Thursday, 11th of December 2025.

It’s 6am. I’m sipping an espresso and having a croissant while I wait for my gate number to appear on the screen.

I’m nervous and excited to get on the plane from Naples to London for our annual Christmas party. Nervous because I don’t really like flying, but excited because I’ve been planning this for months and can’t wait to see my colleagues.

Two hours and fifty-five minutes later, I land in Stansted. The first thing I do is go to M&S to get a bottle of coconut water, a salmon and cream cheese sandwich, and a packet of salt & vinegar crisps, my guilty pleasure.

I hop on the Stansted Express and, after a few changes, arrive at my boutique hotel in East Putney, close to Battersea Park, where this year’s party is taking place.

This year, we’ve chosen to take part in the Smart Group Shared Christmas Parties, which are always a lot of fun. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the company of your teammates while making social and even work connections.

In fact, I caught a colleague of mine at 2AM discussing business deals. Crazy!

Anyway, we meet around 8pm at a pub near Chelsea Bridge.

After exchanging our Secret Santa gifts, with bags full of candles and socks, we head to the entrance of the majestic New York New York 2025 Shared Christmas Party.

We step into an electric atmosphere. For one night, the glittering skyline and Prohibition glamour set the perfect scene.

The evening begins with a fantastic New York-style show, dancers performing on massive stages.

Then, the screens beneath them open, the lights dim, and dinner is revealed in the grand ballroom.We’re blown away by how beautiful everything is.

Thousands of guests settle at intimate round tables beneath crystal chandeliers for a truly lavish seated meal.

Even more impressive is the massive stage, with various performers entertaining us throughout; smooth live swing music, energetic dance sessions, and acrobats flying above our tables.

But the night is only just beginning. As dinner draws to a close, the dance floor ignites with the energy of The Killers, Katy Perry, and Beyoncé. With DJs and live performers keeping the beats flowing into the early hours, we truly bring the “city that never sleeps” to life.

We danced like crazy, sipped endless Champagne, and laughed the whole night through.

It’s disappointing that our CEO, Robert Dobson, couldn’t join us! A severe flu kept him unwell for the past two weeks, but we were relieved to hear that he’s feeling much better.

Spending time with the team means a great deal to him, and I’m sure there will be plenty more occasions where he can show off his dance moves!

Overall, the evening is a memorable celebration of our achievements, growth, and the strong sense of community within CxO Helix. Gatherings like this remind us how important it is to come together, reflect on the year behind us, and feel excited about what’s to come.

Bring on 2026!

Giuliana Di Monaco
Global Head of Campaign Projects
CxO Helix