By Rieva Lesonsky
I love festivities, so this made me kind of sad: Fewer businesses will be holding holiday parties this year than at any time in the last 22 years, according to Amrop Battalia Winston’s Annual Survey on Corporate Holiday Celebrations.
Just 79 percent of businesses plan any type of holiday celebration, down from 81 percent in both 2009 and 2008.
Why the cutback? It’s not solely fiscal reasons: While 27 percent say a party isn’t in their budget, 55 percent say they don’t think having a party is “appropriate” in today’s economy.
“Fundamentally, those having holiday parties this year are much more optimistic about the year ahead, while those not having parties are more pessimistic,” said Amrop Battalia Winston CEO Dale Winston.
Adding to the optimism, 11 percent of those planning parties say they will be more lavish than the prior year’s—up from just 1 percent who said this last year. I guess there’s a silver lining!
Is your business having a holiday party this year? Why or why not? I’d love to know.
