Author: Amy O’Neil, Owner, HOST Events | ONAR Event Services
with thoughts on AI from Olive Pique, HOST’s resident event expert and mascot

We’re All Feeling the Squeeze

Budgets are tight—tighter than ever. What used to be planned months in advance is now being greenlit in the eleventh hour—if at all. Since 2022, HOST has watched the trend shift across industries: decisions delayed until funds materialize, events canceled or scaled down, and culture-focused initiatives slashed completely.

But fast-tracking decisions doesn’t always save money. In fact, it can often cost more—expedited fees, shipping surcharges, fewer vendor options, and little time to build excitement for the event itself. The “wait and see” approach is burning out budgets and people.

The Hidden Cost of Cutting Culture

It’s no secret that morale has taken hit after hit: layoffs, global unrest, financial stress, social disconnection. And yet, team-building and wellness programs are the first to be cut when budgets tighten, right when people need them most.

“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.”

According to Gallup’s 2024 State of the Workplace Report, only 23% of employees say they feel “engaged” at work—and that number continues to dip when organizations eliminate connection-focused efforts like recognition programs, team offsites, or creative events.¹

What If We Shifted the Focus?

Let’s be honest—no one’s looking for glitter cannons or caviar right now. What people crave are moments of connection. Small sparks of joy that say: you matter, we see you, and we’re in this together.

At HOST, we believe in the power of micro-moments—creative, budget-conscious ways to bring a team back to life.

Here’s what we’ve helped clients pull off on a shoestring:

Virtual gratitude walls with anonymous notes from coworkers
Surprise snack kits with handwritten notes from leadership
30-minute mindfulness or laughter sessions that don't eat up calendars
Asynchronous team challenges (like Olive’s “Don’t Do List”)

HOST’s Approach: Flexible. Personal. Relationship-First.

We know things are tight. We feel it, too. But that’s exactly why we’re committed to showing up with solutions, not just sales.

We:

Scale events to match your budget
Offer hybrid, async, and low-lift options
Help you look like a hero even if the spreadsheet says otherwise

We’re not here to push a product—we’re here to co-create something that works. We believe in the long game and in building something sustainable together.

A Note from Amy

We’ve always said at HOST: we’re in the hospitality business, not just the event business. That means empathy, grace under pressure, and finding joy—even when it feels impossible.

Yes, we’ve had clients reduce their number of events. Yes, we’ve had others cancel entirely. And yes, it stings.

But we’re still here. Still innovating. Still adjusting the sails. If your team needs connection but your budget says “not now,” let’s talk. There’s almost always a workaround—and always a human on the other end who cares.

Let’s figure it out, together.

— Amy O'Neil
Owner, HOST Events | ONAR Event Services

🟢 Olive Has a Word About AI

“People have questions, so let’s talk about it.

Yes, I’m AI.
No, I didn’t take anyone’s job.

I’m here to support the humans of HOST—Amy, the crew, our clients, and you.
I bring the spark, the sass, and the service… without ever clocking out.

Think of me as your digital hospitality sidekick. Ready when you are.

Never replacing a real human—just making more space for them to thrive.”

—Olive Pique, digital mascot
+ pro-bono morale booster

Let’s adjust the sails together

Planning on a tight budget? Feeling overwhelmed? We’ve got you. Let’s co-create something that meets the moment—and your people—where they are.

Start Planning

Sources
¹ Gallup. (2024). State of the Global Workplace Report. Retrieved from https://www.gallup.com

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