The sweaty, shared dance floor is out. So, would you rather host your 2021 holiday party on yet another Zoom call or transport the group to a new world altogether, hopping around on the surface of a planet named after your company’s first investor?
With COVID-19 still impacting business travel and employees’ willingness to gather in-person, companies are looking for new ways to entertain and connect their teams this holiday party season. One trend growing as winter approaches is the move from 2D to 3D. Virtual reality headsets are arriving on doorsteps before parties this year, replacing the swag box of toys and snacks from eras before.
US-based virtual reality company Morpheus XR is offering a white glove approach, leading teams into immersive, digital experiences customized just for them. Their clients have moved training days, conferences, investor pitches, marketing meetings, and quarterly “off-sites” to settings as remote as the surface of the moon and the bottom of the ocean.
Now that the 2021 company holiday party planning looks to be prioritizing options that are distanced and digital, Morpheus XR hopes to be in the center of the action.
“Companies are avoiding in-person events as we near 2022. And, they’re still hustling to bring their employees entertainment, connection, and revitalized energy with an experience that’s altogether unexpected,” says Morpheus XR CEO Mikhail Krymov.
Holiday Party Planning Has Begun
In the past, the annual holiday party has carried some serious recruiting and employee retention weight. Facebook famously once spent $300K on a party venue. Salesforce hired the B-52s to entertain their crowd. But, for the first time in anyone’s memory, 2020 saw party spending plummet and some companies simply gave their event budget to charity, opting to let employees stay home and stay safe instead.
This year, the Morpheus XR team sees a renewed wish to offer employees some way to bond and to thank them for their excellent remote work. They’re focusing on the emotions, excitement, and interpersonal connections VR can uniquely create.
“We curate every event through the lens of emotional intelligence. We want to achieve group dynamics that are both fun and meaningful,” says Krymov.
Krymov says with endless possibilities for customization, clients can truly break attendees out of their usual silos, get them working together in pursuit of adventure, exploration, or in the case of escape rooms, a shared challenge. One Morpheus XR client hosted employees for a scavenger hunt with the leadership team, mixing up the group so players had 1-on-1 time with company execs. Another team organized a dance party that encouraged everyone to move.
What are they seeing for the holiday season specifically?
“Companies are catering to appetites for novelty and excitement, for out-of-this-world adventures, so outer space, aliens, Mars landings, and the deep sea keep coming up as favorite locations,” says Krymov.
Morpheus XR can host up to 500 party goers, though they find optimal interactivity with 10 – 50 participants. They send each participant a VR headset and offer companies a subscription service that encourages VR meetings, exercise classes, and workshops scheduled far beyond the holidays. It’s the beginning of a whole new way for dispersed workforces to connect.
“We’re creating turn-key, immersive, highly-customized VR experiences for companies. That headset is the ultimate Zoom-fatigue destroyer,” says Head of Experience Jennifer Regan.
And, every moment can be customized to a company’s unique brand and culture, from logos to colors to drink names and music played.
Investing in Digital Parties: Is This the Future?
Getting employees back to the office has become an ongoing source of conflict, cost, and frustration for many companies. Google just announced a three-month delay of workers returning to the office, now aiming for January 10. Apple, Facebook, Morgan Stanley, PayPal, Microsoft, and more have thrown millions at ultimate online experiences while waiting for the appetite for in-office connections to return.
Morpheus XR believes the desire for meaningful digital connection will remain beyond COVID restrictions. They’re positioning themselves – and their offerings to clients – with passionate investment in the long-term. The dispersed workforce is here to stay, and Morpheus XR sees VR as a new way to support it. Their sales team is so convinced companies will agree this is the path forward that they’re mailing prospective customers a headset to try, just so they can better grasp the magnitude of the product.
“We’re always innovating and we’re optimistic. We know that the workplace may move into a hybrid of hours in-office and at home, but surveys show that most tech workers prefer to work at home,” says Regan.
How creative and connected can your company be this holiday season? VR may be one path to fresh connections and exciting new memories for your team – not to mention a way to wow investors and clients in the new year.