January is increasingly being preferred over the pre-Christmas period for office parties, according to a leading Irish events organisers.

Paul Davis, CEO of the Davis Events Agency, has said that many employers are opting for a new year 'kick-off' event as opposed to the traditional Christmas party.

The agency has seen a 30% increase in bookings for the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period this year, with many such events happening in place of a December celebration.

“Traditional Christmas parties would see everyone having a big night out, then taking a few days off before facing into the January blues, when lots of them might be thinking, ‘I fancy a new job’," said Davis.

"Kick-off events in January are something to look forward to after the Christmas break, they’re an opportunity to treat workers at a time when they’re not going out much otherwise, so it can improve the atmosphere and feed into staff motivation and retention levels.

"It’s been around for a few years but we’re really seeing a jump in interest this year, and it’s starting to make January feel like the new Christmas”. 

Among employers who are still committed to hosting their staff party in December, Davis said the company has witnessed the rise of the boutique Christmas party.

“We’ve seen every kind of Christmas party over the years, and catered for groups of 15 people up to 1,500," he explained.

"A few years ago, major firms were into the attention-grabbing, statement celebrations - maybe as part of their retention planning too - but now many are breaking down their parties into smaller events, with groups divided into departments, for example."

Davis also believes that workers are much more discerning about the refreshments and want to enjoy good food with whatever they're drinking.

"People know there is no shortage of excellent options for food, and they want to sample that at a company event," he said.

Headquartered in Dublin, Davis Events Agency's clients range from government agencies to arts & culture organisations to blue-chip tech firms.

The international digital, brand and event marketing agency specialises in strategy, communications, employee engagement and brand marketing, and also has base in Texas.

(Pic: Getty Images)