Reasons to Hold a Company Christmas Party

Reasons to Hold a Company Christmas Party

When brainstorming on ways to recognize employees and reward their efforts and loyalty, corporate winter holiday parties often feature at the bottom of the pile. Yet, the value of holiday parties to the team morale and benefit to the organization is enormous.

So, why should your business consider treating its staff to a party this winter?

Recognition and Gratitude

A simple thank you with a brilliant winter holiday party at an exotic event venue such as Villa Ragusa can send positive ripples to an organization’s workforce. The employees feel recognized and appreciated as important members of the larger family, which often transfers to productivity.

Give Everyone a Break

Winter holidays are a time for the much-needed break from the office, and an offsite party is most appropriate.

A party away from the workplace allows everyone to relax and enjoy without distractions from the piles in their in-tray. They need a change of scenery to enjoy.

Bonding and Team Building

In a large organization with numerous departments, holiday parties provide excellent opportunities for staff to know each other. The new hires can meet their colleagues and form lasting work relationships.

Often, the theme of the party is informal. This allows for accessible communication and an efficient workflow in the future. The fun and openness that characterizes most winter holidays seem to break down barriers to efficient communication and interactions between members.

Reinforcing the Company’s Culture

A holiday party is an excellent opportunity to show everyone what the organization is about at the core, how they treat diversity, the interaction between the managers and employees, and the reward system and company values. The party also shows the importance of team spirit to the organization.

Corporate culture is at the center of every aspect of the organization, and a party is like a slice of the culture cake where you can see the different layers.

Are you looking to hold a winter holiday party as an organization? Villa Ragusa has the event space, amenities, and serving staff at your beck and call. We believe in successful events and celebrations. Contact us today.

Honor Yourself for Finding Your Own Life Path

Honor Yourself for Finding Your Own Life Path

Some of us find things we are good at late in life, which is okay. As author Rich Karlgaard refers to those that find their footing later in life, late bloomers, can have an advantage over others. They find their life’s passion. Mozart may have struggled as a teen and in his twenties, but he became a celestial genius.

The music genius quit his job and embarked on a journey that proved his life’s most productive and creative. Breaking free from convention seems tricky, but keep in mind that you’ll only regret the things you didn’t do more than those you did. So, if you have found something you’re good at, why not leap?

We are at an age where talent is recognized and leveraged to the maximum. You can leap and land just where skills are best utilized and succeed at something you’re happy doing.

Getting Started

Clarity of purpose and nerve is vital for people finding their own path later in life. In her classic, Aristotle’s Way, Edith Hall suggests that the formula to living a good life is becoming conscious of our talents, skills, and aptitudes and using our resources to make the most of them.

Discovering your authentic self takes effort and courage to lose sight of the dry land and sail into the unknown. Rich Karlgaard, the author of Late Bloomers, laments a culture steeped in early achievement, which inhibits us from our true passions. But it’s not too late to choose personal fulfillment over professional excellence. A dark horse will plod along for a long time before realizing they are on the wrong path of an unfulfilled life and making the change.

Celebrating the New Path

Finding something that sparks within us deserves celebration, and at Villa Ragusa, we know-how. You could be the next late bloomer. But more importantly, you find self-fulfillment in something you do – what’s more important than that? Celebrate with the few that believe in your ability to make the right choice and who will cheer you on the journey.

Celebrate Your 1st Paycheck with Friends

Celebrate Your 1st Paycheck with Friends

While there are several pillars of adult independence, the first paycheck is definitely among the most important. Your first paycheck is a breath of fresh air, and a pair of wings rolled up in one. You can finally buy and do what you want. Getting paid for the first time is a major milestone, and most people remember it. So, why not spice this milestone with a celebration?

Like most other people, you have a long list of things to buy and debts to pay. But your first check is an important milestone and worth remembering. You’ll look back on your retirement and appreciate the journey from when you got your first paycheck through promotion and other phases in your professional life.

Here are Tips on Celebrating your First Paycheck:

Have Everyone Contribute towards the Celebration

As much as it is tempting to foot the bill on your own, don’t. Keep in the back of your head that you will need funds to survive through to your next paycheck. Don’t splurge everything on the celebration, or you’ll live to remember the day with a bitter taste in your mouth.

Instead, have close friends and family members contribute to the day. Depending on the amount of the paycheck, you can foot a slightly bigger portion but don’t get carried away.

Who to Invite

Your close friends and family are an obvious choice but have a limit on the attendees. Keep the circle small to reign in on the expenses.

A few of your current workmates are great to have at such a celebration, as they’ll help you during the probationary period. Use this opportunity to strengthen this relationship.

Whatever the size of the celebration, Villa Ragusa has the perfect event space to suit your taste. Contact us for more ideas on celebrations with friends.

Honor the Retiree with Style

Honor the Retiree with Style

Millions of baby boomers reported retirement status by the third quarter of 2020. That translates to numerous retirement parties in the coming years.

Retirement is a vital milestone marking the transition from a busy and productive lifestyle, with life on the fast lane, to a quieter and more relaxed way of life. Not many are thrilled to enter this chapter of life for one reason or another.

So why not make this transition the best one they’ve ever had and make them feel loved?

Here are a few things that a retirement party should focus on.

Speeches

Paying tributes to the retiree’s contribution to the organization is the bee’s knees of retirement parties. Nothing can replace it. And while speeches from coworkers, bosses, friends and family should be part of the action, a lighthearted host or a great orator will come in handy.

Highlight the retiree’s accomplishments and efforts to help others find their feet in the organization.

Theme

We all have that one thing that plays the tunes to our hearts. It could be a place like Kruger National Park or the Bahamas, or an activity such as opera, music performance or art.

Since it’s their day, warm the retiree’s heart and go all out to use the theme of what they love most. Have inflatable animals and animal paintings if animals and nature are their passion.

Celebrate the Retiree

You can play video interviews on how others remember the retiree’s contributions.

For a bit more enjoyment, you can initiate a roast, where people make fun of the retiree while at the same time praising their achievements. Make sure the retiree and the guest of honor have a good sense of humor before going down that road.

Villa Ragusa has the amenities and the capacity to accommodate a large group to celebrate retirement. Contact us today.

Things to Consider When Choosing Your Event Venue

Things to Consider When Choosing Your Event Venue

The first task for any event manager is to find a venue. It is the most crucial component of any event. The event venue sets the tone for the event, defines many of the event’s options, and shapes your attendees’ experiences.

Although choosing a location is the first step, it is also the most challenging. There’s a lot to consider, and that depends on your decision. Before you can start inviting guests and booking presenters and entertainers, you need to know where you will host them.

Important Variables to Note

It all comes down to money. Your location will consume a large percentage of your budget, but it cannot take all. Food, signage, supplies, and even entertainment and staff will all need to be planned. Fortunately, if you’re ready to be flexible with your event date, you can save money on your event venue. To secure a reasonable rate on a reservation, you need to plan well ahead of time.

Buildings are limited by the number of people who can occupy them at any time. It’s crucial to double-check that the venue can legally and comfortably accommodate your guest list before you start sending out invitations. With a large and cozy ambiance, your guests should be able to wander easily across the venue space.

A venue may provide a service you hadn’t considered earlier. An event facility, for example, might provide exceptional catering services to meet a variety of catering requirements. This type of service could be beneficial in the long run.

The only way to learn an event location’s entire menu of services is to ask. Then, ensure you ask these questions to understand the available offerings. Selecting the right venue like Villa Ragusa can resolve significant logistical problems like equipment, space management, and food & drinks. At Villa Ragusa, our event management team is prepared to handle any issue that could occur at an event. Give us a call today for the best event management experience.

Assault During Events: What You Can Do

Assault During Events: What You Can Do

The Academy Awards have recently been the buzz of the town. The 2022 Oscars served us some truly out-of-place drama. And where there is controversy brewing, a lot is left for discussion. But it’s not just the history-making assault on stage.

While the internet rushed to discuss who was at fault, one would wonder how somebody would run up the stage to smack a host or make an unscripted joke. This reality begs the question: are you prepared for something like that if or when it happens? What do we do in that case?

Lessons to Be Learnt

So, how can event planners avoid such calamities in the future? Having the show scripted could rescue the day, especially if it is a broadcast event. You will also need a well-coordinated crew, a time delay, and a solid emergency plan. In such circumstances, that is the best you can do.

Before, commonsense expected that no one has access to the podium (except those invited). Now, with increasing levels of unpredictability among invited guests, measures may need to be put in place to avoid such eventualities. Create an environment where it’s not okay for seated guests to go on stage. So, make sure you don’t have a casual atmosphere where somebody feels like they can go up the stage to give a pat on the back or a smack on the face.

Depending on the setup and the audience involved, having security stationed close to (and probably sitting) the stage may be recommended. Another idea may be to get guests to sign a consent that such behavior would not be permitted under any circumstances. Also, event MCs must be civil in their actions and utterances to at least minimize any form of provocation.

The 2022 Oscars is a cautionary tale that makes us realize that anything can go wrong in an event. Therefore everybody must know what their role is in an event, event producers and guests alike. If you intend to host a drama-free and successful event, consider giving Villa Ragusa a try. Our event management can make fulfilling your customized fun requests a breeze. Celebrate the moment, and let us handle the burden for you.