It’s ‘Christmas As Usual’
It’s ‘Christmas As Usual’ As Businesses Invest in Reassuring Staff and Keeping Up Morale
Venturi’s Table Corporate Cookery Centre Reports Uplift in Christmas Party Bookings Taken Throughout September and October
Venturi’s Table Corporate Cookery Centre, which offers delicious and indulgent cookery-based corporate events, has experienced an increase in bookings made during September and October for company events in December. The centre reported a 67% year on year increase in Christmas bookings taken throughout September and October with the uplift especially pronounced at the end of the latter, which saw enquiries up almost 72%. Demand for Christmas events at the centre bucks the trend of some businesses reportedly cancelling Christmas this year and suggests that companies are keen to give staff a message of ‘business as usual’ in a worrying economic climate.
In the last two months, Venturi’s Table in London’s Wandsworth Town, has been inundated with companies looking to book its high-end kitchens and Italian Christmas menu for their yearly staff ‘knees up.’ The increase in enquiries and bookings taken throughout September and October (when compared with the same period in 2007) were from companies across a variety of business sectors and ranged from SMEs to big, global business brands. At £135 a head, a Christmas event at Venturi’s Table is certainly not the corporate entertaining equivalent to ‘Aldi’ and, with Sicilian wines on tap and kitchens worth £150,000 each, will give UK employees a thoroughly deserved mood-boost.
Among a number of other organisations, Helical Bar, a London-based property development and investment company will not be ‘cancelling Christmas’ this year and is treating staff to its annual party at Venturi’s Table. Duncan Walker a Senior Development Executive for the company commented, “Yearly rewarding staff with a Christmas party is important for us and this year it is a non-negotiable. It is important that businesses carry on with as much a sense of normality as possible to inspire and maintain confidence. There is also a need for pragmatism when it comes to reducing outgoings. Treating staff is not really something which can be cut as it is essential to long-term stability.”
JoEllyn Prouty McLaren, Director of Executive Education at London Business School is bringing her team to Venturi’s Table for their Christmas party. As JoEllyn explained, “Our Christmas party will combine two important goals, celebration of this year’s success and ensuring our team has the collegiality it will need to manage through the tough economic times. As witnessed in our courses, the best teambuilding takes place when people share a common experience and have a real opportunity to get to know each other better. Rather than leaving this to a restaurant, Venturi’s Table allows us to co-create our celebration together.”
BDA London a leading corporate gift and design company also booked a Christmas party for staff at Venturi’s Table. Kathy Montague, Director for the company commented; “staff are one of our best assets and must be kept buoyed-up in order to perform well and feel confident about our business. It is short-sighted of businesses to cut opportunities to treat staff during these challenging times. There is a general feeling of insecurity, regardless of whether you work for an organisation riding out the economic storm or not and this is the time they need encouragement most. Encouragement is oxygen for the soul.”
Business professionals enjoying a Christmas party at Venturi’s Table will take part in creating their own gourmet Italian meal while sipping fine Sicilian wines in covetable kitchens. With expert chefs on hand, businesspeople will learn how to make the ‘to die for’ Rotolo di Pasta with spinach and ricotta, Conchiglioni with wild mushrooms and Panettone pudding. Thoroughly relaxed and up-lifted ‘corporate chefs’ will then be invited to sit around the table together and be served the delicious food they have made. Companies can also add a complimentary wine tasting to their event which takes participants on a tour of Italy’s major wine regions and includes a blind taste challenge.
For more information on Venturi’s Table or to book a gourmet cookery experience companies can call 020 8871 4888 or visit www.venturis-table.com.
This Latest News article was created on 1st December 2008