9 ideas for a fun end-of-year work celebration in Singapore

The stunning Christmas decorations along Orchard Road are up, everyone’s starting to get their Christmas feast in order, making plans for gift exchanges… It’s definitely safe to say the festive season is fast approaching!

As we approach the end of the year, there’s no better time to celebrate the achievements of the past year and welcome the Christmas season in high spirits. It’s time to throw an amazing end of year celebration – and while bigger organisations have the budget to throw a massive annual dinner and dance (usually known as D&Ds), not all SMEs can do the same.

But fret not, because we’ve got plenty of ideas up our sleeve just for you. Let’s kickstart the planning!

Why throw an end-of-year office party?

An end-of-year celebration is a great way to strengthen workplace relationships, create memories and reward your team for their hard work. It can also be a great way to reflect on the past year, bring everyone together to celebrate, and get everyone refreshed and recharged before starting a new year.

For businesses with employees based in various locations, this is also a good opportunity to bring everyone together in one venue. As much as we know remote work is a game-changer, it’s important to still facilitate some face-to-face time. That’s something we do here at Employment Hero with our annual company retreat, called our Global Gathering, to build on those strong relationships in person.

Things you should keep in mind when planning an end-of-year celebration

If you’re in charge of planning the work celebration, here are a few golden rules to bear in mind.

It has to be fun – not work!

Your office celebration is supposed to be a break from the day-to-day work, so make sure whatever you have planned is fun, stress-free and easy for everyone. Keep any references to work at a minimum (eg. a trivia quiz shouldn’t be work knowledge).

Make it easy to attend

Bear in mind that the end of the year is a busy time for everyone, so your employees’ time will be at a premium. Make your party easy to attend by planning something during existing work hours, or give your team plenty of notice in advance. If you can only organise a celebration on evenings or weekends, consider extending the invitation to your employees’ partners and families.

Set a budget

Once you’ve got rough numbers, it’s important to set a budget and ensure that it’s approved by higher management. The last thing you want is any surprise costs! Remember, you don’t have to break the bank to organise a great celebration – a little ingenuity and creative thinking can make everything fairly cost effective.

8 end-of-year celebration ideas your entire team will love

To cap off the year on a high note, consider these celebration ideas that are sure to bring joy to the entire team.

1. Mini golf and murder mystery at Kulnari

There’s mini golf, there’s escape rooms, and then there’s Kulnari — an epic combination of both. They are the world’s first mystery golf experience, so it’s the perfect place to try something new! Combining some golf action with a touch of murder mystery, Kulnari promises a truly multi-sensory experience through storytelling and an immersive set design.

After you make your way through the first 9 holes, you’ll find the 9th Hole Bar strategically located there. Your team will be able to bounce ideas and theories off each other while indulging in a delicious drink. Apart from beer, cocktails and other alcoholic beverages, you’ll be delighted to know that they’ve got light bites and gelato too.

Their corporate bookings are available for groups of 20 and above, so if you’ve got a team around that size or more, this place is perfect for you. Email them to find out more.

Phone: +65 8126 5509 Email: info@kulnari.com Address: 51 Circular Road, Singapore 049406

2. Darts, dinner and drinks at Oche

What’s better than just dinner and drinks? Dinner, drinks and darts of course! Oche doesn’t just provide the classic dart experience — they’re tech-driven, which means not only is your game easy and enjoyable, you get a variety of different games to choose from, plus your scores are tracked automatically in real time. How awesome is that?

It’s the perfect place to challenge your co-workers to some friendly competition. With different skill levels available, there’s something for everyone, from beginners to seasoned pros. You can make group bookings for 16 people and above with tapas and drink packages available, so what are you waiting for?

Phone: +65 6904 1768 Email: booking.riversidepoint@oche.com Address: 01-05/06 Riverside Point, 30 Merchant Road, Singapore 058282

3. Day out on a private yacht

It’s always nice to escape the city and spend a relaxing day out in the middle of the ocean, soaking up sunshine and getting some vitamin sea. Nothing like a breathtaking view, delicious grilled food and champagne to kickstart an end-of-year party. Most yacht rental companies offer full-service packages that have everything covered, so all you have to do is book them, and turn up!

Apart from just hanging out on the yacht, there are plenty of water activities available too — take your pick from paddle boards, kayaks, giant floating mats, fishing gear and snorkelling gear, all available for use. Most charters come with complimentary BBQ chef service, so you don’t have to worry about food — they’ll get your meal prepared perfectly. All you have to do is either take up their catering packages, or order and deliver your food items from external parties to the yacht directly.

Check out Infinity Sails, Trident Marine Asia, Marina at Keppel Bay, One 15 Luxury Charting, Marine Bookings, Yachtly, and Blue Star Yachting to find out more.

4. Festive brunch buffet at Voco Orchard

Nothing gets people in the festive mood more than a delicious spread, and it’s even better when you have it for Friday brunch. The perfect way to kickstart the weekend — everyone gets to let loose, indulge in sumptuous food, and enjoy each other’s company. Opus Bar and Grill at Voco Orchard Singapore is all set for festive dining in December, with prosecco and champagne packages to boot.

Your team will get to feast on seafood like Boston lobsters, Canadian oysters and snow crab legs, meaty mains like Moroccan lamb porterhouse chops and spice-rubbed chargrilled pork ribs, roast turkey with black truffle and cranberry sauce, Japanese char siew pork ramen, and more — the list goes on. There’s definitely something for everyone regardless of their preferences in cuisine, and on top of all that there’s an incredible dessert selection with more than 20 options, including chocolate champagne logcakes, brandy-infused fruit cakes, eggnog tarts, classic panettone and more.

If there’s one way to make your entire team happy and thank them for their hard work, this buffet is surely it. Visit their website to find out more.

Phone: +65 6730 3390 Address: 581 Orchard Road, Singapore 238883

5. Try out all the arcade games at Timezone

Timezone isn’t just for kids, it’s for anyone who’s young at heart. So why not organise an end-of-year party with a casual twist? Redefine fun and teamwork with the plethora of arcade games available at Timezone. And the best part? You can leave all the planning to them.

Choose from any of their corporate event packages, and you get a dedicated party host who will guide your team through the whole session, use of the party room, unlimited games within a specific time period, and even a free bowling game thrown in. You can even customise the package to match your team’s unique style if needed.

Their venues accommodate up to 600 guests, so any team size is definitely welcomed. Remember — a team that plays together, thrives together!

6. Cater in for a cosy time with The Coconut Club

If you’re lucky enough to have a cosy and spacious office that can accommodate everyone, it’s not a bad idea to just host your holiday party in the office. It’s incredibly convenient, and you get to encourage employees to come into the office and spend some quality time with each other. The Coconut Club offers a festive feast with a local twist, sure to delight everyone’s tastebuds.

Seasonal specials include charcoal-grilled Australian lamb shortribs, BBQ beef backribs, grilled sea bass fillet in banana leaves with spices, traditional spiced fruit cake and more. They also have their signature nasi lemak of course, along with an extensive menu of starters, sharing plates, whole cakes and desserts.

The best part about hosting it in the office is that you can play any game you want — you can have a Secret Santa gift exchange session, challenge your team to a game of Christmas trivia, run a Christmas cookie decorating contest and more! While you’re at it, why not host a best dressed competition too? It’s a fun way to get employees to dress up for the occasion.

7. Board games at King and the Pawn

There’s no better way to strengthen team spirit and build a cohesive team than having lots of fun and laughter together. At King and the Pawn, you get to provide interactive fun for the whole team with more than 300 games available! Friendly board game gurus will be on hand to recommend and teach games, so you don’t have to worry about everyone being confused.

The free play team bonding format is suitable for groups of 15 to 80 pax, and they have various package options available, from weekday teatime to evening finger food and dinner packages. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage options are also available. If you have large groups of more than 20 people, it’s advisable to divide your team into smaller groups of 5-6 people in advance, so they can play a wide variety of board games.

Phone: +65 6259 1913 Email: queries@kingandthepawn.com Address: 24 Purvis Street, Level 2, Singapore 188601

8. Pool party at 1-Altitude Coast

Sentosa’s latest rooftop lifestyle destination is definitely somewhere you want to bring your team to for an epic end-of-year celebration. Perched atop the roof of The Outpost Hotel, 1-Altitude Coast boasts an alfresco pool deck and an all-day casual dining experience. It’s Sentosa’s first and only rooftop dining destination, overlooking the Palawan Beach and has stunning views of the Singapore Straits.

The terrace deck fits about 60 guests comfortably, while the entire space can fit up to 120 guests. There’s a full-service bar along with AV equipment, projectors and screens if needed. Sounds like the perfect place to make a splash, doesn’t it? The budget per guest will be $167++ for lunch and $208++ for dinner, so if you’re interested in hosting your company party there, you can head over to their website or enquire via email.

Phone: +65 8879 8765 Email: enquiry@1-altitudecoast.sg Address: Level 7 The Outpost Hotel, 10 Artillery Avenue, Sentosa Island, Singapore 099951

9. Create abstract masterpieces at Motion Art Space

It’s always nice to get the team out of the office and unleash their creativity, so what better way to do so than with blank canvases and an extensive selection of paint colours? At Motion Art Space, the sky’s the limit when it comes to creating a beautiful masterpiece.

And the best part is… you can relax, no artistic talent is required! All you need to do is focus on creating wonderful memories and snap lots of photographs. It’s suitable for all ages, which makes it perfect for multigenerational teams too.

For those who want to up the ante, you can even get custom brand stickers or custom brand colours prepared for your session in advance.

Phone: +65 88945218 (Whatsapp only) Email: hello@motionartspace.com Address: 36A Arab St, Singapore 199735

End-of-year celebration party FAQs

How early should you start planning your end-of-year celebration?

We’d advise that you start planning no later than one month before the party date. That gives you time in those early days to get all the important admin done, such as securing a budget and booking venues.

That might seem early but it’s always best to be prepared, particularly around the busy festive season. By planning in advance, you ensure that any event spaces, activities or venues aren’t already booked out for your chosen date. You also can give your team members plenty of notice so they can attend.

How can employers encourage team member participation?

To encourage your employees to participate, it’s really important to consider how this celebration can be stress-free and easy to attend. That means thinking about all your employees, whether they’ve got a busy home and family life or if they’re based far away and will have to travel to attend. Plan your event with their needs in mind and try to ensure it suits as many people as you can.

If you’re a people leader, this is also a good time to reflect on your team culture and employee engagement at work. Is your workplace a happy and positive place to be in? Your team are far more likely to want to celebrate with their colleagues if they enjoy being around them. Find out more about how you can nurture a great company culture and consider initiatives for improvement.

Should employers focus on team-building at a year-end party?

It really depends on your team. If you’ve had the same group of employees for quite a while and you already spend lots of time together, you can probably just use this party to celebrate and enjoy your team spirit.

However, if you’ve got lots of new team members or you feel like your team would benefit from stronger connections with each other, it can be beneficial to bring in some team-building aspects. Many of the activities we’ve named above require party attendees to collaborate, chat and work together, so it can be used as a form of team-building.

Just make sure to keep the focus on fun. A party probably isn’t the best time to ask them to come up with a big strategy for the new year.

Build better workplace relationships with Employment Hero

At Employment Hero, we know how important it is to have great relationships at work. Data tells us that 46% of professionals believe that work friends are important to their overall happiness, and a happy team is a productive one.

Organising a kick-ass work party is just one way you can celebrate your team, boost morale and build stronger workplace relationships. With Employment Hero’s employment engagement software, we’ve got plenty of features to help your employees feel connected and heard at work.

Our employee engagement software includes a company-wide feed for sharing achievements and celebrating milestones, employee happiness surveys, reward and recognition features and more. Everything has been built to boost employee engagement and foster an environment where colleagues can feel supported at work.

If you’d like to find out more about Employment Hero, reach out to one of our business specialists today.

We wish you a happy Christmas (in advance), and while you’re at it, why not get started with festive Zoom backgrounds to get everyone in the holiday mood? Don’t forget to put your out-of-office message too!