Planning an Award-Winning Awards Night
I can’t believe that it’s already December! I don’t know about you, but this year, even with its cycle of uncertainty, has flown by. That being said, it brings us to today’s blog topic; awards nights. The end of the year brings celebrations for the holidays, Christmas, and the New Year. This is also a great time to celebrate your employees and the achievements you have all overcome together! Many of my clients tie in their awards night with their corporate Christmas event, but for this instance, I will just be speaking solely about an awards night.
Looking for tips on planning a Christmas party no one can beat? Check out my blog!
The Awards
Since an awards night is about celebrating significant milestones and achievements, it’s essential to plan:
- Which awards will be recognized
- Will there be a token of appreciation (gift, plaque, etc.)
- Who will be presenting the awards
Once you have figured out these three aspects, you can start to plan your event. Some considerations should be taken for each of the three bullets above, so I will break those down further for you!
Awards
Yes, we love our employees, and we want to celebrate them all; however, we have to remember that there will not be enough time in the evening to present each employee with an award. So what can you do about that? First, think about the significant achievements and who was part of those. Are there any particular employees that really sparkled this year? Once you’ve narrowed your list down a bit more, you can also consider group awards. Perhaps you want to present an award to a group of people or a team. This can help cut down on time while still recognizing the hard work that was done.
Token of Appreciation
This one can get a bit difficult, but it’s important to find the balance between your budget and something memorable the winner will cherish and remember fondly. You don’t have to think big and bold, but you may want to consider levels of gifts and your corporate culture. Here are a few ideas you can consider:
- Certificate of recognition (also includes free bragging rights to the winner)
- Plaque
- Company swag (lunchbox, jacket, etc.)
- Gift certificate
Need some more swag ideas? Check out my blog!
The Presenter
I know this one seems relatively easy, but the awards presenter is not always the CEO or owner. The presenter of the awards needs to be personable and be able to speak on stage in front of an audience. Perhaps you have a high-level manager presenting, with the CEO or VP present. You will know what works best for your company, but make sure to chat with the person you have in mind sooner than later to make sure they are comfortable with it first.
The Event
Great! You’ve got many tough decision factors weighed out, which means you can move on to the fun part… planning the event itself (hey, it’s my favorite part at least). Let’s start with the basics:
- Number of guests– will your event allow for employees to bring their partner or a loved one? It’s always great to have your loved ones see you recognized for your hard work.
- The budget– how much do you have to spend on the entire event, from planning to cleanup?
- The venue– do you have a location at your facility where you can host the event, or does a venue need to be rented? Does it fit into the budget comfortably?
- The catering– most awards nights do include a catered dinner, do you have a caterer in mind? Will it fit the budget?
- Pre-order the awards– ensure the correct awards are ordered with extra time to ensure that they arrive in time for the event. I always like to include a bit of spare time in case someone is missed or a mistake is made on the order.
Now, of course, the list above does not cover everything, but it will help you plan the bulk of your event. Don’t forget to write down little details and set calendar reminders to keep you on track!
Need help finding the perfect venue? Check out my blog!
As always, Planit Events Inc. is here for you! It is my job to take the stress of event planning off of your plate so that you can sit back and enjoy the night (maybe you’ll win an award too). So please reach out, and I would be happy to see how my professional event planning and management skills can help you plan the perfect awards night!