Australian Financial Review
8 December 2001
Page 3

Scrooge visits ghost of Christmas parties
By Rochelle Burbury

Those lavish end-of-year parties have become like the ghost of Christmas past.

Gone are the extravagantly decorated venues, themed events and French champagne this year it's low-key drinks at the pub, simple party games and breakfasts - or no parties at all.

Those lavish end-of-year parties have become like the ghost of Christmas past.

Gone are the extravagantly decorated venues, themed events and French champagne this year it's low-key drinks at the pub, simple party games and breakfasts - or no parties at all.

Accenture, Bloomberg and News LTD are among those that will not have Christmas parties this year. News staff have instead been given two tickets each to the Harry Potter film.

Many companies, including AMP, have also canned the traditional sending of Christmas cards, partly due to the lingering anthrax scare, while others have decided to donate the money to charity. While the US terrorist attacks have played a part in the sombre mood, the faltering economy, corporate collapses and mass retrenchments are really to blame. You truly know corporate spirits are low when some of Sydney's biggest party organisers have nothing to organise - not even their own bashes.

"We're not having a Christmas party," said Sydney's queen of luxury events, Ms Deeta Colvin from Colvin Communications. "It's more a conservative budget decision than an emotional one."

Capital Public Relations, which still holds the crown for the most extravagant parties, will have an Austin Powers-inspired Shagadelic party this year but only for staff. Capital co-founder Ms Jennifer Gordon said many companies were focusing on staff parties to improve morale after a difficult year.

Party organiser Mr Mark Patrick, from the MP Agency, agreed that the mood is more intimate. "It's all the economy full stop. It's been really tough and people are still feeling the ramifications," he said.

In Melbourne, celebrations have been equally sedate. Organisation Unlimited normally works on at least a dozen "serious" Christmas functions this year it has organised just two.

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