Choosing Food For Corporate Events

One of the crucial things about corporate entertainment, along with the entertainment, is the food. Food is something that everyone enjoys, but not everyone enjoys the same type of food. As a result, it is important that as someone who is putting on a corporate entertainment event, you choose food that everyone is going to enjoy. Something else to consider is what people are allergic to. Nothing ruins a corporate event like people getting sick on the food you have provided them. So, to help you along, here are some of the things to consider when you choose food for corporate events.

1. Send out a survey to find out what most people want to eat. If it comes back that more people want chicken than want fish, then you should choose chicken. By doing this, you ensure that the majority of people at the event get what they want.

2. Another option is to choose the two top choices that come out of the survey, which allows you to ensure that nearly everyone gets what they want.

3. Find out from those who are participating, what they are allergic to and any problems with certain types of food (religious grounds, etc).

4. Have a buffet style of dinner. That will allow everyone to get what they want, without having to choose between two dishes. That way you ensure everyone gets something, no one eats something they shouldn't and you make things very easy on yourself.

Choosing the food for a corporate event is very important and you have to make sure that you do it right. By following these tips, you make things easy on yourself, and you ensure that everyone is happy at the corporate entertainment event. In the end, that is what is most important

Is Budget Blocking Your Event Plans? Time to Use Event Planning Software

Every event planner wants to make their events the talk of town with an instant sell out of the event tickets. While planning an event, the most important fact that haunts most planners is allocating sufficient budget towards each core element. Event planning includes booking a venue for the event to take place, managing the registration process on-site, looking after additional necessities such as car parking, the menu and drinks, décor, and so on. Most of the time, an event planner's calculation exceeds the actual spending on various core areas; it can happen because of inflation or over spending than the allotted funds on one or multiple aspects of the event.

To avoid any such situations or fall into debt while planning an event, it is better to stay in the safe zone through the usage of an online event planning software. Such an application can help you save money on a number of key areas including registrations, payment management, communication, marketing, and reporting. An event planning software comes at a relatively affordable cost and includes automated features and tools to save your time and resources whilst not compromising on the quality of deliverance and execution of the event.

Automated Registration Process

You can mechanize the entire event registration procedure by using an event planning software. Its embedded event registration solution will help you create and publish forms online. Such online forms are accessible from anywhere that has internet connectivity; so it automatically creates an opportunity to achieve higher attendance.

Quick Payment Collection

Through the implementation of an integrated online payment service, you can instantly collect your event registration fees or initiate ticket sales. It saves you from unnecessary waiting for days to get a check en-cashed or from handling cash given by registrants making payments in person. Along with registering names, people can pay their fees too using their credit cards or taking the help of wire transferring service or a payment gateway like PayPal.

Real Time Communication

Emails are delivered in real time compared to sending hard-copy letters by post. Thus, event planning software usually comes with an embedded emailing engine to let event organizers send out multiple invitations, event-related news and updates, etc. to any number of prospective attendees.

Effective Marketing

Social media marketing is the buzzword today since they help in promoting products, services, and events to a global target audience! In minutes, your event news posted on Facebook or Twitter gets viral and is seen by millions of users active on these social media sites. Event planning solution's online marketing applications help in simultaneously publishing your event news, updates, photos, and video clips on various popular social media platforms.

Tracking and Reporting

You can track your event registration status in real time through the utilization of online reporting module. It helps the organizer to view registrant information and payment details on one single dashboard.

Gathering Feedback About Your Outdoor Movie Event

You have spent a lot of time planning your outdoor movie event and now the big night is here. It is satisfying to see the results of all of your hard work and planning, and you are probably ready to sit back, relax and enjoy the event. Just don't forget about one last important step: gathering feedback about your outdoor movie event.

Why Gather Feedback?

Collect feedback from attendees and use the information to make future endeavors memorable. Feedback from the audience, whether it is positive or negative, is a great way to understand the expectations of audiences. Outdoor movie events require more than just an investment of time, they also require an investment of money. Feedback helps to ensure that the events you organize produce the highest returns on your investment. Finally, feedback is a simple way to collect information on the demographics of attendees; this information can be used to sell sponsorship for future events.

How to Collect the Information

There are several ways to collect information. First, try setting up a booth or table at the event. Try offering an incentive to encourage participation, like the chance to win a prize. You could also elect a worker or volunteer to walk around at the event and ask one or two questions about how they like the event and/or what is their favorite part of that experience.

If you prefer to give attendees the chance to provide feedback after the event, you could use e-mail, phone or the event website. Set-up a registration table and gather e-mail information to send an online survey, or make an announcement inviting guests to call and take the survey by phone. If your event has a website or Facebook page, post a survey there.

What Information Should You Gather?

It is important to collect the right information; data that can be used to improve future events. Here are some ideas for helpful information to gather using your survey:

• Did they like the movie?


• Who came to the event with them? (family, friends, kids)


• Demographics


• How did they hear about the event?


• Venue


• Food


• Entertainment

Make sure the time and money you put into your outdoor movie event or events is well spent. The information you can gather from attendees following your movie event is helpful in many ways. Use these tips to collect the right information from as many guests as possible.

Pre-Planning Checklist for Your Corporate Events

One of the most important elements of a successful event is pre-planning. This process is essential to designing and executing a meaningful function that will benefit the overall goals of your business. Below is a checklist you can use to complete the pre-planning process for your corporate meeting, conference, or event.

Determine the purpose: Any event that you design takes time and resources to make it a success. You want to be sure that your function serves a specific purpose for your business or organization. Take time to determine what goals you hope to achieve by hosting an event. Your goal may be to provide an informational meeting, like a seminar. Or, you may want to provide an opportunity for social interaction with your employees and clients.

Once you have determined the purpose, you are able to design your event around that vision. No matter what the purpose for your event, clearly identifying your goals will allow you to create a meaningful function that will be beneficial to your business or organization.

Identify your target audience: You will need to decide who will benefit most from your event. The type of event you host will greatly influence your guest list. A good estimation of the number of guests you will invite will help you as you continue the planning process.

Choose dates: Successful event planning occurs only when the time is right. You must choose a date and time that is convenient for your guests and does not coincide with holidays or local and international events. The type of event you host will also determine the time and date that is most appropriate. A cocktail mingle is best suited for after the work hours while a seminar may be most effective during the morning hours when your guests are alert and engaged.

Determine your budget: Create a list of all expenses associated with your meeting or event. Include marketing expenses, accommodations, transportation, entertainment, food catering, taxes and fees, gratuities, and any other expenses you can think of. Allocate which expenses will be assumed by the sponsor and by the attendees. Compare your budget with those from previous events to gauge costs. An event planner is an excellent resource for assisting clients in determining a reasonable budget. Their expertise and experience in this area is extremely useful in planning expenses.

Outline your event: Create an outline of the activities for your conference or event. This allows you to determine what supplies are needed, make seating arrangements, create a timeline or schedule, and generate a vision for the big day. You now have some direction as you make final preparations.

Pre-planning allows you to narrow your focus and begin the design process of your event. It is often during this process that individuals realize just how much work is involved in planning and executing a successful event. Enlist the help of a professional event planner to assist you in any service you need. Planners provide a variety of services guaranteed to help you create an event that meets your goals and impress your guests.

Why Will You Hire an Event Planner?

An event planner helps in managing all aspects of a conference, meeting, or seminar in the utmost professional way. Companies hire event planners to look into the following matters.

Venue Selection

Enterprises no longer need to worry about selecting the venue of their seminar or road show. The event organizers do it on behalf of the organizing companies. It is they who, in consultation with the enterprises, choose a strategic place with sufficient transportation facility for the guests. The venue is located in such a place that the guests face no problem in reaching there on time.

Food Management

Looking after the dietary needs of the guests is a very important task of the event planners. You must carefully select the cuisines that need to be served to the attendees or guests. Snacks and beverages must be kept for people coming from different backgrounds. Event planners can also take the advice of the attendees in deciding the day's menu.

Guest Invitations

A vital task of event organizing companies is to finalize the guest list. They must decide the number of people attending the meeting or trade show and then send them invitations or emails. Event organizing companies can use the online event management solution to reap in the benefits of the highly scalable communication tools. Tools such as emails and RSVPs can be used to send online invitations to customers for attending a conference or seminar.

Budget Management

To hold a grand event, companies need to work on their budget. Event planners help the companies hold a grand program within their budget limits. They can help you process the payments sent through multiple payment getaways and credit cards. Moreover, the planners help in tracking funds and creating a detailed financial report for one or more events.

Marketing

Event organizing companies resort to various marketing means to promote and publicize their activities. It can range from a word-of-mouth to a large-scale advertisement of the upcoming event(s). The event planners can help the enterprises create an event-based website to market the same. People who have not responded to your emails can find it interesting to read your event-related information on the website. Event promotion on the popular social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, can also be a great way to attract maximum target audience to your conference.

Time Management

Event planners can work 24x7 to run the event smoothly and peacefully. Time management becomes central, especially while organizing large events. Even the smallest of tasks need to be dealt carefully. The ideal event planner should have patience enough to control all stress and anxiety without losing the mind. These qualities are going to help him make the event a grand success.

Event Planning Checklist: Can a Venue Make or Break an Event?

Event planning checklists are vital when it comes to running a successful event. One of the main items on your checklist should be your venue.

When it comes to meeting and event planning, especially finding your ideal venue, there are a number of organisations that can help you to find a venue for your event. Your local conference bureau or a national venue finding service is often a good place to start. Obviously the internet is also a valuable source of information when looking for venues.

With so much choice there are some key things to consider when deciding which a will be host to your event venue: Use an event planning checklist with the following questions.

How accessible is by road, rail and/or air? Think about the pros and cons of out of town vs city centre. What's car parking like and will it cost?

Will it comfortably fit all of your delegates/visitors? (You need to also think about the space required for your audio visual equipment here)

Do you need breakout rooms, or a separate room for lunch/an exhibition?

Cost - do you need to pay per delegate (DDR) or pay for the room hire plus catering?

Does the venue have good 'green' credentials?

How welcoming and helpful are the staff - will you find them easy to work with?

If the hotel can't go out of their way for you, the potential organiser, what approach may they have towards your delegates? Remember, it's your future business at stake here!!

What is the quality of the food and facilities? Have a meal there and experience it.

Will you/delegate need hotel accommodation, if so, what's the standard of the rooms like and can you negotiate a special rate?

Do you need to hire the venue the day before the event for set up and/or a dress rehearsal?

If you need WIFI access for delegates and/or speakers, what speed, type of connection can the venue offer? What back up do they have available?

By having an event planning checklist containing all the questions above, you can work your way through the list and establish if a venue is a fit and a match for your event. Be aware about making compromises.

Be clear about what you want and you will find a venue that will want to work with to make your plans happen. If that means you start your venue search early, do it.

Top Corporate Hospitality Ideas

Are you running a corporate event in and around London? Have a look at our top ideas and choose one to suit your objectives.

Entertaining Clients - Choose a classic sporting event and lay on the hospitality to show them you appreciate their custom. Our favourites include Rugby at Twickenham, horse racing at Kempton Park and motor sports at Brands Hatch.

Team building exercise - Do you need to improve communication as well as leadership skills in your business place. Create a challenge for your staff following in the footsteps of 'The Apprentice' and see who will be hired or who will be fired! Or invite them to a day of mixed adrenaline activities - a light hearted day with lots of fun and prizes.

Evening Events - Start the night of with a fun wine tasting challenge, encourage people to mix their own blends and educate them at the same time. Great for an activity to precede a dinner function. Other favourite evening events include pub games, ideally organize everyone into teams and rotate them around a variety of activities from darts, table football and air hockey amongst others. You could set up a fun casino, provide everyone with plenty of chips and let them enjoy themselves. Prizes can be giving for a variety of serious and fun categories.

Awards Ceremony - Do you want to reward some of your staff and clients? Why not wine and dine them and create an Oscars award ceremony. Have some serious prizes for high achievers but also encourage staff to nominate colleges and clients for amusing of daft behaviour.

Outdoor Events - These range from full activity days with a variety of team challenges such as bush craft or orienteering, both great for building team spirit. Or take them for a day sailing; this could be during one of the sailing regattas where they can try their hand at the competitive side of sailing. Another favourite is similar to 'I am a Celebrity, Get Me out of here!' Most of us have seen some of this on TV and will be able to try it out for ourselves. Ranging from action orientated events to sampling authentic bugs!

Learn from the Experts - Have you ever fancied trying your cooking skills in a professional kitchen? Or learn how to DJ in a club. Learning from an expert can be a fascinating and fun way to entertain staff and clients; they will often be surprised how skilled they can become. Other favourites in this area are ice sculpting, glass blowing and chocolate creations.

Family fun days - rewarding the family of a hardworking employee will be remembered for years. After all the family are often the ones who put up with the late hours employees often work. An ideal family fun event will include something for all ages so include fairground rides, inflatables and entertainers such as jugglers, clowns and face painters. Include country fair type activities and you could also theme the event. A children's zone with registered child minders will be appreciated by parents. Provide plenty of food and lots of music and the day will be a huge success.

There are many companies that will help you put together these events in and around London. What better way to reward your hard working staff and loyal clients then treating them to a hospitality day. Remember to keep them well fed by employing an experienced corporate hospitality caterer and your event will be remembered for years to come.

Event Companies in the New Millennium

Event Companies in the New Millennium-Traditional event companies vs. Eco event companies. First of all, there should be a clear understanding of what event companies can or will do.When having a party or event, examples of elements that event companies can help you with include finding a venue, choosing the type of invitations/RSVP's, arranging for food, beverages and tableware, creating themes and coming up with ideas for d矇cor, favors, giveaways, music and photography.

One reason people use event companies or consultants is that there is a lot of arranging, coordinating and need for creativity. These challenges may cause stress and be overwhelming to the party host. This is where the expertise of event companies comes in. They can deal with all functions or ones you either don't have time for or if you need assistance. You may not be aware of options that are available, particularly if you are getting on board with the trend to be more eco-friendly. That doesn't mean you have to spend more money or lose any elegance.

In this day and age, you can pick one of two ways to plan a party or event. There are common methods that are used at weddings, bar mitzvahs, birthday parties, fundraisers, corporate functions, etc. and now there are expert event companies where you can get guidance in creating eco-savvy, budget friendly and notable events or parties. Any good events company will listen to your expectations and they will explain how they can meet those expectations.

When it comes to eco-friendly events, not many event organizers can handle everything a client can throw at them. You will need an event coordinator that has expertise in that area and the knowledge of where to procure items that are valued,cost-effective and work with your theme for your special event. A couple of issues you may want to think about are waste removal, usage of paper and giveaways. Traditionally, left over food and drinks get thrown out or returned to the venue. Nowadays people are donating to food banks and shelters. Event planners can arrange invites, direction cards, rsvp cards with envelopes. Inevitably, these will end up in the garbage after the occasion as well. An Eco event planner would make use of recycled and recyclable options. The internet and very creative planners can come up with a variety of paperless invitations as well as other printed materials. Some event planners have gone as far as setting up composting. As far as favors, a very creative event company can source out items of equal interest without having an effect on the environment. Very often, they are different and conversation makers.

Whichever route you choose to go, the important thing is to have fun, know your guests appreciate your efforts, get your message out and keep within budget. Don't forget to give some feedback to the coordinator you are working with. They appreciate that too.

Event Planning Careers - Future Of Event Planning Profession

Many people find event planning careers very interesting. Unlike many jobs, this one does not require you to sit in front of your computer and do the required tasks. You have to work physically also to perform all the tasks lucratively. Many people enjoy organizing different occasions like business conferences, wedding, children parties etc and that is because they have the required skills needed in it like creativity, organized personality and good taste.

These days, people prefer event planners to arrange their programs because they cannot do it themselves. They are highly involved in their professional and family lives that they cannot take out enough time to make the program arrangements. Besides that, event planning is not a piece of cake it requires a lot of skills and knowledge to do so. In fact, it is also a profession just like dentistry, accountant, teacher etc.

However, this profession is not limited to a certain kind of people because you do not have to acquire any college degree. There are certificates and courses offered in event planning from various well-known institutions, if you acquire them then you would become more skillful and create a strong portfolio. In this field, experience is what counts the most because the more experienced you are the better you will manage the programs.

The future of event planning profession is very bright. Even in these times of recession, all sorts of programs like parties, business meetings, charity shows, weddings etc are in full swing. Therefore, there will always be a need for event planners for the arrangements for these programs. This particular profession is so interesting and rewarding that people actually enjoy working as event managers.

Event planning is a vast field. The two main categories are in formal programs and informal programs. Formal programs include business meetings and conferences, funerals, charity shows etc and informal programs include wedding functions, children parties etc. These programs can are never going to stop because these are the customs of the world so the importance of event planner will always be high no matter what happens.

In today's world, the need for event managers in the corporate world has immensely increased. In order to capture more clients, spread awareness about their business in the society and create good relations with fellow corporations they organize different platforms that can only happen with the help of event managers. There is so much competition in the market now that it is necessary for different corporations to arrange various events otherwise, they will incur loss. This competition will keep on getting tougher in future so the requirement of event managers will always be open.

Event Planning Certification - Gathering Prospects Before Becoming an Event Planner

Perfection in life is what is sought by all. This can be applied for all functions of our daily personal and professional life and some special ones which we cherish for a long time. To avoid occasions being managed badly, people have now acknowledged the need for a professional event planner. Thus if you enter the field of event planning as a professional, definitely you will have a bright today and a brighter tomorrow.

Now to understand the significance of visualizing and planning an occasion beforehand, look at the implications of appointing an event manager. What benefits do you have when you have a fully fledged organized event conducted according to the plans of your professional event manager?

There are many aspects to look after when you're hosting an event. You have to simultaneously run after workers responsible for decoration, lightening of the hall, get after those responsible for food preparation and you have to ensure that food is served on time. Imagine what a blessing it would be when you just have to warmly welcome your guest and just have to carry out the ceremony according to your family customs. The rest of the arrangements are managed by an event planner.

What do you need to become a successful event planner?

1. The most important of all required skills are leadership and Excellence in supervision. When you are coordinating an event as a head, you have to deal with a lot of people working for you as functional bodies for different purposes. You need to be authoritative as everyone under you expects you to be in total control. So plan everything solely or with your team beforehand so you can give orders on the spot. You must be very confident about your decisions. This is the key to success in this field and event planning certification can help you develop these skills in a far better way.


2. It is very important to work as a team and generate a friendly environment. This will definitely lead to cordial working conditions for your workers. When you are not very dominating and respect everyone, they will work with their heart and soul. No doubt the event itself will reflect the efforts.


3. Time management is very important. You have to be very prompt in your actions throughout the event. As you're responsible for the way the event goes, you must check out all arrangements. In case of an outdoor event if the electricity goes off you should have all arranged for a good backup generator to work as a substitute, as proper lightening is important for any occasion. You must also keep a check that food is being prepared on time so that it can be served without delays.

You must be sound with your coordination skills to get all the work done simultaneously as this is what event planning is all about. If you have an event planning certification then these things will become easy for you to understand and your natural organizational skills will definitely get a boost.

How to Hire the Right Venue for Your Event

Whether it's a corporate event, special birthday celebration, anniversary party or wedding or other occasion when one needs space for a group get together, hiring a venue space has a lot of advantages. Using a venue for hire will make planning one's event easier as things can be coordinated through a single source. Plus, with the wide variety of event venues available, one can find a space that truly fits the occasion. Here are some simple things to consider when looking for a venue to hire.

Type of Gathering: A corporate dinner party and a 50th wedding anniversary each have similar and unique requirements. It is important not only to know what type of event, but the tone and feel one wants to achieve too.

Number of Guests: This is critical as either a too small or too big a venue can really put a damper on a party. Too small a space means overcrowding and potentially slow service, while too big a venue can sometimes make the gathering feel insignificant. Get an accurate headcount early in the process.

Time of Year: This is obviously important if considering an outdoor event, but even during colder times, many venues have heated outdoor areas. Either way: be sure to plan the event well in advance especially if there is a specific date in mind.

Event Activities: Make sure to anticipate any activities that will go on during the event. For example, if planning a corporate outing, senior management may want to make presentations or speeches so space needs are different. Knowing what activities are planned ahead of time will help eliminate last minute scrambling.

Location: Ideally the venue location will be convenient to most of the guests, but when this is not possible, consider the venue's proximity to public transportation and/or convenient parking. Also, if looking at a city venue, consider the safety of the neighborhood.

Food & Refreshment Catering: Food and drinks make or break a party, so make sure to thoroughly investigate the capabilities of the venue. Most will have catering facilities or will provide recommendations but most often one's own caterer can be used.

Entertainment Needs: If considering some type of entertainment, be sure to get requirements early to be sure the venue can accommodate. While most venues can easily handles bands and dance floors, entertainment options are becoming more unique, so don't assume the space is set-up for things like a live cooking demonstration.

Special Requirements: Think carefully about anything that may require special thought. For a 90th birthday party there may be quite a few older guests. If the party space is not on the ground floor, make sure there are enough lifts to accommodate guests. This is where a good conference with the venue's representative to go over plans is very valuable as they can often anticipate potential issues based on experience.

Budget: Be sure to have a figure in mind before searching for a venue and don't be shy about sharing the parameters early in the process. While one wants to hire the best venue for the gathering, spending a lot of money won't guarantee the party will be a success.

Keep these considerations in mind when hiring a venue to ensure the space fits the event.

Reorganize Your Payment Transaction Process With Online Event Payment

Online event payment solution streamlines the entire finance management and payment processing for an event. It facilitates secured transactions and accepts payment through a number of payment gateways, such as PayPal, credit cards, Authorize.Net, and so on. Web-based payment solutions help to do away with the burden of manual cash handling.

Error-free Payment Management

The online payment management system offers your attendees the opportunity of making payments and donations 24x7. PCI-compliant solution streamlines the process of collecting payments' reconciling transactions' managing refunds' handling chargeback' and administering merchant account. Recurring billing option allows the attendees to make payments for multiple events with a single sign up. Most of the online payment solutions come with Cloud-based features. As a result, event planners do not need to spend money on some expensive hardware or software devices to launch online payment services. They can access the website for making payments from anywhere, only if they have a computer connected to the internet.

Revenues and donations are the chief sources of income for non-profit organizations that arrange fundraising and charities. Advanced event payment solutions available online simplify the process of accepting and managing donations received from multiple sources. Moreover, an increasing number of attendees are likely to donate for the cause, if the process of financial transaction becomes easy and error free.

Payments through a Number of Online Gateways

Online payment management service offers flexibility in transaction processes. Attendees can make donations and payments through a number of modes including PayPal, CyberSource, Authorize.Net, and all major credit cards at a competitive rate. In addition, your attendees do not require paying any downgrade fees for using corporate' mileage' or gift cards and special promotions.

24x7 Transaction of Payment

Using online event payment, you can provide your attendees with the flexibility of making payments at their convenience. It offers you the integrated benefits of collecting payments, membership dues' service, and subscription fees or donation, all at a time. Multiple payment methods, just by a single registration, enhance hassle-free payment procedure.

Constant Monitoring of Payment and Refund Transactions

With an online system, you can monitor the transaction process constantly. As a result, it allows you to immediately track fraudulent activities. In addition, you can get process refunds and resolve chargeback requests quickly. This helps to increase attendee satisfaction.

Flexibility of Using Merchant Account

Web-based payment management services also provide the event planners with the chance of using their own merchant account. You can set up this account free of cost and can process both online and card payments through it. Moreover, the registration payments are expected to be directly transferred to your bank account by a single click of the mouse.

Online services make payment processing easier. Hence, get smooth flow of payments by using online services today.

Benefits of Event Management Solutions for Event Planning

A recently conducted survey revealed that more than 67% event planners relied on comprehensive event management solutions to manage events of varied scale and budgets. This clearly reflects the growing popularity of solutions that have enabled event planners to streamline their work and host successful events.

For several years, event planners had to put up with high costs to hire resources for managing events. In addition, they had to address various glitches that arose while organizing events. Thanks to the end-to-end event registration and management solutions, planning and executing has become easier.

Advanced solutions come with several key features that help event managers like you to plan and execute their events successfully. Some of the benefits that these solutions include the following:

Online registration facilities

Integrated event management software tools provide features to facilitate online registration. Registrants simply fill out the registration forms and manage their registrations themselves. This helps you to make the entire registration process extremely simple for your prospective attendees.

Cost effective

Hiring a resource for managing your event will require you to shell out several dollars. You can save a lot of money by simply investing in an integrated solution that will help you to cut down costs to a considerable extent. You can use the online registration software as a centralized platform to manage the data about your event and attendees.

Customizable registration questionnaires

A detailed registration questionnaire enables you to understand your attendees' interests, expectations and preferences. You can ask specific questions to your registrants and get useful insights that can help you to pull off your initiative successfully.

Payment facilities

With a comprehensive event management software in place you can make it easier for your attendees to pay for registering at the event. Most of these software tools support multiple payment gateways using which your prospective attendees can pay up at the click of the mouse. Moreover, they get instant confirmation emails once the registration is completed.

Event marketing

You can use the event registration and management software to market your events as well. The "invite your friend" option will help you to spread awareness. You can even create private communities to attract your target audience in an effective manner. Private community is a powerful tool that will enable your attendees to network with one another.

Email notifications

Automated emails are extremely useful when it comes to informing your past attendees about an upcoming event. Furthermore, you can schedule the emails to be sent out on specific dates to ensure maximum participation.

Comprehensive event registration and management solutions are highly scalable in nature. This benefits event planners hosting a wide range of events. Irrespective of the industry you cater to, you can ensure high attendance and maximize your ROI effectively. So, choose the right event management solution and host a successful event.

Event Planning - Working With Volunteer Based Organizations

Volunteer groups of all sizes need help in planning their events too. These organizations are known to have a work force of people who are willing to do whatever is needed to make their event a success. As a group, they may have the manpower to pull it off, but will it be an event that leaves a WOW factor in the minds of those who attend?

Event planners who entertain the thought of being involved with a volunteer group should address some questions prior to agreeing to work with them.

1. What are they trying to accomplish from their event?

Fund raising, bring attention to the organization, celebrating a milestone, recognizing the community or people in it; or, recognizing their own volunteers. Sit down with the group to establish their wants and needs and goals.

2. Who will you answer to within their group?

If it's one person, great! If it is a committee or the membership as a whole, you may want to think twice about getting involved. If the membership has to be convened to make a decision, your ideas will be stymied until everyone agrees to go forward.

3. What is their budget?

This will determine how grandiose your donated ideas can get.

4. Does the budget allow for purchases to be made without general approval from the membership or volunteers?

Some organizations allow for purchases up to a certain value to be made without approval from the general membership. However, this value may be too low and will hinder planning when payments have to be made to suppliers. Investigate this area completely and be prepared to come up with a viable plan that can be agreed upon by the general membership prior to starting any planning.

5. Will there be enough volunteers available within the organization to get all the jobs done?

Many groups boast about their large membership; however, it is only the same few people who volunteer to do all the work. These few volunteers may not be enough to do everything and a work force will have to be recruited.

6. Are they expecting you to plan everything or only provide guidelines or suggestions of improvement for what has already been planned?

A few suggestions to improve what they already have planned should not take a lot of time or effort. It needs to be made clear that this is all you are doing and additional involvement would have to be reviewed further to determine if there would be a charge for your time.

7. How do they feel about having someone outside their organization running the show?

Even though the majority of the membership has ruled in favour of your involvement, it does not mean you have the blessing of the whole group. This being the case in most committee ran groups, be prepared for negative feed back from a few people on an ongoing basis.

It is essential for event planners to have personal and corporate directives in place regarding their involvement with any type of volunteer organization or event. The legalities that may arise due to accountability issues makes it necessary to strictly adhere to these internal guidelines regarding the donation of time from within your own company. Due diligence on all aspects of the event are crucial as the end result of the event, regardless of the amount of time you give, is a direct reflection on you and your company.

6 Crucial Ways to Organize Brain-Friendly Events

According to neuroscientists, online technology has remodeled our brain structure. What this means is that we are losing the habit of concentrating on one story and doing multiple activities at the same time. For example, chatting with friends or business colleges, sharing files and folders, browsing though websites, seeing images, etc. are some facets of general multi-tasking scenario on a daily basis. Thus, considering the current mindset of people today, organizers should plan brain-friendly events to increase guest-attendee interaction and engagement.

Now, let's see how you can organize a brain-friendly event in the best possible way.

Meet the Demands of the Attendees

As an event planner, you should organize a meeting or a conference to satisfy the needs of your guests/attendees. Remember they come to attend your event with a purpose in mind; to fulfill their quest. It is your responsibility to arrange a meeting that is easy to understand and directly relates to their interests. It should not be that the experience differs from the message leading to brain exhaustion.

Do Your Attendees Know the End-result?

Before beginning a conference or a seminar, ensure that the attendees are informed of the outcome of such an event. It then becomes convenient for participants to relate to the same and in the process clear out chances of confusion.

Create Opportunities for Participation

It is necessary to engage participants with the ongoing meeting or training session. There should be enhanced interaction amongst attendees and the speakers to propagate improved understanding of the concepts and thought processes. In this way, the brain will function more actively and lead to better decision-making and meet the required business objectives.

Avoid Distraction of Any Kind

It is of utmost significance to avoid any kind of natural or man-made distraction to smoothly run an event. Ensure lighting is up to the expected standards to brighten up the whole room or area. Similarly, loud noise can divert the attention of the attendees and can spoil their alertness. Moreover, room color, placing of plants, etc. also can help in creating brain-friendly events. Thus, you should be aware of such factors to make your event a grand success.

Use Technologies to Meet Your Needs

Try to use the best technologies to meet your business goals. For example, verbal communication can be one-way while introducing slide shows and presentations with appealing texts and images can boost the brain.

Provide Break-out Sessions

Think of a situation where you sit for 8 long hours listening to lectures without moving anywhere or taking a break. Now, it is bound to drain off your energy and lead to "brain fog". It can be a similar case in meetings or conferences without a break-out session. Your attendees are bound to get tired and bored without any kind of movement. Hence, you should introduce break-out sessions at regular intervals to provide energy and clarity to the brain.

Management Consulting Resumes - Six Blunders That Get You Down

Your resume is effective if it creates an impact on management consulting recruiters within less than a minute. To go in this direction, ensure that it emphasizes your strengths, it contains no errors and it is written in a well-customized manner. If you, unfortunately, swerve to the wrong direction, you might commit any of the common mistakes of applicants.

Mistake 1: Providing Irrelevant Details

Brevity, not length, is the main principle to be followed when writing a resume. A long list of information doesn't necessarily mean you are better than other applicants. It can even mean you are not capable of organizing information in a concise manner. Include only the information that is relevant to the management consulting position. Unnecessary details just cause the document to appear wordy. Ideally, it should only have one to two pages. Anything more than that is quite dragging.

Mistake 2: Failure to Highlight Accomplishments

Too many applicants apply for a single management consulting position. Hence, recruiters are challenged to shortlist them based on the knowledge, skills and abilities stated in their resume. They will also look for your accomplishments in your previous workplace or as a student. If you place a description of your previous responsibilities, it will give recruiters an idea of what you used to do, and this is good. However, if you state a few bullets of accomplishments, it will tell them how you performed, and this is much better. Recruiters believe that past behavior predicts potential performance at work. If they appreciate what you have done in the past, they will most likely bank on your capability.

Mistake 3: Not Specifying ad Quantifying Performance

Numbers matter in a resume, especially if they uncover your performance. Thus, when stating your accomplishments, quantify it as much as possible. Instead of saying, Led a team to investigate marketing issues, say, Led a team in market segmentation and recommended measurable strategies in launching the new product within a month. The second statement is better because it's specific. Further, the recruiter will be able to appreciate your conscientiousness and dedication since you could finish the project within a month.

Mistake 4: Failing to Review Content of Resume

Grammatical errors and misspellings are a turn off for recruiters. If they see your resume with these blunders, more likely you will be rejected. There are three reasons for this. First, written communication skill is a must for management consultants. If you can't perfect your resume, how will you be able to write reports for your clients? Second, mistakes indicate you are not meticulous with details, another winning characteristic important in dealing with information. Third, remember that there are heaps of qualified applicants for the vacancy. Why would recruiters favor you over those who can describe their competence excellently?

Mistake 5: Using a Disorganized Layout

The manner of presenting information also matters. If you squeeze in too many details in a page, management consulting recruiters will feel tired to peruse your resume. Hence, make use of the features of the word processor you are using. Italicize, underline or bold phrases for emphasis. Insert white lines in between categories for the eyes to rest after reading a chunk of information. Using bullets is also a good way of breaking long sentences. It makes your document reader-friendly. It's a great idea not to use fancy fonts. Times New Roman, Tahoma, Arial and other readable fonts are more professional-looking.

Mistake 6: Sending a One-Size-Fits-All Resume

Management consulting firms are unique from each other; thus, you must ascertain that all given information is in line with their goals, work values and corporate culture. To be able to do this, conduct an intensive research about your target firm. Browse their website; almost all information is stated there. You can also refer to people in your network who are and were connected with the firm. If you send a generic resume, recruiters will feel your impersonality. However, a well-tailored resume is more attention-grabbing for them.

Do not take for granted the power of a resume to sell your services to a management consulting firm. It may be just a simple document, but it can pave the way to your promising dream job. Spend sufficient time in writing and proofreading it. You will be grateful for your effort once you are called for an interview.

What Free Services Are Available When You Use A CVB?

If you're not familiar with how Convention and Visitors Bureaus work and the kinds of complimentary services they offer to meeting planners, then this article is for you! One of the main reasons CVBs exist is to bring tourism, meetings, conventions and events to their destinations, so that means your business is very important to them! As a result, CVBs will do whatever they can to not only bring your meeting to their destination but also support its success.

Think of a CVB as your go-to advocate, one who is there to help coordinate your efforts on your behalf and help you find the perfect fit in meeting spaces, hotels and services. Because they're funded by a combination of factors, including hotel occupancy taxes, CVBs are able to offer a host of services and support before, during and after events, including pre-convention planning, program and registration assistance, attendance building and event publicity and promotion. Although freebies can depend on the bureau and size of a meeting or event, by working closely with a CVB, you'll not only save time and money, you'll also free up your energy to focus on really crucial things, like negotiating the best rates and making your meeting a success!

Here's the rundown on some of the free services many CVBs are now offering to help you plan and pull off a fabulous event.

Destination Expertise:

Along with a vested interest in bringing meetings and events of all shapes and sizes to their destinations, CVBs are experts when it comes to knowing the ins and outs of their cities. With their unbiased knowledge and unique destination perspective, CVBs have the expertise to guide planners in the right direction and help them make faster, more educated decisions.

But nothing beats experiencing a destination first-hand, so many CVBs offer complimentary familiarization (FAM) tours and guided site inspections. These hosted excursions allow planners to gain a better understanding of what a destination has to offer, including accommodations, meetings and convention spaces, activities and attractions. Some bureaus, such as the Tucson Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, also offer customized trips for individual planners.

"If they have a piece of business that would fit into Tucson, we'll fly a planner out so they can experience the destination," says Richard Vaughan, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Metro Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau. "You choose the date, we set up all your site inspections, give you customized attention and take you around to the hotels customized to your needs."

RFP Gathering and Site Selection:

CVBs can also be an invaluable resource and partner in helping you select the right hotel and meeting spaces. Because they have extensive knowledge about the properties and venues within their destinations, they can do the legwork for you by sending out your RFPs to those that best meet your criteria. This not only saves you from having to contact each individual property on your own but also helps you save more time by narrowing down the selection process.

"Certainly we can do site selection for them," says David DuBois, president and CEO of the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau. "If they have a 300-room group for four nights and it's a sales meeting, we'll narrow it down the number of hotels based upon their specs. If they have an exhibit need, that narrows it down even further because they want to be next to the convention center. We review their specs and see if there's a fit and then we show the meeting planner the property or properties that would fit their needs."

Connections With Vendors:

Besides helping you find the best match in hotels and meeting spaces, CVBs can also gather information and provide referrals for important local resources, including airport, transportation, city services, florists, speakers and recreational activities. If the CVB is a membership-funded organization, they can provide you with a list of members and work as a go-between with vendors that fit your needs.

"When we meet with the planner we discuss their specific requirements and educate them about what's available," says Vaughan. "That way the leads are targeted, it's a focused communication channel and planners aren't inundated with calls (from vendors)."

Attendee Marketing:

CVBs have a vested interest in the success of your event. After all, if you have a positive experience, won't you be more likely to come back? That's why offering free pre-event attendance promotion and program coordination to planners makes good business sense for CVBs. Besides producing customized presentations, news and press releases and email blasts on your event's behalf, many CVBs are also able to create custom web pages, provide you with promotional materials and assist in pre- and post-stay itinerary planning.

Since attracting robust event participation is in a CVB's best interest, bureaus such as the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Bureau offer cutting-edge attendance promotion programs as a complementary service for their larger events.

"We have a host of attendance promotion activities for larger types of shows," says Chris Meyer, LVCVA vice president of sales. "The most popular one is our convention call program. The show organizer provides us with a list, it's given to our call center and we engage with attendees and encourage them to register for the event. It's been a very successful program."

Make the CVB Connection:

Although every bureau may differ slightly in the kinds of services they can offer for free, CVBs are nonetheless an invaluable resource that planners should make a point of leveraging. After all, one of their main jobs is to provide you with the expertise, services and support you need so you can do what you do best: execute a stellar meeting!

"Certainly the primary mission for all DMOs is to be the primary ambassador and advocate for the meeting planner that will represent them throughout the whole community," says Vaughan. "It allows them to use a lot less time and effort to find a vendor or additional assistance, they have one point of central contact and they have a designated person that's their destination advocate for all their meetings needs."

Corporate Event Planners: Helping Businesses Plan and Execute Successful Events

No matter what type of industry you are in, chances are that you host various corporate events throughout the year. From social gatherings to seminars and conferences, events are an important part of the corporate culture. Taking on the task of planning and implementing these functions can be a burden. This is why so many business professionals turn to an event planner to assist them with all of their corporate events.

No matter what industry you are in, you know how important your time is. Often it seems that getting all of your tasks completed in the workweek is virtually impossible. When you add planning a corporate event into the mix, you can feel overwhelmed. This is why many businesses do not sponsor events. They simply do not have the staff to devote time to it. This is why corporate event planners are needed. These individuals take care of all of the planning and management of the event so that you do not have to sacrifice your staff's valuable time.

An event planner does just about anything you need her to do to ensure that your corporate meeting or event runs smoothly and efficiently. These highly skilled individuals take care of all of the details involved in planning and executing a productive and entertaining event. Utilizing the help of an event planner means that you never have to worry about the small details, or any details for that matter. These professionals have experience in not only preventing possible problems from happening, but also finding acceptable solutions should something out of the ordinary occur. Their attention to detail ensures that your event will run smoothly, from beginning to end.

One of the first things that an event planner will do is to sit with you and determine what kind of goals and vision you have for your event. What you hope to achieve from the day will greatly influence the overall design of the function. Pre-planning and logistics will help your planner determine the best way to make the event run efficiently and smoothly.

Setting a clear budget is essential. Without itemized monetary guidance, you may end up spending much more for your event than you feel comfortable with. If you are not sure how to begin this process, ask your planner. Her experience and knowledge of the area's vendors will help you fashion a reasonable budget.

Event design is the process in which you determine exactly what will happen during the day. Who will be your speakers? How long will their presentations last? When will your guests eat? What time do you want to finish? Your planner will help you design your event step-by-step, hour-by-hour, so that your itinerary is absolutely clear. Comprehensive planning is crucial for a successful function.

Because event planners have so much experience with vendors, venues, and other services in the area, they are able to steer you toward providers that they know will offer the best service at a reasonable price. This type of first hand knowledge saves you from hours of interviews, site visits, and searching for the perfect vendors. Your planner can streamline this process by narrowing down your choices to a few top providers in the area.

A big advantage to hiring an event planner is that you have a master negotiator on your side when it comes to securing contracts for vendors. These individuals have relationships with many local vendors, which allows them to negotiate the best possible pricing available. Saving money on your budget in this area may allow you to spend more on other areas.

Management of the actual event requires skills that an event planner has perfected. She is able to check and double check to be sure that everything is running smoothly on your day. She is there to solve any issues that may arise so that your event is a success. Knowing that a qualified professional is there to direct the event and take care of all the details allows you to enjoy the day and spend time with your guests.

After the event, your planner will distribute surveys to your guests and assist you in evaluating the success of your function. This is a time to reflect on what went well and what needs to be improved next time. This information is important for planning future events for your business or organization.

Fun Team Building Ideas to Make Your Corporate Event a Hit

Most Corporate have by now understood the importance of team spirit within their employees. They have also realized that employees need to be motivated from time to time given their gruelling schedules and budget constraints that have made perks a rarity. But you don't always have to shower money or offer rewards to show your appreciation towards your employees. In fact Corporate Events where you involve your employees and try to make them feel a part of the family not only builds a sense of loyalty amongst them but also boosts their morale.

Team Building Exercises are highly recommended by management gurus for enhancing team spirit within your employees.

However sometimes these days can go awfully wrong and if it turns into a yearly ritual your employees begin to dread them. In most cases it's seen that teams lose interest when things get boring and preachy. You need to keep your employees interested with Fun Team Building ideas.

Now you can either hire a professional company to take that task off your hands or come up with Team Building Ideas that will be whole lot of fun at the same time informative to your employees.

You can sample a list of some popular Fun Team Building ideas and get the drift:

Retrieving message from a bottle full of holes is a popular task. Your team will have access to sticks, taps and water to fish out the container in the bottle that has a hidden message. This fun task helps communication skills and improves problem solving skills.

You can use three dimensional webs through which teams have to pass without touching each other. On the spot improvisations can be made and you can use multilayered labyrinths instead. This task works on your team's trust, delegation skills and time management.

Band building exercises can be lot of fun where different team members come together to form a band and let their inner artist lose creating new sounds. Your team will learn to work in harmony through this exercise.

Who doesn't like treasure hunts? You can give your team cryptic clues that lead them to a treasure. Each clue is followed by a task, and every employee is likely to have his/her own strength and weakness. They will learn to work with each other's strengths and covering up their partner's weakness.

Human sheep herding helps your employees build belief in each other. They will choose a team leader amongst them who will then herd the blindfolded team safely to the pen. It usually evokes a lot of laughter.

Several countdown missions can be given to your team. You can pick one team member as a spy who will have to be accurately picked by the team through a series of questions in stipulated time. Being able to ask the right questions is a task in itself.

You can put some thought into your event and make it lively and fun for your team.

Three Strategic Planning Tips For Travel Companies and Travel Affiliate Marketers

As the travel industry meanders through the dog days of summer, many strategists in travel companies far and wide are already beginning to think about the strategic planning season that lies just ahead, and ponder about the profound differences this year's process is likely to entail compared to years past. 

Faced with arguably the most uncertain and volatile economy since the Great Depression, many corporate executives and strategists now realize that the 'game' is on the line, and that there will be real 'winners' and 'losers' - not just in terms of market share, customer ownership or profits / losses, but rather the near-term survivability of their firms. One doesn't have to look far to find travel companies being run by their management teams more like corporate turnarounds rather than on a 'business as usual' basis - British Airways, American Express, Hertz, RCCL and Travelport are just five of dozens of similar examples.

The business landscape facing the travel industry today is one that has undergone a radical and wrenching change from that of just 18 months ago.  Most of the 'winning strategies' that worked then don't work now. More importantly, tomorrow's competitive environment will also most assuredly be different from that of today, and that future environment will bring with it huge upside rewards for those who are properly prepared, while also peppered with huge downside risks and certain catastrophe for those that are not. 

Even in such profoundly uncertain times, strategic planning doesn't have to be a 'hit or miss' proposition for travel companies. Single-point strategic forecasts based on trend analysis, or strategy formulation based on past / current linear trend-extrapolation that produces base, upside, and downside cases, among other methodologies, simply do not work when the travel industry - and the world's economic order - is in the throes of radical (and likely permanent) restructuring. While such traditional, 'tried and true' strategy formulation methodologies fail in times like these, there is another strategy tool that actually helps large and small companies alike develop a clear map to help navigate uncharted waters - scenario strategy planning.

What scenario strategy planning is - and isn't

At its essence, scenario strategy planning is about identifying and understanding the forces that are sculpting the world around you; qualitatively and quantitatively assessing the potential inter-play among these forces in a structured manner; delineating from these forces several probable and highly plausible 'future completive worlds'; and - here's the most important element - unlike the aforementioned single-point or 'case' related strategic plans, scenario planning enables the design of a fluid, 'multi-dimensional' strategy that effectively enables companies to better manage their core business irrespective of the future competitive landscape that may evolve.  

In the force identification phase of this process, some forces are determined as certain and others classified as uncertain; it's the interplay of the uncertain forces that drive differences in the future scenarios. Altering the combination of those forces renders different future scenarios, which while one may be more or less probable than the others, each is qualitatively different.

Each future scenario paints a picture of a distinct, but plausible, business environment 3-5 years into the future, and each is written in such a way that the scenario has 'decision-making utility' - i.e., the future world described provides enough detail and specification so that alternative strategic courses of action can be effectively tested.  

Generally, most scenario strategy planning methodologies suggest that strategists craft 3-4 future scenarios, as fleshing-out 5 or more scenarios results in a very laborious process, with derived value decreasing as the number of scenarios goes up. Together, the 3-4 scenarios span the realm of plausible future competitive worlds.

In a nut shell, travel companies and travel affiliate marketers will derive three major benefits by incorporating scenario planning into their annual strategic planning process:

• Understand how the travel industry's competitive landscape may evolve and what impact and implications this future may hold for your business


• Recognize the real possibilities and significant impact of discontinuous industry change driven by exogenous or endogenous forces and events


• Crystallize steps management should take to successfully prepare for these potential  future worlds

While the fundamental precepts of scenario planning are relatively standard, there are several approaches to scenario strategy planning, and each has strong and weak points. Here are three planning tips that travel suppliers and travel affiliates should consider incorporating in their scenario strategy planning process regardless of the methodology they decide to use.

Tip Number1: Look beyond the past...and today's crises

Given the depth and scope of the economic, societal and political change now under way, it is easy for travel companies to be overwhelmed by the intensity of the current situation. Focusing on just the current reality can be devastating, as it sets-up the possibility for a company to be blindsided by other forces or dynamics that lie outside its traditional competitive landscape.

Think about this point from the following perspective: If management at the world's airlines were looking closely at what was going on in the credit markets between 2003 - 2007, perhaps many would have noticed that the plethora of M&A, privatization and other financial transactions were being fueled by the enormous leverage investment banks, private equity firms, hedge funds and others were piling-up on their balance sheets. They would also presumably have realized that maintaining leverage of that scale was fundamentally not sustainable long-term in any industry, not just the financial sector. 

For airlines dependent on premium traffic, a fall-off from those heady times in the financial markets would translate into a meaningful drop in the number of premium travelers the airline would carry, and that in turn, would have a rather detrimental (if not very devastating) effect on yields. This is what happened beginning in mid-2008 - but in spades - and as a result, today many of the world's largest airlines are reeling, and in some cases, a step or two away from insolvency.

Tip Number 2: Refrain from parochial thinking

Parochial thinking (i.e., believing that because of one's sheer size, market clout or abilities, an enterprise can singularly drive and determine its or its industry's future) is where many companies go wrong in their strategy formulation and ultimately fail in the marketplace - Pan Am, US Steel, the US automobile manufacturing industry (and indeed many of the 'too big to fail' companies) are good examples of the calamitous results engendered as a result of parochial thinking. 

So, when developing end-state scenarios, strategists in travel companies should assure that each future competitive world that is constructed has been done so independent of the firm's actions or control; this forces organization to not only recognize the possibilities of exogenous discontinuous change occurring, but more importantly, it also helps to guard them from sharing the same fate that befell the formerly iconic brands mentioned in the previous paragraph. 

Even if your travel company has Google-like market share or power, failing to heed this scenario strategy planning axiom can quickly lead to market share losses or competitive erosion as other, less hubristic companies and players out-flank you. 

Tip Number 3: Intensify monitoring and refinement

The effectiveness of any strategy depends on the organization's ability to implement it and make adjustments nimbly and methodically when needed. This is even truer for scenario strategy, as by definition, scenario strategies are not static plans; they require continuous refinement and recalibration based on what's happening in the market and the world at large.

In addition to formulating a core multi-dimensional strategy, scenario planning also calls for developing 'hedge strategies, i.e., strategies that are developed to enable the company to rapidly adjust its strategy should an alternative future scenario occur. Some of the hedge stratagems address less probable, but nonetheless plausible, scenarios which are triggered by a sudden and disruptive industry event. Hedge strategies are typically 'put on the shelf', to be used only if one of the less probable scenarios evolves.  

Knowing when to turn to hedge strategies requires that the travel company or travel affiliate marketer closely monitor and measure the competitive playing field. Only by diligently and relentlessly monitoring the performance of suppliers, customers, and competitors, as well as understanding the subtle shifts in the company's other key market indicators, can any company succeed in making ongoing, real-time adjustments in their strategy, compete effectively in the marketplace and avoid being subsumed or eviscerated by disruptive change.

As we've all witnessed during the last year, even the most entrenched incumbents in an industry can plunge into a financial abyss literally over night because of a sudden but drastic discontinuity in the competitive playing field - hello Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers and AIG.  It's fair to say that, given their size, resources and clout, none of these firms foresaw a world where they were not in some appreciable control of their destiny, and none had hedge strategies in place should an event of enormous discontinuous change befall them. Drawing parallels from the devastation wrought on these and other firms in the financial markets as a result of discontinuous change is reason enough why hedge strategies should be a critical element of any travel affiliate's or travel supplier's strategic plan.  

Moving Forward

In closing, while the travel and tourism industry's long-term prospects remain promising, all of the various players in the industry's value chain will be challenged in the short-term. Scenario-based strategy development helps company executives better understand what the future may hold for their business and anticipate many of the required changes to their value-added focus. Incorporating these three strategic planning tips outlined above will help assure that your company's 'multi-dimensional strategy' is robust enough to successfully navigate a profitable path to the future when the recovery finally arrives.

Event Planning Courses To Bolster Your Existing Career

If you work for an organization of any kind, then chances are that you have attended an event hosted by your employer. You may have even been called upon to organize such events. This can be a daunting prospect even for those of us to whom party planning comes easily. This is not your child's first birthday. There are a number of legal and budgetary issues to consider when organizing an event for your work. Should you serve alcohol? Can you? How will you handle food allergies? How much food should you order? Should you phone guests in person, robo call them, email them? There are a number of questions to answer, and returning to community college to take some event planner courses may make you more effective at your workplace. Whether you work in Administration or Information Technology, if your job sometimes requires you to host events, then some additional training at the college level could serve you very well.

Your employer will certainly support you in your decision to take event organisation courses!

What kind of event planning courses should you take?

Start with the introductory event planner courses at your community college. This will give you a sense of what you would like to get out of the program. Unlike many of the other students, you won't be there to pursue a career in event planning, but to better equip yourself to organize events at your existing workplace.

Examples of event planner courses that may interest you:

• venue management


• designing banners, invitations


• how to budget for your event


• risk management (safe crowd control, allergies, alcohol, etc.)

Unlike for the other students in your event planning courses, it won't likely matter very much to you whether the school you are choosing offers a work placement or co-op program, because you - unlike many of them - already have a job in another industry.

Once you complete your basic event planning courses, you may want to specialize further. For example, if your workplace has a sustainable development policy, then it may be in its best interest to have you pursue a sustainable events accreditation. This gives added value to your workplace events, by showcasing your values as an organization, and making your guests feel good about their involvement in the activity.

But, if you don't feel that you have time for event planner courses, you may simply want to read up on event planning.

Perhaps you could find out which textbooks are on the reading list in the event planning courses at your local colleges, and invest in one or two. Who knows, your supplier may even pick up the tab for you.

Reading on your own may tide you over until you have more time to register for event planning courses.

Corporate Hospitality

Whether you are planning meetings or team building events, creating a warm and welcoming attitude of corporate hospitality is critical for the success of your conferences. Corporate hospitality allows colleagues and clients to socialize, relax, and work toward positive team building. Seminars, meetings, conventions and conferences all allow opportunities for corporate hospitality. Corporate hospitality can add fun and flair to your annual general meetings, PR events and training courses.

Several components come into play when planning corporate events of all sorts. Location, conference venues, and activities are all relevant aspects of meetings, conventions and conferences. While all corporate event planners hope for a successful and welcoming event, making wise and thoughtful choices can help your annual general meetings, PR events, training courses and sales presentations grow and thrive. Good client and staff relations are one of the most important parts of a successful business and of successful events of all sorts. Team building and corporate hospitality will ensure that sort of success.

Location, in the most general terms, is an important consideration for all conferences and events. Select a location easily accessible by your conference attendees. Airport and railway access can be especially important. Location is also an important consideration in terms of entertainment and corporate hospitality. Activities of all sorts can play well into your events, whether you are planning a sporting event as part of your corporate hospitality or looking for more specific team building events. Choosing the right conference centre or venue for your team building event is also an important part of organizing corporate events of all sorts. Your conference venue will help to set the mood for your events, seminars or meetings. Good food, comfortable spaces, and excellent service will all help with team building at your events and meetings. If the conference venue you have chosen includes a hotel and conference support staff, this can be especially helpful for out of town attendees.

When planning team building events of any sort, corporate hospitality can be a critical component. Corporate hospitality can be as simple as a company day out or as lavish as private entertainments. Corporate hospitality is a critical aspect of team building, allowing bonding, socialization, and a feeling of unity as team members work together toward a common goal. Corporate hospitality, whether in the form of tickets to a sporting event or concert or larger group activities can be a positive bonus for employees and a morale booster in the workplace.

Corporate hospitality is also a fine choice for PR events, product launches and more. Introducing new concepts, plans and products at a corporate hospitality event like a sporting event, concert, outdoor gathering or other team building event can be a memorable and welcoming choice. Creating a positive environment for training courses and seminars will help your clients or employees to remember the material and integrate it into their professional lives in a positive and beneficial way.

Even serious corporate meetings and seminars can benefit from corporate hospitality and team building activities. Integrating a game night, themed activities or treasure hunt into your training courses, seminars, or general annual meetings can help cement the professional bonds between colleagues and clients. These team building events can even help teach cooperative work skills. Corporate hospitality and team building activities can make your seminars or events more than just educational opportunities for professional networking, but also events that leave both clients and employees with a positive impression of the conference or event.

For assistance planning a corporate hospitality event, consider consulting an experienced event planner or event planning service. It can take a lot to organise a corporate hospitality event or team building activity and an experienced professional can help make your conference or event activities a success. Whether you need a day of team building fun outdoors or a gaming night at the conference centre, an event planning service can help you make your team building dreams a reality. An event planner may be especially helpful if you would like to plan your corporate hospitality events at a sporting event or concert venue.

Corporate hospitality can range from seats at a sporting event with important clients to large scale activities and events for the entire company. Corporate hospitality and team building help to build valuable relationships, encourage networking and aid interpersonal skill development in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. The chance to socialize with colleagues and clients outside of the workplace can improve overall relationships and help to build valuable professional and business connections. Consider consulting experienced event planning professionals to design, plan and organise the ideal corporate hospitality or team building activity for your company. From planning a company events to arranging corporate hospitality at general annual meetings and conferences, corporate hospitality and team building experts are a fine addition to your marketing team.

Short Term Strategic Planning

Many planners still consider "strategic" to be synonymous with "long-term". Executives enjoy long term strategic planning because it's usually pure fantasy. Consultants love to do long term planning exercises because they make everyone feel good. Yet long planning horizons are the root cause of visions and strategies that are too motherhood to be successfully executed. According to Peter Wright of The Planning Group "when we take executive teams through an exercise to create a 2-3 year practical vision, they are visibly uneasy. If they commit to a vision of the company only 8-12 quarters away, real plans will need to be underway within a few months just to be on track."

This sense of urgency is the best reason to keep planning horizons short. Bridging the gap between strategy and execution is difficult, and a vision that is both practical and compelling is the best foundation. A vision should drive the articulation of an organization's most crucial priorities, its "strategic imperatives", as well as a solid plan for how to achieve those priorities. Without that short, practical vision, turning strategy into action is almost impossible.

There is one important caveat: strategic planning, in particular vision statements should never have a horizon that is too short. A vision for an organization that is only 12 months away, for example, is likely unrealistic, and can cause a sense of hopelessness. This can be just as damaging to successful execution as a vision that is too long.

There is a place for a very high level, longer term strategic vision for your firm, but don't let it be a substitute for a practical vision and strategy that will be the drivers of real action. Keep your business planning horizon between 2-3 years to create plans that are practical, compelling, and stand a fighting chance of execution.

How to Choose Your Event Planner!

How to choose a great event planner 101? First you need to know what type of event are you holding a wedding reception event or a corporate event? Next you will need to ask family, friends and colleagues for names of people that they have used for help in planning an event. We have all been to events both wedding events and corporate events that have been very successful and we would like to have the same outcome. Just in-case you require an additional source, take a look at websites on the internet that that is located close to where you live or work. Don't be to quick to rule out the well-rounded person who handles both corporate and wedding events. Their knowledge and skills at handling both types of functions can provide you with some suggestions that you may want to use in your function. Corporate event planners, work mainly with corporate clients to produce meetings, seminars, conventions, galas and fundraisers. Their clients will be Executive Assistants, Convention Planners, Government, Groups and Associations. Private event planners are producing private events; Weddings Ceremonies and Receptions, Non-Profit Fundraisers, Awards Banquets and other private events on a large scale that require a person or team of people in place to lead the event from start to finish.

Some of the things to remember is; check references this will provide you with peace of mind. What was the outcome of the function? An individual will share the high-lights and the low-lights, if everything was outstanding all the time then this is probably not the best choice. You want a person that has learned from mistakes and how they have put procedures in place to deal with any situation that may come up at the event. It is important to know how it was resolved? Do they have a personality that can deal with these quickly, calmly and in a professional manner? You want a person that can make suggestions on how to make the function better and lead you away from any misguided well intentioned ideas.

Great people are willing to give references and have testimonials on their websites that can be confirmed by the potential client. They act in a professional manner, show-up on time, chair meetings, help organize, plan, work with other providers, handle budgets and deadlines, lead the event on the day and finish with a post event analysis.

Words of caution: Event planners should not be your friends or family having them help out is fine but you really want them to have a good time and enjoy the function as much as you will. Family and friends have wonderful intentions although generally can not commit to the same level of service that you will require prior, during and after your function. The charges will range depending on how involved they are going to be in the event. Remember to get three quotes as this will best determine not only the price but the level of service that you will be paying for. Generally a quote will be broken down so that you can see what is included and what is not included in the price quoted. One last thing to remember is cheaper is not always better; experience, knowledge and connections can help make all the difference when planning the event. Following these tips will help you to choose the right event planner.

Event Planners - Are You Your Own Worst Enemy?

The one thing that distinguishes successful event professionals from the rest is their ability to market and sell their services. The top earners are strong marketers.

The average planner spends far too little time on marketing. After all, it's very easy to stay busy working on things you enjoy more than trying to convince strangers to hire you. You are not alone, many people struggle with the fear of rejection every time they think about picking up the phone and calling a prospective customer.

What causes you to resist? Maybe you feel embarrassed or shy about bragging. It could be that you hate to think of yourself as pushy, manipulative or insincere. Who wouldn't want to avoid that?

When you feel that selling your services conflicts with your self-identity, you'll do anything to avoid doing it. However, successful and stress free selling is not about forcing people to buy. It does not require exaggerated claims or boasting.

For some reason, people think that sales is a battle of wits and will. But, it doesn't have to be. Think of marketing and selling as helping people.

As an event professional, you are uniquely qualified to help customers identify their needs, wants and problems. You can help them find solutions. If what you have to offer is acceptable, you'll have no trouble booking plenty of events.

It all comes down to having enough qualified leads. When you have a blank calendar, bills to pay and only a handful of leads it's easy to fall into the trap of putting your needs ahead of your client's. That's why you need a marketing system that delivers and overabundance of qualified leads.

When you have more event leads than you can possibly service you don't have to "sell" anything. You just help and educate. If they choose to do business with you great, if not, no big deal. You've got more than enough.

You can generate leads for all sorts of event services with the right marketing system in place. Right now, there are hundreds of event shoppers looking for services just like yours in your community. Can they find you?

Make sure you have a solid online marketing system. That's where you're future customers are searching right now. Discover how to use powerful online marketing tools and create a lead generation system that takes all the stress out of marketing and selling your services.

10 Key Benefits of Using Online Registration to Make Your Event Planning Easier

A large number of organizations today are taking the help of online registration solutions to easily manage the sign up process before every event. The web-based registration software will help you easily enter all your contact details as mentioned in the form, without the need to stand in long lines to do the same.
Let's find out how the online registration process can be beneficial to you and your company.

Easy to Set Up

You can easily set up the web-based registration process, as it does not require you to purchase, install, or download any hardware or software. Besides, you don't have to be technically savvy to use this software.

Go Green with Quick and Easy Registration

Registration with pen and paper requires individuals to get hold of the form physically, fill in necessary details, and then submit it to the company staff. You can download a form as well, take a print out, and fill it up. However, that involves the use of paper. Online sign up is easy and fast, as it requires the registrants to just log in to your portal and complete it. Besides, there is no use of paper involved, thus making the process entirely environment friendly.

Customization Option

You can customize the registration pages to give it a similar look and feel as your business website. Providing the same color and format will make your registrants feel as if they have never left your website.

Secure to Use

This Cloud-based system is more convenient and secure to use than paper registration forms, since there is hardly any chance of loss or misuse of information. Hence, there is no risk even in providing the personal details in the online registration forms.

Automated Payment Collection

You can securely collect online payments made through credit cards and other payment gateways, such as PayPal and others, using the web-based registration software.

Track Your Online Registration

You can easily keep a track of the sign-up process by getting automatic confirmation emails, once each individual completes filling up the form.

Send Emails to Your Attendees

Send invitations, notifications, and RSVPs to event attendees regarding your present and upcoming programs. The online registration software will automatically send a follow-up email to the participants, notifying them once their payment is received and the seat is reserved.

Integrated Marketing Tool

The powerful, yet simple marketing tool can be used to promote small to large businesses on multiple online platforms. You can open accounts on Facebook Twitter, and similar sites to start a viral marketing of your solutions. You can even provide discounts or promo codes to any specific or all products to encourage and persuade customers to buy and use the same.

Built-in Reports Facility

You can generate hundreds of reports based on your ticket sales, registration status, and payment transfers. The online reporting tool helps you analyze and measure your event's performance data, and even store the reports in flexible formats to match your business needs and requirements.

Get an Instant Dashboard

The online activity dashboard lets you view and manage the events registration and payment system from a single platform. You can view the revenue and inventory status of all your ongoing events via this activity dashboard available with this Cloud-based check-in system.

Personalized Wristbands Are a Popular Utility for Event Management

You could have pointed out that over roughly the last eight years there's been a rise in the buzz regarding personalized wristbands. You can use them for a great deal of functions for numerous market sectors to reduce costs of function planning throughout the world.

Personalised wristbands are already utilized to bring help regarding diseases, racism & the environment. They've had a massive influence in many different places for quite a while and have altered the methods charitable groups & causes market themselves for the larger community.

Wristband Materials & Types

How versatile wristbands really are, is well known, it's this kind of adaptability that makes them such an accessible item. You will find myriad of personalised bracelets & a huge selection of internet vendors, with a lot of them supplying people & organizations.

Customized wrist bands are generally created from extremely light & tough components including plastic, neoprene & silicone but are also created from papers, faux leather and also cloth. They feel good are available in plenty of shades and styles.

This extraordinary array of types, components and colours has aided personalised wristbands into the category of worldwide fashion trend.

Personalized wristbands are fantastic for charitable use

When Lance Armstrong employed the particular 'Live Strong' cancer support bracelet, customized wristbands became incredibly well-liked by charitable which use them to improve funds and also attention to causes. Folks can get the particular bracelet and wear it every day to demonstrate their particular support for your cause.

In many cases folks might possibly not have significant amounts of funds to give to your cause so buying a relatively inexpensive customized wristband won't hurt their wallet. And also this tends to make an offering to a charitable organisation far easier to each day people.

The price is kept low as a result of many personalised wristbands getting made out of moulded plastic or silicone which keeps the unit price for every product surprisingly low. Additionally, there are huge special discounts being created for firms that choose to buy wristbands in big amounts.

Examples of Charity wristband uses:

• Diabetes British (white)


• Multiple sclerosis (fruit)


• Epilepsy (50 percent blue, 50 percent red)


• Hurricane Katrina (marine blue blended with white)


• Pancreatic cancer (pink)


• Cystic fibrosis (pink)


• AIDS (red)

Personalized Wristbands used for Events & Security

Additional utilities regarding personalised wrist bands are within event management. Deciding on the proper wristband for your function may be influenced by way of a great deal of aspects. Coloured wristbands enable you to recognize accessibility membership to specific zones or services.

They could be used to market other events or services by having advertising messages printed on them. Virtually every part of the wristband can easily be personalised.

A number of uses customized wrist bands may have at your function.

• General Entry


• Access & Constraints


• Promotions & advertising and marketing


• Staff Recognition


• Multi-day Access


• Sponsorship

As you can see, there are an incredibly wide range of uses for personalised wristbands. Over the years they have amassed a huge amount of marketing leverage for charities & event management. This globally popular item is now worn by people all over the world.

Church Event Management Solutions

Managing the attendees and the church campaigns at the same time becomes too challenging for an event organizer. However, you can now solve your problems with comprehensive Church event management solutions. It automates your entire back-office procedures without any headache.

Now, you can get rid of prolonged paper-based registration process for your faith-based events with innovative Church event management solution. There are various event management solutions that will work for sure success of your church events. They not only increase the number of attendees at your events, but also reduce your workload significantly. The wide range of these solutions simplifies the event registration process by increasing efficiency in fundraising and maximizing the donations through payment gateway online.

Right from member registration to the collection of donation and tithes, Church event management solutions have all covered. Here is a glimpse of a few advantages you can get while availing these services:
Event Registration within Seconds

Online registration now eliminates the hassle of filling up a long registration form manually. Its hassle-free nature helps to attract higher number of target audience. Even if you do not have any technical expertise, you can manage and accomplish the registration process by making the best use of the church event management solution. Unlike traditional paper-based process (where you have to look through heaps of documents to get a single information), it reduces your workload and enables your attendees to collect necessary information about campaigns, trips, fundraisers, and many others by a single click of your mouse.

Online Payment Gateway to Collect Payments and Donations

Online payment management now helps to do away with the pain of waiting for hours in those long queues to make payments and donations. Accepting payments through such online modes is safe and alleviates the concerns of cash handling manually. Apart from processing all major credit cards, PayPal, checks, and purchase orders, such online payment management can offer real-time authorization on acceptance of payments.

Built-in Calendar and Email Tool Ensures Quick and Easy Communication

With built-in calendar, your members can stay abreast of different events organized by your church, such as daily devotional, youth camps, fundraising events, and many others. Now, you do not need to create big posters for publicizing your church events. This tool allows you to make a comprehensive promotion of the events such as congregation and prayers through social networking sites, namely Facebook, Twitter, and others, by a single click of the mouse. The innovative email tool facilitates easy communication with the members and enables you to send RSVPs and email reminders to the users regularly.

Share What's on Your Mind at Private Community

Automated church event management software available today can offer your members the utmost freedom to share their views through private community. Apart from connecting people at far-off places, it allows the event volunteers to keep in touch with the attendees and respond to their queries, when required.

Member Management with Automated Database

Automated database enables proper management of the members and attendees, thus lowering the risk of any mistake. Now you can access your automated database for any information regarding the members and attendees to the faith-based events such as congregation, prayers in synagogues and so on. Apart from tracking the contact information of each member, the database can also provide data about the payments, tithes, and other transactions accomplished by all the members.

So what are you waiting for? Give the competitive Church event management solution a try today.