How to Throw a Holiday Party That Doesn’t Feel Like a Mandatory Meeting
You know it is a rough party when Santa looks like he wants to clock out early.
Corporate holiday parties are known for two things: lukewarm meatballs and pretending to laugh at the boss’s jokes.
Most end-of-year company parties feel less like a celebration and more like a required training session disguised with candy canes. Fluorescent lights, stiff chairs, and someone playing “Jingle Bell Rock” off a cellphone speaker.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Not in Marietta. Not at Tower Event & Conference Center.
If you want to host a corporate holiday party in 2025 that actually feels like a celebration instead of a breakout meeting with cookies, here’s how to do it right.
1. Stop Throwing Parties in Conference Rooms
There’s a difference between a holiday party and a budget meeting with cupcakes. Choosing the wrong space is the biggest reason corporate events fall flat.
At Tower Event & Conference Center, the Grand Hall seats up to 1,500 and can be transformed with lighting, staging, décor, and a huge dance floor. It instantly says “celebration,” not “office icebreaker.”
2. Don’t Skimp on Sound and Lighting
Corporate parties fail when:
no one can hear the announcement
the mic squeals
the room lighting feels like a dental exam
Our Grand Hall uses QSC-powered sound, zoned audio, and a 15-foot video wall, giving you true event-level production instead of breakroom ambience.
3. Give Your Team Room to Breathe
Even a great party turns awkward when everyone’s packed like they’re waiting for an elevator.
Tower offers:
Grand Hall for company-wide parties
Conference Room for up to 250 guests
Mezzanine for VIP gatherings, photo ops, and elevated mixers
Space matters. Especially for corporate groups that want a little elbow room.
4. Don’t Make People Trek Through Mud or Gravel in Holiday Shoes
Nothing ruins a night faster than stepping out of your car and into a landscaping experiment.
Tower Event & Conference Center has clean, paved blacktop parking.
Not gravel.
Not grass.
Not “hope you brought boots.”
It’s well lit, easy to walk, and supported by shuttle service and a covered carport for VIP and handicap drop-offs.
5. Upgrade the Food and Drinks
If your employees dressed up, your menu should too.
Tower offers a full gourmet-level catering kitchen large enough for professional teams. Whether you bring your own caterer or choose from one of our preferred local caterers, your food service will feel intentional, not improvised.
And when it’s time to toast the year, we provide on-site alcohol service with a cash bar, handled by trained, professional staff.
No coolers. No chaos. No guessing whose turn it is to restock ice.
6. Give Guests a Place for Photos
People want something they can post, something that makes the event feel special.
Our Mezzanine, entry areas, and Grand Hall provide natural backdrops for:
company group photos
awards presentations
“best night of the year” company snapshots
Plus, Marietta’s historic riverfront and Front Street storefronts are just minutes away for outdoor group shots.
7. Don’t Forget the Small Town Advantage
Marriott Inn & Suites Marietta
Big cities come with traffic, parking meters, and a hotel bill that requires a finance committee.
Tower Event & Conference Center sits:
directly off I-77 Exit 1
minutes from Parkersburg Regional Airport
near chain hotels, boutique stays, and the historic Lafayette Hotel
right beside Marietta’s Front Street shops and restaurants
Your team gets a beautiful, stress-free evening. You get easy logistics and happy employees.
The Bottom Line: Make It a Celebration, Not a Checklist
A corporate holiday party shouldn’t feel like another meeting on the calendar.
It should feel like appreciation. Like celebration. Like the year meant something.
At Tower Event & Conference Center, we built a venue that handles the stress so you don’t have to.
If your company is planning a 2025 holiday party or need something in 2026, dates are filling quickly. Reserve your spot today and celebrate the right way.
