You won't find many foie gras burgers at this summer's corporate picnics. The city's economic woes haven't made the corporate picnic an endangered event, but this year planners are scaling back their warm weather employee get-togethers. And many are planning them on just a few weeks' notice.
Last year, event planners had their plans set as early as February. But by the beginning of June, prime dates were still available at popular summers venue. John Kowalenko, co-owner of catering company Art of Eating, attributes the change to a confluence of events that left planners frozen with indecision. "The war, the economy, the winter, the snow—I think all those things had a great effect—kind of like putting things into a semi-state of hibernation," he says.
By spring, planners emerged thirsty for deals. "There's not an open checkbook," Kowalenko says. "Everyone wants competitive bids—not just from us, but from the subcontractors we use, whether it's the tent, the decor or the lighting."
Whether the budget is six figures or $60, everyone is looking to trim costs. That may mean trading a weekend at the beach for a picnic in the parking lot or forgoing a pricey golf outing for a day of rock climbing. Beth Corwin at PR firm Patrice Tanaka & Company is considering a group skate at the Roxy roller disco. GQ took advantage of a deal that kept an editorial working retreat in New Orleans under budget. "I was exploring the Web for places in and around the greater New York area and I saw this special deal on Orbitz for really cheap flights to New Orleans—so we grabbed them," says Lisa Dallos, GQ's director of PR.
Planners also want more value out of their corporate picnics. One trend is hyping the event with creative invitations and signs. "A picnic is one day, but you can plan and talk about it for days and weeks," says Stan Levy at event planning company Unirec.
Outings that provide business value—reinforcing the company mission, for example, or enhancing communication between co-workers—are also popular. Luke Visconti, co-founder of business magazine publisher Diversity, is planning a picnic in New Jersey. "We've asked everyone to come with a food that's representative of their culture," Visconti says. "It ties together what we do since our subject is diversity and culture and how that gives you a different perspective on business." (Going potluck is also a lot cheaper than hiring a caterer, of course.)
Planners looking for teambuilding activities are flocking to Chelsea Piers, which has seen an increase in bookings for activities in which co-workers compete in a sport like volleyball or work together to achieve a goal, such as navigating a spider web. "Companies are now trying to combine business objectives while also having fun," says Chelsea Piers' Mollie Marcoux.
Another important factor in planning summer jaunts is a company's image. "It's really very tough to have layoffs and then have a picnic-people say, lay off five less people and then don't have the event," Levy says. That may explain why many companies declined to even discuss how they're spending their summer allowances.
Backlash aside, many companies are still devoted to their summer get-togethers. Bloomberg L.P. is going ahead with its annual picnic at Randall's Island this year, and Paychex, the payroll and human resource services giant based in Rochester, New York, will still hold its 22nd annual clambake (last year attendance topped 1,500). And residential mortgage brokerage Manhattan Mortgage is replicating last year's picnic at the Harrison Conference Center at Glen Cove, a landmark Georgian estate on the north shore of Long Island.
The summer picnic also remains a cost-effective morale builder. "When you do a holiday dinner, you're talking several hundred dollars per person," Levy says. "But if you do a picnic, you're in the twenty-thirty-forty range."
This year, Ralph Katz, co-owner and principal of public relations and creative services firm CooperKatz & Company, is hosting a low-cost party at his vacation home in the Catskills. Katz is hiring a caterer, but the food will consist of burgers and "simple platters of sandwiches." Says Katz: "We don't look at [our summer picnics] and say they must be expensive to be worth it to employees."
—Michele Marchetti
3 BUDGETS, 3 IDEAS
On the Cheap: Potluck Lunch
Keep it casual and use the resources you've got. Take advantage of the office courtyard or rooftop and throw a potluck lunch where employees each bring a dish based on a theme or course (to make sure there are appetizers, entrees and desserts on hand). You provide the flatware and beverages. For low-key entertainment, hire a strolling blues band like the Hickory Hills trio that's repped by Michael Bongar Entertainment. Price: $1,800 for the trio.
Mid-price: Movie Night
Mimic Bryant Park's outdoor movie night with a private film screening in Central Park. Big Wave International can get the movie rights and park permit, and show the flick on a 20-by 40-foot screen. Brown bag lunches from Match Catering and Eventstyles have wraps, baguette sandwiches and salads in colorful bags. Price: $10,000 for the movie, $25 per person for food.
Splurge: Go to the Zoo
Take employees to the Central Park Zoo, where penguins, monkeys and birds provide the entertainment. Add a gourmet picnic buffet with grilled baby lamb chops, herb marinated quail on tabbouleh and fresh lemonade from Thomas Preti Caterers, one of the zoo's exclusive caterers. Price: $11,000 and up for zoo rental; $100 per person for food.
—Jill Musguire
These stories originally appeared in the summer 2003 issue of the BiZBash Event Style Reporter newspaper.
Last year, event planners had their plans set as early as February. But by the beginning of June, prime dates were still available at popular summers venue. John Kowalenko, co-owner of catering company Art of Eating, attributes the change to a confluence of events that left planners frozen with indecision. "The war, the economy, the winter, the snow—I think all those things had a great effect—kind of like putting things into a semi-state of hibernation," he says.
By spring, planners emerged thirsty for deals. "There's not an open checkbook," Kowalenko says. "Everyone wants competitive bids—not just from us, but from the subcontractors we use, whether it's the tent, the decor or the lighting."
Whether the budget is six figures or $60, everyone is looking to trim costs. That may mean trading a weekend at the beach for a picnic in the parking lot or forgoing a pricey golf outing for a day of rock climbing. Beth Corwin at PR firm Patrice Tanaka & Company is considering a group skate at the Roxy roller disco. GQ took advantage of a deal that kept an editorial working retreat in New Orleans under budget. "I was exploring the Web for places in and around the greater New York area and I saw this special deal on Orbitz for really cheap flights to New Orleans—so we grabbed them," says Lisa Dallos, GQ's director of PR.
Planners also want more value out of their corporate picnics. One trend is hyping the event with creative invitations and signs. "A picnic is one day, but you can plan and talk about it for days and weeks," says Stan Levy at event planning company Unirec.
Outings that provide business value—reinforcing the company mission, for example, or enhancing communication between co-workers—are also popular. Luke Visconti, co-founder of business magazine publisher Diversity, is planning a picnic in New Jersey. "We've asked everyone to come with a food that's representative of their culture," Visconti says. "It ties together what we do since our subject is diversity and culture and how that gives you a different perspective on business." (Going potluck is also a lot cheaper than hiring a caterer, of course.)
Planners looking for teambuilding activities are flocking to Chelsea Piers, which has seen an increase in bookings for activities in which co-workers compete in a sport like volleyball or work together to achieve a goal, such as navigating a spider web. "Companies are now trying to combine business objectives while also having fun," says Chelsea Piers' Mollie Marcoux.
Another important factor in planning summer jaunts is a company's image. "It's really very tough to have layoffs and then have a picnic-people say, lay off five less people and then don't have the event," Levy says. That may explain why many companies declined to even discuss how they're spending their summer allowances.
Backlash aside, many companies are still devoted to their summer get-togethers. Bloomberg L.P. is going ahead with its annual picnic at Randall's Island this year, and Paychex, the payroll and human resource services giant based in Rochester, New York, will still hold its 22nd annual clambake (last year attendance topped 1,500). And residential mortgage brokerage Manhattan Mortgage is replicating last year's picnic at the Harrison Conference Center at Glen Cove, a landmark Georgian estate on the north shore of Long Island.
The summer picnic also remains a cost-effective morale builder. "When you do a holiday dinner, you're talking several hundred dollars per person," Levy says. "But if you do a picnic, you're in the twenty-thirty-forty range."
This year, Ralph Katz, co-owner and principal of public relations and creative services firm CooperKatz & Company, is hosting a low-cost party at his vacation home in the Catskills. Katz is hiring a caterer, but the food will consist of burgers and "simple platters of sandwiches." Says Katz: "We don't look at [our summer picnics] and say they must be expensive to be worth it to employees."
—Michele Marchetti
3 BUDGETS, 3 IDEAS
On the Cheap: Potluck Lunch
Keep it casual and use the resources you've got. Take advantage of the office courtyard or rooftop and throw a potluck lunch where employees each bring a dish based on a theme or course (to make sure there are appetizers, entrees and desserts on hand). You provide the flatware and beverages. For low-key entertainment, hire a strolling blues band like the Hickory Hills trio that's repped by Michael Bongar Entertainment. Price: $1,800 for the trio.
Mid-price: Movie Night
Mimic Bryant Park's outdoor movie night with a private film screening in Central Park. Big Wave International can get the movie rights and park permit, and show the flick on a 20-by 40-foot screen. Brown bag lunches from Match Catering and Eventstyles have wraps, baguette sandwiches and salads in colorful bags. Price: $10,000 for the movie, $25 per person for food.
Splurge: Go to the Zoo
Take employees to the Central Park Zoo, where penguins, monkeys and birds provide the entertainment. Add a gourmet picnic buffet with grilled baby lamb chops, herb marinated quail on tabbouleh and fresh lemonade from Thomas Preti Caterers, one of the zoo's exclusive caterers. Price: $11,000 and up for zoo rental; $100 per person for food.
—Jill Musguire
These stories originally appeared in the summer 2003 issue of the BiZBash Event Style Reporter newspaper.
