With Christmas just a few weeks away, office chatter would ordinarily be turning to upcoming festive celebrations whether that be a team Christmas lunch, cocktail reception, glamorous dinner affair or full on company disco. But with many of us across the world still working remotely, and strict COVID restrictions and lockdowns in place across much of Europe, few businesses are likely to be able to treat their staff to a Christmas party.

Whilst ‘normal’ festive celebrations won’t be taking place, that doesn’t mean Christmas has to be cancelled entirely. Instead, event agencies and DMCs have been busy coming up with alternative and virtual solutions to help clients to engage and reward teams for their hard work during what has been a difficult year. We asked our community of inVOYAGERs across the world to share some of their innovative ideas, and here’s six of the best…

Disco Yoga

CR Worldwide is offering something completely different to get your team moving this Christmas with its Disco Yoga class. The agency says: “This unique class is for disco lovers, yoga aficionados and first timers looking for a new way to unwind and socialise digitally.

“Have a DJ host a pre yoga warm up party whilst you await your hour-long yoga session, led by Dancing Queen and Disco Yoga founders Sarah Hunt and DJ Darlo. Bring out your inner sparkle and your grooviest indoor chic with some glitter and spandex or keep it comfy and casual in your joggers. Get dancing, moving, and laughing whilst connecting with each other.”

Optional extras include branded yoga mats and disco cocktails, to finish the session on a high and keep you in the Christmas spirit.

Arrange Your Own Christmas Market

Swedish agency NW Production – Exclusive Travel Creators, is offering clients the option to create their own Christmas Market in a Covid-secured outdoor environment. “What is cosier than strolling around a Christmas market among beautiful handicraft, delicious mulled wine and the smell of roasted almonds? We can help clients create their own in an inner courtyard or on outside parking lots. We got very good response to this, even though it is now tougher with new restrictions,” says owner Nina Widtskiöld.

The market will be decorated with a Christmas tree and cosy lamps and guests can enjoy locally produced delicacies while being entertained by the Lucia choir or listening to Christmas carols performed by the Limelight Chorus. Children will have the opportunity to meet Santa and feed and pet a pony with apples and carrots. 

In addition to consideration for distance, there are stations with hand sanitisers and all suppliers follow the Public Health Agency's guidelines regarding the sale of good and food/drink.

Virtual Christmas Party with Bespoke Gifting

UK-based SevenEvents is offering a one stop party solution via its HubSeven virtual platform. “Think of the platform as the Christmas party venue, a web-based application that allows us to stream content, breakout for fun themed party activities and even enjoy some relaxed social interaction with networking session or as we like to call it, the after party!,” says event operations director Heather Russell.

“Our top sellers this year include Christmas themed musical bingo and an entertainment-based Christmas cracker of a quiz. Then to ensure guests get the full Christmas party experience we are coupling the virtual party agenda with bespoke gifting options delivered to their homes including include ready to pour cocktails, beautifully branded Christmas biscuits, mini Christmas trees to decorate at home and some foodie faves with DIY waffle and pizza kits also being big hits this Christmas.”

Holiday Drive-Thru Experience

TAG is offering a drive-thru holiday concept to US clients for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, which is a great way to bring people together while allowing for social distancing. “Drive-thru’s are very popular in the US, especially here in California. Along with some fantastic suppliers, we can either transform the client’s parking lot, or hire a pre-existing drive through and transform it into their own branded experience. Through an app, guests would pre-order their food, have directions to their specific parking section and tune into the live radio station for the event,” explains Bethany Chamberlain, event director USA.

“They would first of all drive through a ‘red carpet’ where paparazzi take pictures of them in their cars. The next stage would be an interactive green screen where it looks like their car is in high speed chases from various movies. Once they arrive in their parking space, their food is brought to them by girl on roller skates, just like the old times, then the show is ready to begin. With options of movies, stand-up comedy and concerts, the choice really is there. It’s a great way of everyone being together, bringing along their families to enjoy a safe and enjoyable holiday party!”

Virtual Cocktail or Culinary Masterclass

Portugal-based XPTO Events & DMC is giving clients the option to engage teams with virtual festive cocktail, port wine and cooking masterclasses. These are great for team bonding and provide and fun shared group experience, albeit virtually.

“For the Cocktail Masterclass and Port Wine, we can organise a hamper of gifts to be delivered to everyone’s  home prior the event. This means that everyone will receive the necessary items to participate in the event,” says XPTO partner Anabela Freitas.

For the cooking class, a chef will conduct the preparation of a traditional Portuguese  recipe, main course and dessert. Guests will be sent a shopping list of ingredients in advance, and XPTO can also send a Portuguese gift.

Online Escape Room

Valerie Bihet, director at Miami-based VIBE Agency, suggests a virtual escape room as a fun and positive team-building activity for Christmas. “We have found great success working with our clients on this. They love it and because it’s so interactive, everyone has a lot of fun. How it works is that we separate the employees into teams of 4-5 people. Then each member of those teams downloads the game platform setup onto their iPad, phone or computer to play,” she says.

“We then send them an intro email including instructions for how and when to connect in the game.  The escape clock starts, just like in a real escape room, and the players in each team “walk” their avatars around the room clicking on things to get the puzzle clues they need to solve to complete the door code and escape.”

As many as 200 people can participate at the same time, within different rooms in the platform. Everyone can play at the same time with their own team code. This can be followed by an online virtual award ceremony for the winners across all teams.