Planning a corporate event is difficult, but most people could probably pull it off if they really had to. However, putting together a memorable event that attendees will be talking about for weeks is a whole other matter.
Even the best corporate event companies sometimes struggle with coming up with unique and exciting themes and concepts for their events. Finding a central idea that will be the focal point of the entire event requires not only a keen eye for current trends but also a deep understanding of the audience that will be participating.
Luckily, even though finding a theme is one of the more challenging parts of corporate event management, there are a few themes that usually deliver excellent results.
With that in mind, let’s explore a few corporate event theme ideas that have the highest chance of getting people excited and talking about your event.
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Winter Festival
One of the easiest ways for corporate event management companies to develop an effective theme for their event is to base it on the current season.
For instance, during winter months, and especially with Christmas approaching, you can’t go wrong with a Winter Festival theme, where you embrace the snow-white decorations and create an icy wonderland for your attendees to enjoy.
You can customise everything from the menu, the dress code, to the drinks that are being served, providing an unforgettable and Insta-worthy experience for everyone involved.
Carnival
Who doesn’t love a good carnival experience, right? Although it may be more familiar to Americans, British people also are just as keen on a good carnival-themed experience, so why not make it the central focus of your corporate event as well?
You can use props and design elements such as booths, mock (or even real) carnival rides, arcade games, and anything else that you and your audience associate with a grand carnival experience.
Also, don’t forget the staple foods like popcorn, hot dogs, ice cream, and other delightful comfort foods that are sure to get everyone flooding to the booths during your corporate event.
If you want to add something that will generate ooh’s and aah’s, you could consider hiring a magician or a carnival-themed entertainer to provide an unforgettable spectacle for your audience.
Sports
Sports are deeply immersed in our culture and lives, so it’s an excellent choice for a theme that corporate event companies often end up using.
A football theme centred on English football and the Premier League will always generate a positive response – you can use jerseys and other sports-themed decorations, set up special live sports areas, and encourage people to showcase their favourite team’s jerseys or other accessories.
A sports theme also serves as an excellent opportunity to hold an awards ceremony, handing out symbolic trophies for outstanding performance, meeting goals or reaching milestones.
Murder Mystery
If you’re looking for a spooky theme that’s suitable for late autumn but don’t want to go the traditional Halloween route, why not set up a Murder Mystery theme that could get your audience buzzing with excitement while also providing numerous audience participation opportunities.
This option will provide you with a ton of flexibility in terms of your venue, as almost any setting can be converted into a who-dun-it experience if you get creative and think outside the box.
Get people to dress up in a certain style, provide themed beverages and foods, and organise a (fake) murder mystery where people have to solve the riddle to win prizes and rewards.
Hollywood
No matter where in the world you might be, chances are that people there are still attracted to and fascinated by the shine and glamour of Hollywood.
That’s why a Hollywood-themed corporate event makes so much sense – you can be all but sure that people will be very enthusiastic, and will take the time to dress up accordingly for the big red carpet entrance.
Have movie-themed snacks and drinks ready, and try to get an advanced screening of an anticipated movie if you really want to get people buzzing with excitement.
A movie theme is another excellent option when you want to organise an awards ceremony – handing out fake Oscars for various accomplishments is something that attendees will cherish for a long time.
Comics
These days, a large percentage of people from all walks of life are deeply invested in the Marvel and DC universes, not to mention many more who enjoy or have enjoyed reading comic books growing up.
So, why not use this passion for comic universe fandom to create a unique experience for your conference attendees? After all, corporate event management is all about being creative and striving to put together the most exceptional experiences possible, and this type of daring solution might be exactly what’s needed to put your event on the map like never before.
Don’t be afraid to encourage people to dress up as their favourite characters from book series or comics, and make sure to create an immersive environment that celebrates great fiction and all of the excitement that it brings.
When it comes to food or drinks, you can go in almost any direction that you like, but if you were able to add logos or appropriate design elements that would be a nice touch that would be appreciated by your guests.
Cultural Diversity
Great Britain, and especially London, is a hub for people from all corners of the world, each of whom brings their own unique experiences and insights about life and business.
So, why not use your corporate event theme choice as an opportunity to celebrate that diversity of cultures that interact with each other on a daily basis?
You could set up booths or areas around your event, each of which representing a country, a culture, or a city, and use authentic elements to allow attendees to experience what makes that culture unique.
You can provide information about the different backgrounds of countries or ethnic groups, have a wide range of traditional foods that guests can try out, and hold fun trivia contests to quiz the knowledge of the people that are attending.
Author Bio
Sarah Hill is a content writer at Seven Events Ltd – leading virtual event company offering event management and venue finding services. She started her career in the events industry almost a decade ago as time progressed she became an avid event blogger sharing her insight on corporate event planning.