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End of Year Bashes to Beat Financial Blues.
Some companies say a special thank-you to staff.
By Melanie Peters
While some companies scaled down their end-of-year parties this month this month because of the poor economic climate, others managed to for out big money for celebrations ranging from James Bond bashes to wild motorbike rides.
Property media group, Media Nova, flew its staff to Cape Town from around the country, treating them to a one-day James Bond-theme party, which included high-speed boat jaunts. They were first treated to breakfast at the Cape Grace. An editor wrote on their website that staff in black clothing and an early morning shot of tequila set the pace for a bond-inspired day that involved high-speed boat jaunts to Hout Bay, endless cocktails, lunch in Camps Bay, a sundowner cruise around Table Bay and a late night dinner at Ida Levin’s drag show at the Table Bay Hotel.
And a small Johannesburg recruitment agency hired Harley Davidsons to take their staff to a venue.
An employee who asked not to be named, said their managing director mentioned to staff in her speech “when times are tough, that’s when companies need to say a special thank-you to their employees for their hard work and provide a ‘special’ year-end function”.
“It was really special; gifts were thoughtful and relevant to each individual, the entertainment was superb with a DJ, dancers, and singers.”
Advertising agency King James holds a huge bash every year, and the Johannesburg branch staff are flown to cape Town to join in.
A spokeswomen said this year they stayed over at Waterval Bush Camp in Tulbagh. The staff were given lunch and cocktails by the pool, and later enjoyed a braai-and-dance party. The party is always themed – this year it was pop, roc, and country musicians.
A Cape Town public relations company taxied its small staff in a stretch limo to Kitima Restaurant in Hout Bay.
But many companies put the breaks on extravagance. Cellphone service provider Vodacom has been known to splash out a whopping R30 million for its year-end bash But this year the company remained mum about its party, refusing to give any numbers.
Liza van Wyk, head of the management and business support training organisation BizTech said: “One client, which enjoys a multi-million-rand turnover, this year replaced office parties at five-star venues with braais in the gardens of the office park.”
She said some companies saw it as bad for their cost-cutting image for the year ahead to splurge on events when everyone has been told to trim expenditure.
“We have our own conference venue but knowing what welfare organisations are experiencing hard times, we decided to give all leftover foods and decorations to Choc (Childhood Cancer Foundation). We already make daily food donations to them but wanted to extend that.
“We know from our corporate clients that some have eliminated end-of-year events this year, or have severely curtailed budgets.”
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Media Nova is a dynamic, new-generation company at the forefront of developments in the South African publishing arena.
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