a separate moderator, and gifts delivered to your home.
Results
A corporate event is an opportunity to remind everyone that there are real people behind KPIs and reports. Choose a scenario that suits your mood and budget, and professionals will take care of the logistics. Tickets, transfers, and accommodation for the entire group can be conveniently arranged through the TravelHub system.
