A new hybrid study by Avital Food & Drink Experiences, a leading dining event company, finds that companies investing $200 or more per employee on holiday events report higher employee satisfaction scores than companies spending less. The analysis compares Avital's internal event records with publicly available Glassdoor ratings and focuses on 15 corporate events with complete data.
“We're seeing a shift away from massive, one-size-fits-all office parties toward more meaningful, curated gatherings,” said Avital Ungar, Founder of Avital Experiences. “When teams feel seen and celebrated, they don't just have fun, they build connections that last well beyond the holiday season.”
Holiday Party Spend vs. Employee Satisfaction Key Findings
Bigger spenders, happier teams: Companies spending $200 or more per employee had an average Glassdoor satisfaction of ≈72.9%.
Companies spending below $200 per employee averaged ≈67.0%, a difference of ~5.9 percentage points (≈9% higher relative satisfaction for the higher-spend group).
The average total event spend across the analyzed sample was $5,800, with a median of $3,100.
Smaller, premium events dominate: 58% of Avital's December 2024 holiday events were for 11–25 attendees , indicating a preference for smaller, premium gatherings.
Tech and SaaS lead the charge: The tech sector continues to book the most holiday events, typically for small to mid-size regional teams rather than large corporate gatherings.
Virtual events persist: 20% of 2024 bookings were virtual holiday parties, often chosen by hybrid teams or for last-minute planning needs.
Sample Company Comparisons
| Company | Spend per Person | Employee Satisfaction (Glassdoor) |
| National Retailer | $350 | 68% |
| Philanthropic Foundation | $350 | 80% |
| Online Marketplace | $340 | 72% |
| Large Tech Company | $340 | 86% |
| Legal Services Firm | $320 | 53% |
| Logistics Startup | $310 | 88% |
| Global Digital Consultancy | $270 | 66% |
| Corporate Travel Agency | $250 | 68% |
| AI Startup | $200 | 60% |
| International Bank | $200 | 88% |
| European Tech Lab | $180 | 89% |
| Health Tech Company | $140 | 68% |
| Marketing & Talent Agency | $140 | 48% |
| Legal Software Development Company | $130 | 68% |
| Executive Search Firm | $120 | 62% |
To protect client confidentiality, company names have been replaced with descriptive identifiers. All data and satisfaction scores are based on verified Glassdoor averages and internal booking records.
Only 15 events were included in the study. Events with incomplete Glassdoor coverage were excluded.
Spend per person rounded to the nearest $10.
Methodology
Dataset: Avital Experiences analyzed 25 events hosted in December 2024. Of those, 15 events had complete, usable Glassdoor data and were included in this study.
Event metrics: For each included event we used Avital's internal records for total event spend and current reported headcount.
Spend-per-person calculation: Spend per person = Total event spend ÷ Headcount (rounded to the nearest $10 for presentation).
Satisfaction data: Employee satisfaction percentages were taken from Glassdoor (publicly available ratings) on November 5, 2025 .
Grouping: For the headline comparison we seperated companies into two groups: ≥ $200 per person and < $200 per person, and computed the mean Glassdoor satisfaction for each group.
Limitations
Sample size & selection: Only 15 events could be fully analyzed due to incomplete or limited Glassdoor data for some clients; the study is not a comprehensive industry survey.
Correlation, not causation: The analysis identifies correlations between spend-per-person and Glassdoor satisfaction, but does not and cannot prove that event spend causes higher satisfaction. Other variables (leadership, benefits, organizational changes, size, geography, role mix) also influence satisfaction.
Glassdoor limitations: Glassdoor scores are crowd-sourced and may not perfectly reflect the entire employee population. Very small companies or those with few reviews were excluded.
Rounding & presentation: Spend-per-person values have been rounded to the nearest $10 for readability.
About Avital Experiences
Avital Food & Drink Experiences is a culinary events company that creates interactive dining experiences designed to help people connect better. Founded in 2011, Avital has worked with leading brands including Google, Meta, Netflix, and Spotify. The company curates thoughtfully designed food tours, interactive meals, and virtual events across 12 major US cities. Avital is accepting bookings for corporate holiday parties and team celebrations.
Learn more at avitalexperiences.com.
Media Contact
Molly Streuli
Marketing Manager, Avital Experiences
[email protected]
(415) 355-4044
