With Christmas just a couple of months away, workplaces across the country are starting to finalize their plans for the 2017 holiday celebrations.

As someone who runs an experience company, I’ve gotten a number of exciting requests, ranging from standard dinner parties to the usual corporate fanfare. However, with more people asking about ‘doing something different’, it got me thinking about what people think their best office Christmas party has been and if doing something different has anything to do with it.

I went on social media and asked for stories, and unsurprisingly, they all had a common theme. In addition to the common elements of being an all-expenses-paid affair and being out of the office, people’s favorite holidays involved doing something they normally don’t.

For some this meant dressing up in their best clothes, for others it meant dressing up in costumes for a themed party. Essentially, you have to be someone you’re not normally in the office with.

Others spoke of parties with company traditions, but with a slightly different twist each year. One worker basically talked about his secret tradition of giving gifts to Santa Claus, who always started his party. What made it more enjoyable and memorable was what they did next. It was different every year. Their favorite to date was a Bond Casino Royale themed boat party and many used the theme as inspiration for their Secret Santa gifts. Something, this employee said, that made the evening even more enjoyable was that many accessories and the like were given away and brought on board.

Another employee’s story was about feeling special. One year, his office went beyond the usual three-course dinner at a nice restaurant and opted for a progressive dinner where each location had a private dining room for themselves specially decorated with different decorations and an area to take pictures. They said the extra attention to detail and the fact that they got to go some places made them feel special. They not only rinsed and repeated what they had always done, but thought of doing something similar, just slightly different.

In general, professional photographers or having photo booths were mentioned several times as part of the best worker office Christmas parties. If you have the budget, that’s something you might want to consider as well.

With the common theme of ‘doing something different’, it’s no surprise that experience ideas like scavenger hunts, boat cruises, tours and cooking classes are becoming increasingly popular. Just look at sites like Experience Oz or Red Balloon and you’ll be bombarded with options.

On the opposite side of the corner, some of the worst office Christmas parties were also mentioned.

All expense paid parties are a luxury for the private sector (and sometimes only for the largest companies), but not necessarily something that can be offered in the public sector. Many mentioned this as part of their worst office Christmas party stories. One lady also went on to say that besides the cost of her there has been another disadvantage for her since she works in the public sector. “I hate that at public sector parties you are constantly being judged for every move you make.”

Public or private sector office Christmas parties should be about having fun and creating a relaxed atmosphere for workers to have fun, even if it’s not a total affair. By taking people out of their usual environment, setting expectations upfront, and managing the experience, people can more freely enjoy what’s on offer without judgment.

Another thing that came up was for those who were self-employed, had no or only virtual staff. Although not traditional office parties, these people often throw group parties for networking, but again, people found them flawed.

One worker commented that these generally felt “more like work.” So again, taking the group out of a networking environment and doing something different, something ‘interesting’, can be a great way to change the mood and create a much more enjoyable Christmas party.

When you finalize the details for your office Christmas party this year, try incorporating something a little different, or give staff a chance to do something they normally can’t. This is one of the 10 key steps our business uses to create exceptional experiences.