Christmas party season begins for business community

Watch out for a productivity dip this week among the business community as diaries are blocked out for Christmas power-lunches that kick off at 12.30pm and linger just long enough that there’s little point in returning to the office.

In order to keep everyone alert at these festive shindigs, organisers seem to be competing to hire in the hottest guest speakers of the moment.

So on Thursday, members of Dublin Chamber will be entertained at the Four Seasons Hotel by comedian du jour Oliver Callan.

Serious note

On Friday, Cork Chamber strikes a more serious note with former Mountjoy governor

John Lonergan

as keynote speaker, while the Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society is playing for laughs with

Aprés Match

’s Risteárd Cooper in the Double Tree by Hilton. While these corporate knees-ups doubtlessly present valuable networking opportunities, or at the very least a decent three-course meal and free-flowing vino, by far the most dynamic-sounding Christmas bash takes place this evening at Hangar on Andrew’s Lane.

DublinBeta, a quarterly event that acts as a networking platform for start-ups, is hosting a Christmas party edition of its usual get-togethers.

Yes, there’ll be hot port and mulled wine, but more importantly there’ll also be opportunities for start-ups to demo their work. “Expect on the evening: 16 breaking and innovative start-ups showcasing their wares . . . an energetic buzz of business enthusiasms and the opportunities to put your own ideas to the test,” the organisers say.