How to organise a company Christmas party trip?

A company Christmas party does not have to be limited to a few hours spent around a shared table. A company Christmas party trip combines a festive dinner with team bonding, a change of scenery, exploring a city and additional activities. If you are planning a longer stay, it can also include accommodation and free time. This makes it more than just a pre-Christmas event – it can also be a chance for the team to celebrate the end of a busy year together.

However, this type of event requires a little more planning than a traditional company Christmas party outside the office. You need to choose a destination and date, arrange transport, meals and activities and, for a longer trip, accommodation as well. So how can you organise an event that feels festive without turning it into an overloaded team-building trip?

Christmas party away from the office – which teams can benefit from it?

A company Christmas party trip can be a particularly good option for teams that do not have many opportunities to spend time together in person. This includes remote and hybrid teams, companies with offices in several cities and teams whose employees work from different locations.

However, a Christmas trip for employees does not have to mean a multi-day journey to the other side of the country. Sometimes, all you need to do is choose an attractive destination one or two hours from the company’s headquarters. The team can arrive in the afternoon, enjoy some local attractions, get together for a festive dinner and return home in the evening or stay at the hotel until the following day.

When choosing the right format, the main factors to consider are the number of participants, where they are based, the budget and how much time you can dedicate to the event. A Christmas team event for a small company will look different from a gathering of several dozen employees travelling from different parts of the country.

How to organise a company Christmas party trip and when to start planning?

It is worth starting preparations earlier than you would for a standard company dinner. December is a busy period for hotels and restaurants as well as for businesses themselves. The larger the group and the more extensive the programme, the earlier you should start planning to have a wider choice of dates, rooms, event spaces and additional services.

A good way to organise a company Christmas party trip is to start by deciding on four key factors: the number of participants, the budget, the length of the trip and the city or region. Only then should you move on to choosing a hotel, restaurant and activities.

The date should also take your company’s schedule into account. Instead of automatically choosing the last week before Christmas, check whether your team is dealing with important project deadlines, year-end reporting or planned holidays at that time. Sometimes, organising the event a little earlier can make it easier for more employees to take part.

Where to organise a company Christmas party trip?

The destination should be chosen based on more than just its tourist appeal. It is also important to consider how easy it is to get there, whether there is enough accommodation for the whole group, whether the venue has a restaurant and suitable space for the Christmas dinner, and what activities are available nearby.

A hotel in the city centre can be a convenient option. Participants do not need additional transport between their accommodation, the restaurant and nearby attractions, and the programme can easily be extended with a group outing around the city.

Two interesting options include Wrocław, known for its popular Christmas Market, and Gdańsk, where the Baltic Sea offers a different kind of winter experience. Each destination can give a company Christmas party trip its own distinct character.

Company Christmas party trip to Wrocław – include the Christmas Market in your plans

Wrocław is a particularly good destination for a December company trip. Instead of organising every activity from scratch, you can make the most of the festive atmosphere in the city centre and include a visit to Wrocław’s Market Square in the programme. Christmas lights, seasonal food and drinks, and the many attractions of the Christmas Market create a festive atmosphere that attracts visitors from across Poland and beyond.

A company Christmas party trip to Wrocław could include the team’s arrival in the afternoon, check-in at the hotel, a group visit to the Christmas Market and then a festive dinner. Qubus Hotel Wrocław is located in the city centre, right by the Market Square and the Christmas Market, making it easy to include a walk through the festive city centre in the event schedule.

A festive dinner in a decorated restaurant by the fireplace can feature traditional Christmas flavours or, alternatively, a more modern take on seasonal dishes.

This means that a company Christmas trip does not necessarily require a packed programme of organised activities. Sometimes, a convenient location, a shared dinner and a few hours spent enjoying the city together are enough to create a memorable festive atmosphere.

Company Christmas party trip to Gdańsk

Another option is Gdańsk. This destination can work particularly well if your company wants to turn its Christmas event into a more complete team trip rather than simply organising a dinner away from the office.

The stay can include a walk around the city centre, sightseeing or a team-building activity, followed by a festive dinner. Qubus Hotel Gdańsk offers a Christmas event package that combines a seasonal menu with additional activities, such as Christmas bauble painting, an escape room or a mini casino.

When planning the event, you can therefore combine a [company Christmas party in Gdańsk] with time by the sea and walks around the city, as well as an additional programme tailored to the character and preferences of your team.

How to organise transport for a company Christmas party trip?

When an event is organised away from the usual workplace, transport becomes one of the key logistical considerations. The organiser should first establish where the participants are travelling from and whether everyone will be starting their journey from the same location.

For a group travelling from the same area, a shared coach can be a convenient option. It makes it easier to set a common departure time, eliminates the need to find parking for multiple cars and means the team-building experience can begin during the journey.

If employees live in different towns and cities, travelling independently may be more practical. In this case, make sure everyone receives clear information about parking, train connections, check-in times and the planned start of the event.

One-day Christmas event or a longer company trip?

Not every company Christmas party trip needs to include an overnight stay. If the destination is relatively close to the company’s headquarters, you can organise a one-day event – travel in the morning or early afternoon, a team-building activity, a festive dinner and a return home in the evening.

A company Christmas party with accommodation offers more flexibility, however. Participants do not have to worry about catching the last transport home, and the programme can continue later into the evening. This can be particularly useful when team members are travelling from different regions or when the destination is a long way from the company’s headquarters.

An overnight stay also gives you more freedom when planning the programme. You do not have to fit every activity into just a few hours, which can make the event feel more relaxed and enjoyable.

What to include in a company Christmas party trip?

A festive dinner will usually be one of the main parts of the event. When choosing the menu, consider the number of guests, the character of the occasion and their dietary preferences. Traditional Christmas flavours can be combined with more contemporary dishes, while the dinner can be served at the table or offered as a buffet. For more inspiration, read our guide:

A festive dinner will usually be one of the main parts of the event. When choosing the menu, consider the number of guests, the character of the occasion and their dietary preferences. Traditional Christmas flavours can be combined with more contemporary dishes, while the dinner can be served at the table or offered as a buffet. For more inspiration, read our guide: Company Christmas party menu – what to serve at a festive event?

You can also include workshops, team games, sightseeing, a group walk or a small Christmas-themed activity. Choose ideas that suit your team rather than assuming that everyone will want to take part in an intensive team-building activity.

A good programme does not need to fill every minute of the event. It is worth finding a balance between organised activities and free time that participants can use as they wish. If the event includes an overnight stay, leave at least some time unplanned. Some people may use it to relax in their room, while others may prefer to go for a walk, chat with colleagues or explore the city on their own.

This flexibility is particularly important if a company Christmas party away from the office is intended to thank the team and give employees a chance to relax after an intensive period at work.

Company Christmas party trip – a celebration tailored to your team

There is no single formula for a successful company Christmas party trip. For one team, a one-day dinner combined with a walk through festive Wrocław may be the perfect option; for another, it could be a weekend in Gdańsk with an overnight stay and additional activities. The Qubus Hotel network also organises festive company Christmas parties in many other locations, including Katowice, Łódź, Żory, Bydgoszcz, Zielona Góra, Kraków and Legnica. Check all Qubus Hotel locations.

The most important thing is to tailor the programme to the needs of the participants. A well-planned company Christmas party trip should leave plenty of room for celebrating together, talking and relaxing. It is this combination of a change of scenery, team bonding and a festive atmosphere that can turn the event into more than just another company dinner.