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Almost three months before Christmas, the German events industry expects massive losses in the Christmas business in light of the corona pandemic. “This year, the number of Christmas parties in most companies is going to zero,” the chairman of the board of the Association of Event Organizers (VDVO), Bernd Fritzges, told the dpa news agency. The association represents some 600 event organizers from large and medium-sized companies.
Most companies tend to think of their Christmas party in spring or summer. “The outbreak of the pandemic occurred within the main planning period,” Fritzges said. Where the celebrations were booked anyway, discussions about cancellations or booking changes mostly continued.
The catering association LECA is also watching this. Demand for holiday parties is almost non-existent, a spokesperson said. About 90 percent of bookings have already been canceled by association members, the effects on the industry are dramatic. The year-end business typically accounts for 5 to 20 percent of annual sales.
Bake cookies using Zoom
“In the current situation, many companies just don’t dare to book,” said events agent Nils Hirschfeld. The uncertain development of the pandemic is holding many companies back. Also, there were concerns that a Christmas party could become a potential access point for the crown. “Many employers, many midsize companies with 200 employees and more, do not want to take this risk,” Hirschfeld said.
Instead, there is a demand for mobile outdoor Christmas markets that are installed on the company’s premises. “So there is enough space between the stalls, and people don’t get too close when they drink mulled wine, for example,” Hirschfeld said. Additionally, providers have also recently developed concepts for online celebrations. Employees gather in front of the screen, for example, to play escape games together online or to bake cookies.
