Claus Events brings 700 big smiles at a party for an international retailer

17 October 2024

A few weeks ago, Claus Events had the pleasure of welcoming 700 employees of an international retailer for their annual staff party. This year, ‘the expedition’ took them to Hoofddorp for an evening full of fun.

A success, as evidenced by the conversation with Martijn Bax from Bax Projects. His agency was tasked with organizing the event on behalf of the retailer.

What kind of event was it exactly?

“This retailer has its headquarters in the Netherlands, and we were tasked with organizing a party evening for their staff.”

How did Claus come onto your radar?

“We created a longlist of various locations in and around Amsterdam, which we presented to the client. From that, we developed a shortlist of four venues, including Claus. We requested quotes from all four and did a site visit together. To be honest, Claus still had the image of just Claus Partyhouse in our minds. But that turned out to be completely wrong, because Claus Events is actually a very professional and versatile venue.”

What exactly surprised you?

“In many respects. The venue looks well-maintained, with a nice variety in the atmosphere of the different rooms. Additionally, the technical setup is really well-organized, in terms of lighting, sound, and video. Sustainability also plays a role in their facilities, which was an important factor for us. Furthermore, Lisa [Kuijer, account manager at Claus] was super hospitable and professional, and it was a pleasant surprise that Jelrick [Claus] himself took a moment to join us and introduce himself. You can tell that the team is genuinely involved and places high value on hospitality, which adds a personal touch to the experience.”

Why did the choice ultimately fall on Claus?

“Definitely because the venue looks fantastic and offers a lot of possibilities. For example, the presence of bowling lanes and their own Brazilian Rodizio restaurant, BARRACA, were great bonuses. But also because of the strong price-to-quality ratio. We got incredible value for the money, with versatile facilities and a professional appearance that competes with more expensive venues. Claus is truly value for money.”

How did the collaboration go in the lead-up to the event?

“They are very proactive and eager to collaborate. I found them very flexible and customer-oriented throughout the entire production process. Sometimes you come across venues that make all sorts of promises, but in the end, not much is possible. Here, they were open to everything and embraced our ideas. Additionally, they enjoy working with agencies, which we really appreciate. Not all venues have that mindset, but at Claus, we truly felt supported.”

What kind of ideas did you implement?

“We thought the entrance with the counters and cloakroom looked very nice, but also a bit clinical. So we decorated it in an expedition theme. The same goes for the light ceiling. They actually liked it so much that they almost wanted to suggest keeping it up permanently.”

How did the execution go?

“It was definitely a successful event. There wasn’t an extremely large budget for an extravagant party, but by making smart use of the different atmospheres and possibilities of the venue, it looked fantastic. For example, we incorporated the bowling lanes, and due to overwhelming success, all the lanes were in use, instead of the initially planned four lanes. In addition to the roaming catering, we also used the Brazilian restaurant BARRACA for a sit-down dinner concept. In between, there was entertainment in the form of a band and DJ, as well as side entertainment, including a casino.”

“As staff, we were treated just as well behind the scenes as the guests were in front of the scenes. One nice compliment I received was from the security guard at the venue, who said it had been a long time since a party had been this much fun.”

It all sounds very positive. Do you have any critical feedback as well?

“Haha, actually not. I really enjoyed working with them. They were on top of the catering and the details. Operationally, they really did a top job. And technically, everything was spot on. If I really had to come up with something, it might be that during the site visit they came across as a bit too eager. It was super hospitable, but it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. But I’d rather have that than the opposite.”

Would you recommend Claus to other event managers?

“Absolutely. They have a great team, and the venue itself looks really beautiful. And all of this at an excellent price-to-quality ratio. Additionally, they also have a hotel, so it’s perfect for multi-day meetings as well. And something I specifically want to mention: they really enjoy working with agencies. Unfortunately, you don’t find that everywhere, as some venues prefer to work only directly with clients. I really appreciate that mindset at Claus.”

Image: Claus Events, Bax Projects, Paul Ridderhof

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