Health Care Partners, the largest physician-owned and led independent physicians association in the Northeast, serving the five boroughs and Long Island, knows how to do a perfect employee appreciation event.

After hiring Maui Wowi (that’s us) to provide smoothies and hot cocoa (because it’s March in New York, and you never know whether it will be frigid or like spring) the human resources team decided to do a Hawaiian theme employee appreciation event.

HCP promoted the event to employees and encouraged them to get into the mood and go Friday-extra-casual with Hawaiian shirts, which the staff complemented with leis. Our staff blended smoothies (kiwi lemon lime, tropical fruit and strawberry banana) for their 200 staff, and made Ghirardelli hot cocoas as well.

As you can see from the photos, the HCP team took the Hawaiian part seriously. (Especially the lady in red with the sunglasses!)

So what are the essentials for a successful employee appreciation event? Here are a few to get you started:

1. Promote, promote, promote: Signage in the hallways, break room, and other conspicuous places at least a week before the event. Email blast a few days before and then the day-of.
2. A theme is a plus: Coupling the employee appreciation event with a theme (like Hawaiian) adds to the fun of the event.
3. Decorate and accessorize: In the case of this event, a little bit of extra signage (“The tiki bar is open”) and leis given out by the HR staff as people arrive is a nice touch.

While March 1 was the official National Employee Appreciation Day, don’t restrict yourself to the date. Maui Wowi does employee appreciation events year round – espresso and hot cocoa drinks in winter, smoothies in the other seasons, and often both.