Hearst Corporation, ABC News, Marc Jacobs and oil and gas billionaire David Koch have all canceled their holiday parties. (Barry Diller, the CEO of the media conglomerate IAC, however, has not.)
In a handy little slideshow, The Business Sheet looks back to last year and reminds us how corporate New York holiday party season looked before decadent parties were canceled in favor of charity donations, small get-togethers, and extra vacation days. Some of their findings:
Morgan Stanley: Last year’s bash was at Lotus–bottle service and all. This year the financial firm will forgo a holiday party in favor of donating the yearly party fund to charity (and getting some positive press.)
Viacom: Last year’s party–attended by nearly 3,000 guests–was at Hammerstein Ballroom featuring a snowglobe filled with beautiful models playing Twister. Instead of a party, the company’s employees–those still left standing–will enjoy two extra vacation days this year.
Google: Last year’s party, held at the Rainbow Room, reportedly cost the company $300 per head, with spouses of employees invited to come along. This year’s party will be split into two "smaller gatherings"–one for the engineers at a private loft, another for the sales staff at the Central Bark Boathouse. And no plus-ones.
Goldman Sachs: Last year’s party was at the BLVD club in Soho and attracted protesters angry about the company’s contribution to the already developing sub-prime mortgage crisis. This year, no party.
UBS: The company announced that it was canceling its bash at the Museum of Natural History and will instead to donate $100,000 to charity. But it still plans to quitely host a dinner at the Museum of Modern Art for its high net worth clients.
Mayor Bloomberg: The annual holiday dinner that Mr. Bloomberg holds for City Hall reporters has moved from his residence to Chinatown’s Golden Unicorn restaurant. Reporters will have to pay $45 to attend.
Dreier LLP: Considering that Marc Dreier, the managing partner of the firm, has recently been arrested in Canada, the company had to cancel its annual party at the Waldorf=Astoria.
Estee Lauder: The cosmetics company canceled its party for the media at Nobu and will instead donate money in their guests’ honor to the Dress for Success organization.
Sunshine, Sachs & Associates: Last year’s party at Room Service has been downgraded to a night of bowling at Lucky Strike for this PR firm that works with celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Ben Affleck.
