Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Corporate Event Planning Is Not For The Feint Hearted

By Douglas Wilson


When big companies host events, they always do so for a reason, regardless of whether it is an informal affair or a black tie function. They host events in order to achieve very specific objectives and they spend a lot of money on them. A myriad of these events are hosted by corporations every year, many of them eagerly anticipated. Corporate event planning has become a big industry all on its own and only top professionals make it in this arena.

The purpose of events hosted by corporations differs. They sometimes use events to celebrate major achievements, to perform public relations, to introduce a new line of products, to raise funds for charity or to reward employees for their hard work. In all these cases, however, companies want to be sure that their events will stand out from the rest and that it will contribute towards their standing in the community.

Anyone that thinks that it is easy to organize a big function is in for a major surprise. Top organizers are excellent communicators with numerous contacts in the industry. They are good leaders that are able to coordinate the efforts of multiple teams. They pay attention to even the smallest details and they are ready to deal with potential problems long before they become big issues.

In order to make sure that the goals of the client will be achieved, the organizer needs to be fully briefed. Not only must he know exactly what the available budget is, but he also needs to know who the guests are, what the purpose of the function is and whether the client has any specific ideas on matters such as the venue. It is also necessary to appoint someone within the corporation to liaise.

Most top function organizers will never propose a cut and dried plan to their clients. They always offer their clients several options on important matters such as the catering, entertainment and the venue. Their job is to point out the pros and cons of each option and to allow the client to make the final decision. This requires a lot of homework by the organizer and his team.

Once all the major decisions have been made and a final plan approved, the organizer will develop a detailed action plan. This plan will cover every tiny detail related to the forthcoming function. In addition, the organizer will enter into contracts with various service providers and coordinate the efforts of the different teams involved, dealing with minor hiccups. The organizer will also provide regular feedback to the client.

Some companies baulk at the high fees demanded by top organizers but they do not take into account that the fees paid to the organizer is but a very small portion of the overall cost of a prestigious event. Going the do it yourself route can be disastrous. There is a myriad of small details that need attention and neglecting or forgetting them can easily derail a costly function.

Hosts should not be concerned with the smooth running of their events. They should pay attention to their guests, knowing that there is a professional that will supervise the smooth running of the program. Professional organizers make sure that guests never even become aware of small problems.




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