Dayton-area companies are bringing back the holiday party, despite the sluggish economy.

Local company holiday party bookings are up from December 2010, restaurant and banquet and facility managers said. That runs counter to the national trend, where the fewest businesses in 25 years will hold holiday parties, according to a survey by Amrop Battalia Winston, a global executive search firm based in New York.

At the Top of the Market, a banquet and catering facility at Dayton’s Second Street Market, “we have events every single weekend and throughout the week for holiday parties for corporations,” said Emily Ferris, operations manager.

To the south at the Mandalay catering and banquet center in Moraine, every Friday and Saturday this month is booked for company holiday parties, although openings remain during the week, said Cay Phillips, vice president. Some groups are as large as 600 people.

Company holiday party bookings at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Washington Twp. are “comparable if not better than last year,” said Michael Parks, general manager.

“In years past we would have been booked up a month ago, but considering how everything is, we’re doing pretty good,” Parks said. Carvers has hired four new staff members that Parks said he hopes to employ long-term.

Christmas parties are important to local restaurant and banquet facilities’ year-end bottom lines, officials said. Both Carvers and Jay’s Seafood Restaurant in Dayton open for lunch only during December to accommodate holiday crowds.

“We fill up our banquet room about 80 percent of the month,” said Amy Haverstick, Jay’s owner. “The business holiday parties and the family holiday parties definitely are huge for our business. December is our best month,” she said.

Local companies are spending at the same or increased levels for this year’s holiday parties, the facility managers said.

Nationally, 10 percent of the parties will be more modest than last year’s, 11 percent will be more lavish, and spending for 79 percent will be about the same, according to the Amrop Battalia Winston survey.

The survey said drinks will be served at 76 percent of the parties, down from 79 percent last year, but 24 percent will be alcohol-free.

Locally, alcohol at holiday parties varies by company. Businesses may provide guests with drink tickets, opt for a cash bar or avoid alcohol altogether.

Alcohol sales can have a significant impact on a restaurant or banquet hall’s bottom line. “If we have a big bar we can do as much as $6,000 for 200-and-some people,” Phillips said.

The survey said 53 percent of the companies are holding parties to build employee moral, while 32 percent are doing so to celebrate 2011 as a good year, and 15 percent to show employees and clients that they are optimistic about next year.

“Everyone that I’ve talked to said they are finishing out a good year or a rough year, and they want to celebrate and do the best that they can,” Ferris said. “Their employees mean everything to them so they are here to show them a good time.”

Contact this reporter at dlarsen @DaytonDailyNews.com.