Important Steps to Hosting Holiday Parties

Important Steps to Hosting Holiday Parties – Besides planning parties for my clients, I love being a guest at a party. However, you want to make sure that your guests are safe and comfortable. As an invited guest, it is hard to ignore food safety and missing weather plans.

Here are some important steps to remember when planning your next event:

  1. Check the weather. Last year, I was invited to an outdoor corporate holiday party that was held in their parking lot and it was raining and cold. The event planner (not her day job) had no weather contingency plan. The weather was cold and rainy and there were no tents, canopies or heaters. Everyone was very cold and it was sad to watch it play out in real time
  2. Food safety – Food Safety.gov is a great resource.  On a few occasions, my husband and I have been invited to parties, where food has been left out for more than two hours.  Food must not be kept out for more than two hours and if it is hotter than 90 degrees then the amount of time is less than one hour.
  3. RSVPs – sending out invites for business events is great for your guests to plan whether or not they are able to attend. Recently, we received an invitation without a cut-off date and when I went to register five days out from the event, registration was closed.  I was told it was okay to attend but I was unable to get a hot beverage since I was not on the list.  Keep your guests informed to allow them to plan accordingly.
  4. Long lines – many times people don’t think about having shorter lines for food and beverage.  Unfortunately, this happens more often than not.  The party that I attended last year had one line for hot chocolate and one line for food. Imagine your guests standing in the rain to get their food and beverage. I passed on the line and said my hellos and got out of there.  No reason to get pneumonia just to have a hot dog.

If you would like assistance, please contact our office at 310-994-7789 or email us at giannaandco@gmail.com

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Food and Safety Resource:

https://www.foodsafety.gov/