How to Host a New Year's Party at a Hotel

Introduction

Sure, some spaces just beg for a party to be thrown in them, but does it always have to be your place doing the pleading? Especially on that annual night of the Granddaddy of Incredible Party Expectations that rolls around on the 31st of December? Here’s an idea: This time, borrow a chic space–the kind that comes complete with people eager to help you have a great time. Perfect, right? So instead of sweating the nitties, turn your party from blip to big hit on the social calendar by hosting it at a hotel, preferably one that has the same vibe as the party you envision. New Year’s Eve plans may be the most last minute of the season, but they also have the wildest “make history” potential. Minus the months of stressing, this approach also trends toward the highest fun factor. Couple that with a hotel’s general insta-party atmosphere, and you’re free to focus on what’s really important–a lively guest list (mixing up people from all walks of your social map), then keeping your guests mingling comfortably throughout the night (and morning). We did a trial run at the chic-by-the-shore Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica. No one went thirsty! But it was all in the name of science: the science of creating the perfect party atmosphere. Here are the top tips for pulling it off.

By: Allana Baroni

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Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step1

First things first. As a host, your job is to make sure the right mix of people is invited to your party. When making the guest list, think of New York’s Central Park. It’s full of people from all walks of life: plumbers, moms, businessmen, punk rockers, etc. That is the vibe you want to embrace for your party.

Step2

When guests first arrive at the hotel for the party you want to avoid that whole “deer in the headlights syndrome” when asking them what they would like to drink. Have a tray of specialty cocktails ready for them to choose from. Ask the bartender to make up a few of their most popular signature drinks for you so your guests can choose between those or ordering directly from the bar.

Step3

Getting the party started and keeping it alive is one of the main focuses for a host. Remember most of your guests won’t know each other right away. Give them an interactive party activity to break the ice and start the mingling. I suggest an activity called “Life Tips: A Penny For Your Thoughts.” Just invite guests to write a life lesson or tip on a note card and slip it into a jar (or piggy bank). Read them aloud at dinner and try to guess which guest wrote which tip.

Step4

When hosting a dinner party at a hotel restaurant, it’s not about making over the hotel's décor; focus on what will help your guests have a better experience. Try an interactive centerpiece that acts like a conversation piece. Fill a tray with flowers, then place iconic New Year’s Eve symbols inside apothecary jars and place them on top of the bed of flowers in the tray.

Step5

Personalizing a place setting at a restaurant starts with the place card. To keep the action alive, make them calls to action. Write things like “Alert the host if you would like dessert first” or “Make a toast using the word slippery; keep it clean” under each guest’s name.

Step6

Further personalizing the place setting at a restaurant dinner is more about being clever than cash flow. Feature storytelling cards placed on each guest’s napkin. The cards ask each guest to tell a story about themselves using the phrases written on the cards. Write something like, “I’d give my left arm for…..” or “If I were a condiment I’d be….”

• For extra credit, set the table with special champagne glasses that double as the party favor. Attach funny resolutions to each glass with a ribbon so guests can tell which glass is theirs.

• Give your guests a little flare to wear for the evening: gardenias for the women to put in their hair and orchid boutonnières for the men to attach to their lapels.

Step7

The schedule of events at a New Year’s Eve Party should be cocktails, dinner, party!

• After hours in your hotel suite means “party time.” As a host you want to make sure that your guests have the right ingredients to bring in the New Year in a big way. Guarantee “the party is here” status with activities like a disco ball piñata filled with all the coolest noise-making ingredients to hype the big moment.

• Have you ever noticed that when people are wearing a costume or a bit of funky wardrobe they step outside of themselves a bit? They are a little louder, more confident and mingle a ton! That‘s exactly the vibe you are looking for. Promote the flirt and mingle attitude by providing guests with costume and wardrobe accessories to wear and get down with.