The Main Event by Memory Makers Event Planning, LLC

When the economy took a nose-dive in 2008 company holiday parties were one of the first casualties. As the economy slowly begins to stabilize and businesses see sales increasing, some are again hosting holiday events, though not usually as lavishly as in years past. In a survey of 2,600 employers, CareerBuilder.com found that 58 percent of companies will have some type of celebration this year. That is up from 52 percent in 2010 and 49 percent in 2009 but way down from 96 percent in 1997. In contrast, just 36 percent of employees who were surveyed plan to attend their company's event. No reason was given for the lack of interest in the parties. Most parties will continue to be simple and less expensive than a few years ago. About 60 percent of business owners are limiting attendance to employees. Most will hold their party during the workday or near the end of the day with many luncheons and potlucks planned. The reasons given for hosting a party include improvin...

It's that time of year, time for personal and company Christmas parties followed by New Years parties; then it will be Super Bowl parties and more. Nearly every event includes food, much of it provided by a caterer. But how do you choose a reputable caterer who will enhance your event, not create unpleasant, and perhaps costly, surprises? The following tips will help. First, decide on your budget. Be sure to consider the cost of sales tax, gratuity and other incidentals, which can add as much as 24 percent or more to the food cost. Next, decide on the type and quantity of food you would like to serve. In this area we are fortunate to have a wide variety of catering choices, including Basque, Mexican, Italian, barbecue and more. You might serve a meal or perhaps you need only appetizers. If your party is casual and not too large, you might ask a caterer to drop off food rather than paying a server to stay during the event. Some caterers have alcohol or beer a...