Top Questions to Ask When Planning Your Event Strategy

So you have an idea for an event, you think you have a target audience. What are the next steps you need to follow in order to turn the event into a success? Planning is a vital part of setting up your event. To help you there are number of questions that you need to be asking in the planning process. Each question will help you to be more strategic in your planning. This in turn will help you to have a more successful event. What are the questions you should be asking?

What do you want from the Event?

This is the first question you should ask. Think of it is terms of what do you want to gain from the event. As yourself how you can structure the event so that you maximize the results you get from it. A client of mine posted these exact questions on a recent forum. I was so pleased to see them because it meant she was really thinking strategically about her upcoming event. Similarly you should establish what it is you want to achieve. Are you hosting the event so that you can generate new leads? Do you want to sell at the actual event? Or do you maybe want to try do both?

How can you maximize the Opportunity?

If you decide that you really want to get the most out of your event then you are on the right track. The next question you need to be asking yourself is: "Are there people on my list who have expressed an interest in my business and would benefit from seeing me showcase my skills in person?" Think of how you can reach out to existing customers who may be interested in more of your products or services. Are there prospective customers that you have been in touch with who may be interested in attending one of your talks? With these questions as a guideline you can start to target you audience more specifically and structure your event so that you can maximize the opportunity.

What does your Audience want?

A big part of a successful event is matching what you have to offer with what the client wants. Remember that you will only achieve your goals of increasing sales or getting more leads if you can offer your audience something that is relevant to them. Meet their need or interest and you will be on your way to welcoming them on board as clients.

Get into the Habit of asking Questions

• In the planning stage you often don't have all the answers yet. By starting to ask questions it gets you thinking in a specific direction.

• Asking questions helps you to expand your current way of thinking. It can open your eyes to opportunities that you may not have been looking out for.

• Look at customer feedback or questions that clients have asked in the past. By incorporating these questions into your planning you can ensure that your event content is relevant for your target audience.

• Asking questions gives you avenues to explore. Sometimes these can give you ideas for additional future events or training sessions.

Asking questions helps you to explore opportunities. It also helps you to find out more about your target audience. When you know what they are looking for and can match that to what you want to get from the event then you have a clearer direction for the structure of your event.

Have You Considered Becoming a Virtual Event Specialist?

Why become a Virtual Event Planner?

The Internet has dramatically changed the way we do business today. Meetings that once had to be done in person, can now be easily done over the Internet. Today more and more businesses are turning to the convenience of the Web to conduct team meetings, sales presentations, conferences and trainings. The change to online events has created a new and vast opportunity for the enterprises virtual assistant who would like to specialize in planning events.

Are most businesses really utilizing online services for their business related events? Recent statistics from just over half of all event planners who coordinate offline, physical events show a recent drop in attendance and 76% of businesses report they have turned to Virtual Event planning for conferences and webinars. In fact, 70% of Corporate Event Organizers polled have predicted a significant decline in live events beginning in 2010 and this trend is only going to increase.

What does this mean to someone looking to work at home and build a successful Virtual Assistant business? It means an excellent niche market with much growth potential. Savvy virtual assistants know to look for target markets that have growth potential and a huge number of possible clients. A Virtual Event Planner is an excellent niche to consider.

How does one become a Virtual Event Planner?

Anyone with prior event planning experience will find this an easy niche to pursue. Experience with traditional live event planning is a great start but not completely necessary. If you are interested in the event planning niche but lack any formal experience...don't be discouraged. Online event planning is not difficult to master once you have a good understanding of computers, have mastered a few software programs and are willing to learn more about the technology that makes virtual event planning easy and fun.

What does a Virtual Event Planner do? They become experts in online events such as:

• Tele-Events


• Webinars


• Online Presentations


• Live Podcasts


• Online Radio and WebTV

You can choose to become highly specialized in one of these or specialize in all of them and build your entire business focused on virtual events. Although many businesses are eager to take advantage of this new online event planning trend, the rapidly changing technology can be difficult for busy entrepreneurs, executives or small business owners to keep up with.

A skilled Virtual Event Planner can be a huge money and time saver for the wise business owner who recognizes the advantages to outsourcing this task. They realize their time is better spent finding clients, increasing sales and building business relationships rather than the time-consuming task of keeping up with constant technical changes and event coordination.

It can take much time and effort to obtain good results from virtual events and a huge number of businesses are desperate to find competent help in this new arena. Be one of the first to enter this new and exciting niche of virtual event planning and get a jump on your competition. If you would like to become an expert in Virtual Event planning, check out my favorite source of virtual assistant training courses.

Party Ideas For Green Events on St Paddy's Day

Party event planners are always looking for the next best thing for their events all the time, no matter if they are private parties, weddings or corporate functions. More demands are made daily for party planners to create green events and since St Paddy's Day is close at hand why not create an easy St. Patrick's Day themed green event?

Green events are becoming more common and when party event planners are asked to produce a green event the first keywords to remember should be to reduce, recycle and reuse various components of a previous event. For St Paddy's Day party d矇cor, dust off those green candles from your December holiday parties. As party favors, why not give away small tree samplings that your guests can plant and watch grow throughout the years?

Other green event party d矇cor ideas include creating place card holders with corks from previously opened champagne and wine bottles. Don't have enough corks? Then just ask a few neighborhood restaurants to save some for you a few days or weeks before your party St Paddy's Day party.

Make it easy on yourself with invitations and send out e-invites. There are many websites now that feature this service for free.

Still like mailed invitations? Why not use seeded paper and after the party, either you or your guests can plant the invitations and watch them grow into potted plants a literal take on green events. (Other invitation suggestions and advice can be found on pages 15 to 19 in Budget Bash.)

Caterers are also leaning more towards green events when working with party event planners. More and more caterers now look to local suppliers and farmers to provide the produce and equipment for their green event and in turn, this action cuts down on the event's carbon footprint. Creating a menu with seasonal food is another means caterers are using to help promote green events.

It's not hard to produce a green event even for novice party event planners: it just takes a bit of thought, product exploration and flexibility. In fact, here is a fun green-themed cocktail party menu to consider for your St Paddy's Day party.

Cocktail Party Menu

Green Vegetable Crudit矇s with Warm Artichoke Dip

Pesto Cheese Tortellini Skewers

Chipotle Chili Cheese Poppers

Stuffed Grape Leaves Drizzled with Olive Oil

Mini-Spinach Salad Cups

Dessert

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches

Green Apple Bites Covered with Caramel

Beverages

Apple Martini

Mint Iced Tea and Green Tea

Many of these menu items can be bought already prepared at your local market or deli. The recipe for the artichoke dip along with other menus, recipes, party planning ideas and advice can be found in Budget Bash.

I hope you found these ideas for green events helpful for your St Paddy's Day celebration and until next time, remember the Budget Bash mantra: make it simple, delicious, stylish, fun and economical to all!

Event Planning Skills

For every career, there is a corresponding skill for it. As for being an event planner, there are several skills that we need to possess in order to perform the job effectively. Listed below is the needed event planning skills.

繚 Planning and organizing skills

To be a good event planner, you must always good at planning and organizing events. It can be a party, a wedding, gathering, meetings, or so on. No matter what kind of event it is, you must always be able to adopt with the situation. Not only that, there can be times when you need to deal with a large number of people. Are you sure that you can handle all that pressure and still be able to plan and organize for it? If your answer is yes, then it will be a suited job for you.

繚 Enjoy working with other people

Event planners deal with people. It can be a lot, depending on the event. You are going to be relied upon in making the whole event perfect. We all know the frustrations of having a party. As the party coordinator, we like to make sure that everyone is having a good time and enjoying the event. As an event planner, all of these things are expected from us. People hire planners for their events because they want the whole thing to work out well. We need to give each one in the party that everything will go out the way as planned.

繚 Ready for the excitement

Event planners are always creating parties. That means you are always in a party. You are not only a part of it, but you are the one making it. Think of all those excitements. Are you sure you can handle them? You might be handling parties several times a week or maybe everyday if you are successful. You need to be able to handle all of those and make sure you have the energy for it.

繚 Work independently

People usually hire just one event coordinator. You need to make sure that you are self reliant enough to perform the job at its best by your own. You may be good at taking people's advice and guidance, but what if you are there and there is no one to call? You have to make sure you are competent with your skills and you can really do the job well even without supervisions.

繚 Good time management

You are required to manage your time well. There are so many things to be done when planning for a party. You have to make sure you do all these before the actual event happens. It can take up to weeks of preparation. Most of event coordinators do not only have one job for the week. If you have 2 or 3 clients for the entire month, you need to be able to comply with their needs all at once.

Those are all the event planning skills you need to have when you decide of becoming an event planner.

How To Plan Corporate Events That Employees Want To Attend

Corporate events require meticulous event planning many months in advance especially if it is to be a large-scale event. Usually, corporate events can be categorised as conferences and seminars, a product launch and trade show, incentive programs and team building events, and press conferences or annual parties. While seminars and conferences do not require a fun theme as it serves a particular purpose such as business development in a particular field and happens in more than one day, they need more time to plan, normally a year in advance.

Product launches and trade shows do require a theme to highlight a particular product to make it more marketable. These usually include product endorsements from popular TV personalities that are present at the event. Team building and annual parties require a lot more creativity because it needs to be themed differently from those that have been held in the past. Adventure sports for team building events are highly popular because it does not only help develop team dynamics but also encourages friendly competition.

First thing is first. It is difficult to pull off an event if there is only one person doing everything. Ask office mates if they would like to volunteer in organizing the event and form your events committee. Once this is in order you can start the event planning process.

To start off with planning a corporate event, it is imperative that you have a rough estimate of the headcount, the budget and the timeline. The headcount determines the size of the venue that needs to be rented and the budget will be the deciding factor whether the venue you are looking at can be afforded. Plus venues only allow for a maximum number of guests so this number needs to be defined as early as possible. The budget needs to be clearly defined before all the planning starts because it is easier to work within the budget than to decide on the numbers later on. This helps in keeping all the expenses within the budget throughout the planning process. It will be helpful to keep an excel sheet where the budget is broken down into specific areas such as venue rental, food and beverage, decorations and activities. Make a planning calendar to help you know if you are right on track with the timeline set.

Once these are clearly defined, start thinking of the theme of the event. Yes, this has to come first before scouting for a venue so that prior to looking at venues, you already know exactly what you are looking for. For instance a Hawaiian or beach themed party needs to happen where they have a pool or near the beach. In a similar fashion, if adventure sports is the chosen theme for a team building event, then the venue should be able to accommodate all the sports you plan to have employees partake in. Again, when choosing a theme, remember to be practical and only choose something that can be implemented within the budget.

Now start your search for the venue of choice. This can be done by searching online or on foot. An online search is more advantageous since you will get to see what each venue has to offer without the need to drive out. Plus you get to read FAQs and customer testimonials that will help you make an informed decision. Prior to looking at the venue in person, give them a call and schedule a site inspection in advance. Ask what you think is essential. Once you visit the place, make sure to bring a camera so you have a visual aid on how you can spice up the place with the decorations for your theme.

Food and beverage or catering services can be done in-house or outsourced. Most event venues offer rent and catering as a package deal. Review this with your team and decide which will be more convenient and within the budget. Also decide the appropriate menu for the specific theme. For instance, if you decide on adventure sports, you have to have drinks and sandwiches handy all the time while events where you want people to mingle should be served with finger food.

Now that all these are planned, remember to send your invitations early. Surely, event planning corporate events should not be that hard as long as you remember these tips and are given ample time to organize them.

Launch Parties - How to Organise and Plan a Launch Party For a New Product, Service Or Menu

A launch party is a sensational way to introduce a new product, service or menu. Parties create an opportunity for clients and suppliers alike to get together and get excited about your new venture. If you have never hosted such an event before it can seem like an overwhelming number of tasks are involved - however once you break it down, it is really quite simple.

This is a basic guide of what is required. First of all, find yourself some Party Helpers. This includes a Front Door Greeter to assist guests as they arrive, locate seats, hand out lucky door tickets, etc. This person should be friendly and familiar. Next allocate a Caterer Liaison to ensure smooth operation of food and beverage provision. The last two party helpers you should seek are a suitable Master of Ceremonies and an event Photographer.

Planning your launch party:

8 WEEKS OUT

- Determine your event goals
- Set a budget
- Choose catering style (buffet, cocktail, sit down, etc.)
- Select a theme
- Decide on date, time & place
- Reserve venue, caterer, photographer & other service providers
- Prepare guest list with addresses & phone numbers
- Order invitations
- Arrange gifts

Choose a trading time of intermediate or low regular business, such as a Wednesday or Thursday night to ensure maximum attendance.

Work out what decorations, table centre pieces, etc. you will need to convey your theme. If you are not sure what you need, hire a professional.

6 WEEKS OUT

- Send invitations
- Plan menus
- Arrange function staff
- Order Flowers &/or room decorations

Personally invite relevant key people in the community, such as suppliers (actual or potential), local business owners, community group leaders, tourism venue operators, mayor, leading sergeant, journalists, etc. Include a small gift with the invites (offering a gift up front is another tactic to maximise attendance), or a larger gift to attendees, like a goody bag. Get suppliers to provide the bulk of these if you can.

Choose a low cost, but impressive menu. If you can afford it, make the dinner free for guests. The purpose is a memorable night that will be discussed for days and weeks to come. Happy guests will tell everyone they know what a nice time they had how great your new product is. Happy suppliers will see you as a serious contender in town. This will lead to better deals and more cooperation for future promotions.

If you cannot afford to make the dinner free, try alternative ways to charge for it. One suggestion is to invite a local winery for 'tasting' on arrival. Guests then purchase a ($15) bottle of wine for ($30) and get a 'free' 2 course dinner. Otherwise, charge enough to cover your costs, plus an additional amount per head and donate the proceeds to a local charity. For example: a 3 course set menu costs $35 per head to make. Charge $50 per head to attend and donate $15 per head to the charity. People like contributing to charity and they will make allowances for inflated prices when charity donation is involved.

Make the dessert (final course/speaker/activity) fabulous. This makes the last memory of the evening the biggest conversation piece. Ensure your branding, signage and new product is highly visible to guests as they leave, as well as enter. Also promote your address, website and phone number to remind customers how to find you.

2 WEEKS OUT

- Confirm all orders & bookings
- Create an attending guest list
- Personally contact all VIPs with a courtesy reminder & to check they have travel arrangements made

Distribute media packs where appropriate to allow enough time for journalists to arrange their schedules to suit.

DAY BEFORE

- Inspect venue, including accessibility & furniture
- Check decorations, flowers, seating chart
- Ensure gifts have been received by venue for table placement

See if there is any opportunity to place products, posters, brochures, order forms and the like in bathrooms, ante rooms, elevators, hallways, foyer, and other areas that your guests may visit to increase the impact of your message.

AT THE EVENT

- Arrive early to meet and mingle before guests enter
- 'Work the room' as best you can
- Obtain feedback by listening to and asking guests
- Thank guests as they leave

AFTER THE EVENT

- Send out thank you emails or notes to all who attended
- Follow up on new contacts made
- Fulfill orders placed at the event with priority
- Evaluate effectiveness against your event goals

Event Coordinator Job Description - Conducting Hassle Free Events

Job Locations for Event Coordinators

Event coordinators may work as freelancers but corporations, trade associations as well as the nonprofit organizations often indent the services of coordinator for conducting their events smoothly and successfully. Some of them are engaged as employees in the organizations while others are simply engaged as consultants. Multiple events are organized by them like trade shows, business meetings, sales meetings, as well as employee appreciation and similar other events.

Core Responsibilities

coordinators not only organize events but also they are expected to coordinate all aspects of the event without any hitch. In the process of such organization, they calculate and prepare budgets for the proposed events, select the appropriate locations for the events, arrange the schedules, select speakers and methods of entertainments, and select vendors and menus. Tasks of coordinator do not end there. In addition there are tasks of arrangement of accommodation for the participants and guests.

Role in Marketing Process

One of the major tasks accomplished by the event coordinator is creation and distribution of marketing materials like invitations, advertisements, and flyers as well as arrangement of transportation. Not only the arrangements but setting up the events and organizing the set up are also essential part of the role played by the coordinator in marketing process.

Training Requirements

A bachelor's degree that would preferably in the field of marketing, public relation, business, communication, or hospitality management is the basic educational requirement for the event coordinator. In addition the on-the-job training could be one of the best was of preparing for the job.

Certification Programs

Certification programs are offered by Connected International Meeting Professionals Association or CIMPA and also by the Convention Industry Council and they also arrange for the trainee to acquire the required experiences that could lead to promotion and get them much higher salaries.

Practical Aspect

Event Coordinator job description basically implies the practical ability of the coordinator to interact with multiple people that includes customers, vendors, managers, and attendees. Ability to work under pressure conditions and achieve tight datelines can help create multiple career opportunities for the coordinator.

Special Event Corporate Catering

If you live in the Chicago area and have an upcoming special event to plan, like a corporate get-together, you're likely starting to realize that throwing an unforgettable party is no easy task. There is a lot that goes into event planning; from getting an accurate headcount on guests attending to list the food to the decorations, there is a lot of thought and preparation behind hosting a successful event. However, there is one surefire way to make sure that your guests enjoy themselves - the food. Since the cuisine at your event has such a heavy impact on your guest's overall experience, it is essential that you choose the right Chicago catering company.

You need a catering service that understands that corporate catering is an integral part of the business world and knows how to prepare suitable dishes and presentation that is appropriate for the occasion. There are many catering companies in Chicago that specialize in planning professional banquet dinners as well as casual drop off meals. Such catering services are comprised of a team of culinary experts and event planning specialists who have years of experience catering these specific types of events.

Most Chicago catering companies will have a wide selection of menu items that will complement just about any special occasion, be it formal or informal. With corporate events and parties, many people are attending specifically for the food, so it is important that you treat your employees and colleagues to something they feel was worth attending a work function on their free time. Be sure to select a wide variety of foods so that everyone in attendance can find something they like.

You also want to be sure that the staff working your event is reputable and professional. By choosing an experienced Chicago catering company who was referred to you by a friend, family member or online reviews, you will increase the likelihood that your special event will go off without a hitch.

If you are unsure of the theme you want your party to relay, the catering service you choose will be able to make suggestions to you as well as show you examples of previous events they have catered similar to yours. The most important thing of all is early planning. If you allot plenty of time to prepare for your event rather than waiting till the very last minute, you will be able to stress less as the date of your event approaches and enjoy yourself.

5 Features That Make A Great Spot To Host Your Corporate Events

Every company celebrates something every year. Sometimes, it is just an annual year day, sometimes it is a major achievement, sometimes it a retreat and sometimes it is just pure PR at work for some fast and focused publicity. When you are looking for a venue for corporate events or team building events you would need to check out the following main features:

1. Seating space - Corporate events often follow meetings that involve a huge number of employees and stake holders. Does your chosen venue offer enough space for proper sitting arrangements? Whether it is for 100 or 500 people, you need to ensure that the sitting arrangements are comfortable and looking good as well.

2. Adequate arrangements for presentations and official video-conferencing and discussions. Many corporate events are a culmination of annual review meetings or celebrations for a closed deal. The meetings that come before the entertainment would need LED projectors, large screens, computer adaptability and video-conferencing and so on. Do you think the place you chose has all it takes for a large-scale meeting?

3. Stage, light and sound effects - Do you have enough power on stage? At any corporate events you are likely to have plenty of announcements, dancing, programs, fun and the like. Is there adequate space and arrangements that would take care of all these? Is the stage adequate? Are the sound and light effects arrangements cool enough for your type of event?

4. Dancing and dining arrangements - People who party need to dance as well. After the meeting is over, they would like to let their hair down and have fun. If these enough space for all that? Is there a dedicated dancing floor for young at heart people who love to dance and have fun?

5. Is the venue cost-effective - Once upon a time, these arrangements were taken care by hotels. Today, there are special event managers who offer their space for specific events. Is the quote you received reasonable? To find out, you need to compare prices not only with your budget but also with all the event houses in the region and surrounding areas. A comparison chart would help you get a feel of the market price and also guide you about how much would you expect for your best suited facility.

Besides all the above, one of the most critical factors in favor of booking a certain facility is the way the staff behave. Are they staff trained and well-mannered? Do they know how to take care of the guests, presentations, program and dining?

It is very important that you book a facility where the manager is a person who solves problems and not makes problems. You will have to rely on their service and their collaboration with your company to ensure that the event will unfold without any mishap.

If you find that the staff is not up to the mark, either inform the manager and work it out, or look for another venue. The service by the staff is paramount to the success of any event.

Food Catering - What Do You Need to Know About Food Catering?

Food is always an essential ingredient in every event and party. Events such as weddings, corporate events, family reunions or baby showers all need to have food around. In fact, when we attend an event, we will usually look forward to eat some delicious food, whether it is snacks or a full-course meal. So instead of preparing the food yourself, you can hire a food catering company to help you take care of your food requirements.

A catering service can be very helpful with taking some of the stress off you during an event. A good caterer will take care of everything such as the preparation of food and drink, dining area set up, decorations, and the clearing up of the dining area after the event.

Now, let me share with you some simple tips so that you are better prepared and your caterer will be able to execute your plan accordingly:

1. Finalizing on the location, date and time of the event. These are very important information and you must let your caterer know way before the event. Especially for the location, the caterer needs to visit the ground so as to get himself familiar with the site layout. So make sure that your caterer is comfortable with the location in advance.

2. Setting your catering budget. One way to decide your catering budget is to ask yourself how important the role of food and drink will play at your event. Are you intending to provide a sit-down dinner or a buffet for your guests? Do you want your food to match a particular theme of your event? These are the things that you need to get into consideration before deciding how much money you are going to allocate for food catering. It is also important to know how many guests are attending your event. By catering the right amount of food, you can save yourself some money and cut down on food wastage.

3. Planning with your caterer. You need to brief your caterer on the things that you expect him or her to do during the event. Also find out whether your caterer provides other services such as site decoration. Many catering services today provide a full event planning. Check with your caterer if they provide a full event planning. If so, usually they will provide you with a brochure with the service details.

So whether you are planning a corporate event or a simple birthday party for 20 close friends, let a catering company helps you with the task of food requirements and set up. Spend your time sweating on other details of the event!

Understanding the Supply Chain Management in This Corporate World

Profitable business is every entrepreneur's ticket to real success. The entrepreneur's career ladder always begins with an idea and then followed by selling that idea to the market. There is no shortcut to entrepreneurship. It is a continuous process. Every aspiring entrepreneur must learn, execute and study more the market that he wants to deal with. Selling products and services is business yet an entrepreneur has to exert more efforts in order to win and achieve the stability, profitability and dominance among competitors. The world of business is very challenging much more when business these days are beginning to welcome the modern marketing methods and systems of improving sales. Almost every company has its corporate office other than their main factory. Usually located on high rise buildings in major cities of every country, these offices aim to observe best practices on the Supply Chain Management (SCM) and as well as establish excellent Customer Relationship Management (CRM).

What's Happening Inside the Corporate World?
We all know the rules of business. From the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) going down to the lowest rank employee in terms of job role, the primary goal of every company or corporation is to deliver products and services that will give satisfaction to the customers to the highest level. Work, jobs, projects, issues, problems, delays and brain storming sessions are in between these two business operation end points. Oftentimes, we observe from the top news on TV, the internet, the newspapers and the media press conferences that business critics, economists and market analysts are discussing the latest moves of the company CEO and top executives. One company acquires this company. Two companies merge together. Sometimes, it's the bad news; a company files for bankruptcy. This is becoming a routine in the world of business or technically, the corporate world. Not all companies succeed. The competition is always there and it is always a challenge for every company to deliver their best moves in order to win the customers.

The Truth About Supply Chain Management
When it comes to the supply chain in business, there are three key performance indicators that dictate the game of winning and losing. They are the cost of products and services, the cycle time in delivering these products and services to the customers, and the quality that if delivered with excellence will make every customer happy. Supply Chain Management (SCM) is defined by Wikipedia as "the management of a network of interconnected businesses involved in the provision of product and service packages required by the end customer in a supply chain". The meaning is clear; it has something to do with managing the customer's needs. That is actually the purpose of entrepreneurship. The entire corporate world is battling for clients. And if we establish that link of one business operation to the other inside a company, there is no reason to say that they are not interconnected. Therefore, the failure of one process could mean the breakage of the chain and absolutely the failure to supply to the customers what they need at the right cost, at the fastest lead time and the highest quality.

SCM is About Winning the Market
We can relate SCM to the Law of Supply and Demand. The price of any commodity is dependent on the quantity produced and the quantity demanded. When a certain price becomes fixed on a given time, the competition among suppliers becomes stiffer because customers have the option to choose on where to buy the products or services that they want. The SCM is very much dependent on this law; reason why corporate executives always want their SCM team to be more sensitive to the movement in the market. Whenever there is a need for adjustment, it will be dealt with accordingly and timely until a final winning decision is made. This is why many companies and corporations invest a lot on acquiring best talents on SCM. Business analyst, financial consultant, and SCM specialist; their role is to help the company survive the competition and in whatever business way, win the market.

Excellent Supplier Relationship will Improve Profitability
One effective way of winning the market is to strengthen the company's supplier relationship. In fact, this is always the starting point of every company's SCM operation. From acquisition of raw materials, consumable items, new machines, or even services that will help deliver products and services to the customers, supplier will do it all for the company being their customer. If your suppliers are showing poor scores on these three key performance indicators, then it will surely affect your entire operation. Therefore, it should be your SCM's goal of ensuring that suppliers are in line with your main business objective - profitability for success.

Using the 5 Senses When Planning a Christmas Event

It is fast approaching that time of year when many Event Planners, PAs, Marketing Assistants and many other unfortunate souls are feverishly planning their company or client Xmas function. This can be a somewhat daunting task if it is one you have never been faced with before. If last years event was a corker then you have to at the very least reach that standard and the pressure is immense. So how do you avoid all the pitfalls?

Well, this isn't any magical formula that will make this task any easier - if there was and it was that easy event planners would be out of a job. There are however some tricks of the trade that make it a little easier. Rather than talk to you about the intricacies of planning an event I want to talk to you about how to ensure your guests enjoy the event.

An event, no matter what it is, is all about the experience. Any event that you go to should be an experience. You want to be able to use all 5 of your senses. You need to put yourself in your guests shoes and see the event, hear the event, taste the event, touch the event and smell the event. Only when you have done these 5 things will you have truly had the experience.

We all want our Xmas event to be memorable and research has shown that when all the senses are stimulated our memory of the event is always so much more superior. So, when planning your Xmas event ask yourself - are my guests really getting the full sensory experience?

Let's start with the strongest sense - smell. This sense has the strongest effect on our memory. Even to this day the smell of freshly baked bread catapults me back to my childhood, coming in from school on a Wednesday afternoon and seeing my Mum bringing freshly baked bread out of the oven. The memory is as strong today as it was then over twenty something years ago.  So if you are having a Arabian theme night remember to light some incense candles before the guests arrive to really put them in the mood and spark that all important sense

Sight is a harder one. We are used to seeing a lot of things and being almost flooded with options to look at, so whatever we provide our guests with visually, we need to make sure it is relevant and eye catching. Try and find a focal point in the room that people's eyes are going to be drawn to naturally and use this as your main feature. That way you don't have to work too hard to get people's attention. The stage is a great natural focal point and one planners forget about all too often. I did a winter wonderland theme night once for a corporate Xmas party and we ran the Narnia theme throughout it. I needed a WOW factor that would act as my focal point so I used a synthetic ice rink in the middle of the room. It worked a treat. When guests arrived I had two professional skaters performing on the ice to some Strauss waltzes dressed as old fashioned skaters with hand muffs. Using some good lighting we recreated the effect of falling snow onto the ice and the scene was set - there was my focal point.

Sound is similar to sight - our ears are used to having to filter on a regular basis so what we offer needs to be relevant and possibly give that element of surprise to make it memorable. Let's use the winter wonderland event as an example again. The venue we used was a barn so we were able to create a wardrobe effect for guests to walk through as they entered. Once inside they walked down an avenue of stripped Pea lit birch trees and at the end was the White Witch holding a tray of turkish delight. Now this was all very normal and quite in keeping with the theme of the event, but once all of the guests had come through all of a sudden the room plunged into darkness and all you could hear was a blood curdling scream. The lights came back on again straight away to reveal the White Witch standing menacingly over a dwarf with a silver dagger in her hand. The element of surprise was what made this sound memorable.

Taste is one that often gets overlooked. Just because you aren't the caterer doesn't mean that you can forget about the taste. Let's go back to my Narnia theme again. At one side of the synthetic ice rink was a man with a roast chestnut booth offering guests bags of hot chestnuts. It was the perfect way to incorporate taste into the event experience. 

Finally we have touch. As well as the visual your guests need the tactile experience as well. We'll stay with the Narnia event again for this. This time we are looking at the tables. I could have just used normal white linen on the tables, but instead I used a crushed white velvet that had the appearance of snow on the tables. The texture of this was very different from a normal tablecloth. At each place setting was a small silver envelope. Inside was an invite to each guest to join the White Witch for some ice skating after the meal. So with just two very small elements I had incorporated touch within my event by getting the guests touching the tablecloth and opening their invites. Both adding greatly to the overall experience.

Hopefully you can see how by using all 5 senses and letting your guests experience their event you should be well on your way to creating an event that is not only successful but memorable for all the right reasons.

Organizing a Church Conference With Online Event Management Solution

Church conferences are not mere faith based events. These are full-fledged, informative events that are organized by churches in order to enlighten their members on topics related to healthcare, finance, personal growth strategies and skill enhancements. Many conferences are women centric that are hosted to encourage women to develop self confidence and experience personal growth. Renowned speakers share their expertise, knowledge and insights into areas that have immense social significance. Organizing such an event takes time and a lot of preparation. An online event management solution can simplify this task by streamlining numerous administrative jobs.

Churches mostly host all day Saturday or weekend conferences that usually begin on Friday nights. Several classes and workshops are conducted throughout the weekend and are interspersed by short session breaks. Each of these sessions is attended by many members from different walks of life and with different interests. Hence, while planning a church conference a separate registration system should be in place for each sub event, so that managing the entire process is more methodical. However, with an online event management solution handling registrations is not at all a complicated affair.

Online registration and payment management

The software application comes with a series of pre-built templates in order to design the registration form. One just needs to customize the selected template with the Church's name, logo, event information, and pricing details to come up with a complete conference registration form which can then be uploaded on the internet to be accessed by all the members and non-members at any time during the day. As they fill up the form they are required to pay a registration fee towards event participation. The online registration software enables them to do that by paying via a number of online and offline payment gateways all conforming to standard security guidelines. Church authorities can keep a track of these transactions in real-time with the help the online payment management platform which is an extension of the event management solution.

Communication via bulk email messaging

Communicating with the members of a church prior to a conference is not an easy task. The sooner it is started the better. However, resorting to postal communication may result in delaying the entire process, and costs incurred may also be high. By availing an online event management solution both these issues can be dealt with effectively. The software application comprises of a robust email messaging tool. It can be used to send out bulk email invitations, notifications, and newsletters in an automated manner thereby saving cost and time simultaneously.

Conference promotion via social media

Promoting a church conference is a must so that maximum people get to know about it and benefit from the workshops and trainings to be held. The easiest way to reach out to the masses is by promoting the conference via social networks. Today most people are social media addicts; so, once they come to know about such an event, they make it a point to visit the online registration page and sign up subsequently. A church authority can popularize their conference this way by investing in a social media connector separately in addition to the online event registration solution. They can even build and maintain a private community network with the help of its member management solution to further generate interest amongst its members about the conference.

Online event registration software provides many other facilities. On availing these services any church conference management procedure becomes really simplified and absolutely hassle-free.

What it Takes to Work in Event Management Jobs

Event management jobs require you to have many skills. Planning and arranging different events can be a lot harder than you might think. You have to be able to work on your own and meet deadlines. You should also have very good communication skills because when you plan a large event you will be talking to many different people in order to get the event organized before the deadline.

If the event you happen to be planning is a wedding then you will probably spend a good deal of time on the phone with a lot of different people from florist to caterers. When you plan a wedding you may have to deal with these people for quite a while depending on how far away the wedding is scheduled.

You will be the one responsible for making sure the flowers arrive on time and in good condition. You will also be the one responsible for making sure the food ordered from the caterer is at the reception on time and is in fact the right food the couple requested.

It is also important that an event manager know how many people to expect for the event they are planning. It does not matter what type of event it is the planner has to know how many people will be attending so they know how many seats to arrange for, if food is being served they have to know how much food to have prepared. So you see event management jobs are not all fun and games.

There is in deed quite a bit of work involved. At times you may even be responsible for planning several different events at one time. If you are thinking about getting in to this field of work it may be a good idea to try to find work with someone already in the field. This can help you get experience and a good reference for your future employers.

Some people that work in event management are wedding planners, sports event planners, and even business planners. A business planner will plan events for the company they work for from meetings and learning seminars to grand openings events for the company. There is many opportunities in this line of work. However it is probably best to do something you enjoy.

If you prefer to work in a business environment then working for a business planning their events is probably more your speed. Most companies hire from within the company for this job so their are not very many advertisements for this kind of work.

If you like to work with new people and do different things then you may want to plan weddings or fashion shows. Weddings and fashion shows need event planners and this will give you a chance to meet many new people and do a lot of different things. If you want to work planning weddings this could be something you could do as a side job from home or a part time job. You could also work full time from home or rent an office. If you can not afford this you could work for another wedding planner.

Conference Registration - Benefits of Online Event Management

Are you looking for an error-free way to manage your conference registration process? Online registration can solve your problem. Normally, the conference organizer needs to keep a track of several processes. These include attendee registration, payment status, schedules of breakout sessions, workshops, vendor display area, meals, network activities, and so on. Online registration services streamline the entire procedure and enhance your attendee experience.

With web-based registration services for conference, you can reduce back office workload considerably, which saves your time as well as money. Here are some of the benefits of using conference registration software for managing your corporate conferences.

Create Customized Registration Page within Minutes

Online conference registration allows your attendees to do away with the concerns of signing in manually for the program by creating a registration page within minutes. If required, organizers can customize the page by adding an attractive banner or a logo to create a brand identity. In addition, you can customize it by putting multiple input fields and questionnaires. Besides, as the procedure is Cloud-based, you do not need to add any additional hardware or software device to use it. Your attendees can sign up 24x7, only if they have a computer with access to the internet.

Error-free Management of Registrant Data

Automated conference registration helps to keep track of all the details of an attendee as soon as he completes signing up. You do not need to put any data manually to update the database. You can also retrieve any data, when required, through a standard web browser interface. Besides, the attendee data and registration pages can also be accessed 24x7 online. Automated update and retrieval systems allow you to create reports including registrations, attendees, sales, and reports at no additional cost.

Effective Online Ticketing System

Simple and hassle-free online ticketing system enhances attendee experience. Your attendees can get tickets online as soon as they make payments. In addition, this payment can be made at their own convenience. Ticketing system online enhances your ticket sales and ROI considerably. Moreover, you can sell tickets for multiple conferences from a single platform, if you use online registration services.
Easy Payment Management

Registration software today comes with many advanced features, such as a PCI-compliant solution and others. It offers secured and real-time authorization of payments. Implementing online registration system allows you to process payments through all major credit cards and online gateways, such as PayPal, purchase orders, and checks. Organizers can also use their merchant account to collect payments through PayPal, PayFlow Pro, Authorize.Net, PayPal Express, and CyberSource gateways.

To make your conference successful, implement conference registration software today.

Accomplishing Your Goals With the Help of Corporate Events Planning

When a firm first considers the pursuit of planning there are a large amount of chances that present themselves. With corporate planning you would display your appreciation to your affiliates that would optimistically impact employee morale leading to an increase in efficiency.

With planning you can create an occasion that would show your appreciations to your investors that will help bring recognition to them and improve your opportunities of continuing to obtain the advantages of your financial investors. You can even utilise them to develop which focuses on your regular clients and helps in helping them feel appreciated so that they continue to bring business to your company.

With all of the advantages that could be achieved with it, its crucial that you make sure you have done all that you could to make sure these have a optimistic effect. The biggest mistake that companies make regarding an occasion is found with their choice of the planner. Most businesses look in-house to accomplish their demands as an effort to decrease their expenses connected to it.

While an in-house inexperienced event planner may offer you with short term savings possibilities, the long term ramifications would turn out to be a much larger expenditure because of these individuals' inexperience. An amateur event planner will not be familiar with the event planning market that could lead to high costs from the vendors they'll utilise to meet your event needs.

When your company is utilising corporate event planning, one of the best first steps you could take is to look into the services offered by a specialist event planner. The field of corporate event planning exists as a result of the several demands that are created within this field. With a specialized event planner you will be hiring a person with a great knowledge of how corporate events work and what to expect if some thing does not happen as intended.

The experience that is obtained by a professional event planner won't only assist a corporation in planning, but will also be a helpful tool when identifying the finest vendors for your event. Experienced event planners have worked with the greatest and the worst in the corporate event planning industry and would be able to provide you with the greatest services by making use of only the best corporate event planning vendors.
With all of the benefits that are connected with a professional event planner it only makes sense for a firm to utilise this experience to benefit from their event.

Tips To Remember While Planning An Event

If you have planned an event earlier then you might have noticed that it leaves you tired and most of the time you are not able to enjoy it. Instead of you doing all the work and tiring yourself out, you can use the services of an event planner Bay Area to make your event a success.

There are many things which has to be considered when you want to take service from an event management company in Bay Area. Here is a quick look about the basic aspects of event management which need to be looked at.

Venue: Venue is very much considered when you want to throw a party. If the venue is elegant people will definitely appreciate you and they will enjoy being your guests. So make sure that the venue chosen by you is the best one to attract people and at the same time is quite comfortable for all the invitees. The event management companies will give you the freedom of choice to select from various venues.

Catering: Food is an integral part of any party. So make sure that you choose a menu that will delight your guests. I believe if the food is awesome then half of the event is successful as it is also considered as the essence of life. Also keep in mind that it is according to your budget. There are many event planners in Bay Area that offer excellent food at affordable rates.

Decoration: Decoration or lighting is also an important part which cannot be ignored. If your party venue is decorated well then it adds elegance to the atmosphere. Beautiful lighting gives a mesmerizing touch to the surroundings and is always appreciated. When you consider decoration it is just impossible to ignore flowers. Floral decoration is a must for each and every party. So take service from such an event planning company which is renowned and gives an elegant touch of decoration to the party.

Many event planning companies in the Bay Area provide services in weddings such as wedding DJ's, wedding decor, wedding menus, wedding venues, floral, imprinted gifts and much more. So make sure that you are using the services of a company which is capable of providing the best service. Look for a company which is able to understand your needs and is also affordable. Spending too much on a planner is just not worth it since there are a number of planners out there who offer their services at affordable rates. This will definitely leave you all fresh and free of all worries of planning the perfect event.

Obvious Reasons of Selecting an Online Registration System for Real Estate Seminars

Every year, the real estate industry organizes several national and local real estate seminars and conferences. Executives throng in large numbers at these events to learn how to manage complex projects and successfully grow their real estate business.

If you want to attend any of these seminars, you first have to register your name with the organizers. It sometimes becomes a tiresome job to visit the organizer's office personally to enroll names. In such a situation, an online registration system comes in handy. It is an ideal, time-saving application for event organizers at all levels.

Ease of Use

The online registration system is easy to use and does not require any hardware or software to install. It is extremely cost-effective, as no additional charges are incurred as well.

Quick Creation

The registration pages can be easily created in just a few minutes! Real estate seminar organizers will also get the opportunity to create one or more registration pages as required.

Group Registration Possible

Another advantage of using the online registration solution is that it allows a person to register and pay for a group of people simultaneously.

Complete Customization

The computer-based registration service is highly customizable and allows the participants to change any information even after the completion of the registration process. The registrants too can add any last minute detail to the register at their convenience.

Flexible Pricing Options

The web-based registration system comes with flexible pricing options. You can set the event ticket prices depending on your visitor types, such as children, teenager, or adult. Event organizers can also set "early-bird prices" and promo codes to attract more attendees to the seminar.

The online registration software also comes in handy during the time of payment. This is because it allows the use of Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit card to pay online.These Cloud-based solutions also support substitutions and complete or partial payments and refunds based on extensive transaction management.You can stay updated with real-time registration notifications and can also export registration data by using the online registration software for the real estate seminars. Online registration is very simple, as no physical presence is needed for sign-up.

This computer-based registering service lets you create an unlimited number of questions with responses by selection lists, multiple-choice items, or free-form text entry basis.

Events planners can customize the pages to bring the look and feel of their organization's website. They can embed different graphics and logo onto the registration page. You can even use the global settings template to find a theme to go with the look and feel of your personal website.

Top Ten Corporate Hospitality Events for 2012

There can be no better way than building relationships with your clients at a top sporting event, so why not choose one of the following top ten corporate hospitality events for 2012;

1. Twickenham Six Nations Rugby 2012: England will be looking to bounce back after a tough World Cup in New Zealand and with interim coach Stuart Lankaster in charge, the players will be out to impress in order to keep their places. England takes on Wales on 25 February, before playing Ireland on 17 March.


2. British Grand Prix 2012: After two years of domination by Sebastian Vettel, the two British drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button will be keen to impress and win in front of their own fans at Silverstone on Sunday 8 July 2012. Formula One is one of the most glamorous sporting events to attend and impress your key clients.


3. England v Australia One Day Internationals 2012: With England now crowned the number one Test match side in the World, they will be looking to advance up the One Day Rankings in 2012 and there can be no better to do this than to beat big rivals, Australia. The five match series takes place between 29 June and 10 July 2012, with matches being staged at Lords, The Oval, Edgbaston, Durham and Old Trafford. The battles between new Aussie fast bowler James Pattinson and England's batting genius, Eoin Morgan are likely to be key to the series result.


4. European Football Championships 2012: Spain will certainly be the team to beat at the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine, having won the last FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship. With the likes of Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott and Scott Parker in the side, England will be hoping they can go all the way in the tournament, which takes place in June 2012.


5. Wimbledon Tennis Championship 2012: Will 2012 finally be the year we have a British Men's champion? Andy Murray has had a strong 2011 and will be hoping to push the likes of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic all the way. Rain stopped play is an inconvenience of the past now with the fantastic Centre Court roof! Enjoying one of the UK's top social events in style, will ensure your client has a day they will never forget.


6. Cheltenham Race Festival 2012: The Cheltenham Festival is quite simply, sport at its very best. With an amazing 60,000 people cheering 'their' horse up the famous Cheltenham hill to victory, the atmosphere simply has to be seen to be believed. With a variety of bands and other forms of entertainment, Cheltenham is more than just a Race Festival, it is a whole social experience.


7. Cartier International Polo 2012: Cartier International Polo is the most prestigious polo event in the world and epitomises the high society lifestyle enjoyed by royalty and celebrities alike. The excitement of the polo ponies galloping across the pitch and the buzz from the crowd, ensure that you will have an experience like no other.


8. Henley Royal Regatta 2012: For over a century and a half, The Henley Royal Regatta has been the essence of an English social event. Situated on such a beautiful stretch of the River Thames, this event provides an ideal medium for business entertainment. With an opportunity to take a cruise down the Thames and see the rowing at first end, there is no better way to impress your clients.


9. The Open Championship Golf: There have been some fabulous performances from Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy over the last 12 months in majors and this pair will be looking to repeat their 2011 feats in the 2012 Open, which is being held at Royal Lytham and St Annes in Lancashire. With Tiger Woods appearing to be getting back towards his best, the 2012 Open is sure to be highly entertaining.


10. The Grand National 2012: Aintree Racecourse is known to millions worldwide as the home of the Grand National; The World's greatest steeplechase. The festival is now well and truly established as one of the great horse racing festivals and one of the year's top social occasions. The 2012 Festival takes place between 12-14 April 2012.

Treasure Hunts For Corporate Events

There are plenty of different styles of treasure hunts for corporate events that you can use to liven up a team building day that you are organising. In fact, treasure hunts are fun no matter what you have as prizes. Whether you'd like to make a fun indoor treasure hunt, or one that is a bit more traditional, all of your guests are bound to enjoy it and join in enthusiastically.

Before planning your event you have to decide whether you'd like to use GPS units to seek out the treasure. If your event is just in your office building, perhaps a GPS unit is not needed! But if you're sending your guests out and about, each one or each team is going to need a GPS unit in order to hunt the treasure that you have hidden around town, around the park, or somewhere else.

Once you've made that decision it's going to dictate the size of your treasure hunt, as well as where you have it. Remember, it can be a lot of fun to pair strangers up together to send them out on a treasure hunt. If you want a simple one, make it in a park close by.

Don't forget you can organize the day by either using vehicles such as limo's or your own private cars if you prefer not too walk to far! Or if you fancy taking in a little more of the local history and seeing the town in more depth then go for an on foot treasure hunt.

Keep the items that you're hiding interesting, and try to keep one participant in the park to keep an eye on the treasure. Remember, others are going to be using the park as well, so you will want safety mechanisms in place for the guests as well as the treasure.

Remember also, to be flexible concerning your treasure hunts. Some people may not be able to stay the full length of the event, and others may show up late. This means you might need to be switching teams around, so make sure that you add these contingency plans in case you need them.

If you do not own the GPS units but still want to put together a GPS treasure hunt. Take a look on the internet for a professional event company who will organize the whole event for you.

A treasure hunt for adults will have your adults acting like children and having an enthusiastically good time before you know it. Make it a small treasure hunt if your party is small, or make it a large GPS unit treasure hunt and they'll have plenty to discuss when they get back.

5 Trends From the Last 10 Years for Students in Event Planning Courses

Event planning is a profession that has seen a lot of change and innovation in recent years. Some of the change is linked to change in our culture at large (the omnipresence of gadgets, the new reliance on social media networks), but some of it has to do with the fact that event organisation is a fairly new profession: as such, it is still finding its way, making it a particularly exciting time to be enrolled in event planning courses.

The staples of the curriculum in your event planning courses may change between now and graduation. But here are some recent trends that you may encounter in your classes or in the field.

1. Compostable meal buckets.

Are you contemplating a career organizing large outdoor events such as concerts and music festivals after your event planning courses?

One of this decade's major trends - sustainable event management - will then most likely influence the choices you make after completing your event management courses.

Increasingly, concert and festival organizers want to be able to advertise that their larger scale events are low-carbon or carbon-neutral.

Graduates of event planning courses need to identify service providers that can help meet these goals, including caterers that can provide compostable food in compostable packages.

2. Emphasis on interactive.

If you can learn just one thing in the time that you are enrolled in event management courses, it will probably be the importance of innovation, especially when it comes to engaging guests.

Event organisation professionals are experimenting with such new practices as providing every table with an iPad where guests can help "plan" the event as it progresses, e.g., request a song, order a particular cocktail, change the colour of the lighting, etc. New ideas like this are in such constant evolution that it is hard to say if and when they will make it into event planner courses textbooks. At this rate of innovation, the textbooks themselves may require daily digital updates.

3. Waste-reducing recyclable button badges.

Name tags are just one aspect of event planning that has seen a lot of experimentation in recent years. Increasingly, disposable labels and buttons are a no-no. In your event planning courses, you will learn about the new range of options, including recyclable badges designed to hang from buttons.

4. Welcome bags (swag bags) for out-of-town guests (conferences, weddings)

As with so many things in our culture, event planning often takes inspiration from Hollywood celebs. Enter, the swag bag, aka the goodie bag for adults, containing such treats as restaurant coupons, taxi coupons, moisturizer, breath mints, headache medication, etc. You may learn in your event planning courses to add in place-specific items, e.g., maple candy for out-of-country visitors to Canada.

5. Advice keepsakes for mothers-to-be

In your event planner courses you will learn different ways if involving guests in certain kinds of events. One type of event that you may end up organizing is baby showers. It has become increasingly common over the past ten years to encourage guests to leave written words of advice for the guest of honour. These messages double as a keepsake, long after baby is born.

Many of the tips that you learn in event planning courses will serve more than one purpose, e.g., increasing the feeling of community at an event and serving as a reminder of the event afterwards.

These trends are just the tip of an iceberg in an industry that itself is trending.

Career Planning - Plan for an Event Planner Career!

The event planning career is a recent career field addition. Prior to 1990 the career wasn't listed in the Department of Labor job data base. The job goes by various names such as convention planner, conference or workshop coordinator, meeting manager or perhaps special event coordinator. Whatever the title of the job, meetings have tended to become more complicated with the expanding global economy.

Event planning has become a complex service that requires training and experience to properly carry out all the duties involved. Corporations and large organizations pay well for a high level of competence for this multifaceted service.

To be an effective event planner you must learn a variety of important skills. These skills range from selecting a suitable location for the event, travel arrangements, housing, rental cars, event set-up, entertainment, assist in planning the program, registrations and of course food.

The full service event planner must be a skilled planner and problem solver, able to negotiate with a variety of people and coordinate meeting and events from the local level to an international event. They may in one week organize a small meeting for a group of executives. Then start planning a year or more in advance for meeting involving a thousand or more sales personnel from all over the world. Then they may end the week traveling to be on site for a regional recognition conference.

Many event planners are self-employed, and have a staff of specialists to coordinate the planning of events. Some specialize in smaller local events like weddings, reunions or local seminars and workshops. Larger corporations may have event planners working on the corporate staff. Others in the event planning field have found rewarding careers working for large hotels and big convention centers many in resort and destination areas.

Normally a Bachelor's degree with a liberal sprinkling of business courses is a minimum requirement for event planners. There are professional organizations that offer certification programs in event planning. Excellent communication skills and fluency in English are also minimum requirements. A foreign language is becoming more and more important.

Any experience that builds strong leadership qualities, effective project management and other management skills would be a big plus. To be a successful event planner you must be strong in public relations and have demonstrative sales and marketing skills. To be a strong "people person" would be an understatement.

At times, your career in event planning, you will be working with dozens perhaps even hundreds of people all performing different tasks to get the event running smoothly. The potential for problems ruining the well thought event seems infinite. So you must be able to think fast and resolve problems, keeping in mind the timetable and budget. Your trouble shooting skills must be finely honed to pull off the successful event.

Unless employed by a hotel or some other facility that hosts conventions, you may have the opportunity to travel all over the world to some very desirable locations. The career is growing and with the right planning you too can have a career in event planning.

The Rise of Food Festivals in Wales

How times have changed in the culinary world all over the United Kingdom over the past 30-40 years. A huge change has occurred on the food festival scene in Wales in recent times. Starting with just a handful of food festivals in Wales they are now big business and have become definite dates in the culinary calendar of many.

One of the most famous food festivals held in Wales is the Abergavenny food festival. It started 14 years ago with just 2,500 people attending on a wet Sunday, it is now attended by some 35,00 people and is a firm favourite not just in the culinary world but for local businesses and trader too. The food festival brings a huge increase of trade for local businesses.

There is now a total of 15 food based festivals in Wales including Abergavenny Food Festival, Mold Food Festival, Conwy Feast and Llangollen Food and Drink Festival. A desire to know where our food has come from is believed to have increased the demand for festivals such as these with people much more interested in local produce and supporting local food producers.

All senses are bombarded as you walk along the rows of artisan food stalls and smell the aromas of freshly cooked produce, no matter whether it is a sizzling hot chilli or a traditional sticky toffee pudding. All these artisan food producers have the skill to entice customers to try some of their produce as they walk by.

Many people will not accept the processed TV dinners that have been with us for so long and are turning their backs on all this unhealthy food for locally produced fresh food from producers such as those stallholders at the Abergavenny Food Festival.

The food festival this year had over 200 producers from Wales the Marches and area close by. The Abergavenny Food Festival has something for everyone not just rows of stalls with food to taste. There are workshops for children and celebrity chef demonstrations as well as events taking place inside Abergavenny Castle. A real treat for anyone remotely interested in food and is well worth a visit, each September.

Ecat Finalists now Announced

The newly launched Event Caterers Team Challenge (Ecats) at The Restaurant Show 2012 has been announced. The Ecats was launched to bring together the very best of private event caterers across the United Kingdom. It tests them to their limits in the delivery of corporate events, weddings, outdoor events and private events.

Ecats is in association with the craft guild of chefs and this event is set to get the competition theatre bustling with expectation on the 8th October at Earls Court. The finalists include teams of 4-5 people they are from the following establishments:

Delaware
Red Anywhere
Fish Face Event Catering
CH&Co Catering Ltd
Sodexo Prestige
Purple Grape Catering
Richmond caterers

Ecats was invented to celebrate the wonderful talents of event chefs in catering, these talented chefs often wet overlooked as they do not have a restaurant or hotel of their own from which to showcase all their work. The chefs have been set the task of a real outside catering event. This event will be the perfect platform from which the talented chefs will be able to show everyone across the industry their best skills.

The competition brief is as follows:

"The catering company has been approached by a partner in a London city law firm who wants to organise a surprise birthday party for his partner in business who will be 50 years young on 31st October. As this is Halloween he has decided that it is to be themed as a black tie masked Halloween ball, with 120 of their close friends and business colleagues invited. The client requires the following, a champagne reception with canap矇s [2 hot 2 cold], followed by a 3 course meal plus wine, coffee and Petit Fours. A request has been made for themed tables in keeping with the event.

The client has arranged for the event to be held at a local stately house, which has no restriction on which caterers can utilize the facility. Entertainment after the meal has also been arranged by the client. A budget of approximately 瞿250 per person for the event caterer's costs has been allocated."

This is sure to get the chefs displaying all of their talents on the day with the prestigious award at the end of it. All the finalists will be battling it out on finals day to win the coved award.

Entertainment Ideas For Events and Corporate Dinners - Ideas To Consider for After Dinner

Specialist corporate dinner entertainment event organisers should be able to appreciate how important it is to you that your evening entertainment event runs smoothly and with maximum attention to detail. They should included some suggestions for event-types that you may want to consider. Remember, consider your guests. What suits one type of guest may not suit another type of guest.

To make your awards dinner or evening event a success, you need good quality and effective solutions. Your guests will probably be giving up their evenings to attend your event, so be sure to make sure it's a success and get the feedback you deserve. You may be a corporate client who is looking for a slick, professionally well managed evening event. If you are not sure which corporate entertainment ideas are right for your evening then do the research or contact a professional event team organiser and explore your options. And if your guests are of mixed ages and different interests you should find an organisation that is very experienced and has some great entertainment that appeals to all types of people.

If you are rewarding your team, showing appreciation to your most valued clients or planning the perfect Christmas party it should always be a professionally put-together evening that wows your guests to the last.

After dinner entertainment ideas for events - here are some novel ideas for you to explore if you are considering a celebration event:

Interactive Entertainment:

Wii Olympics And Wii Wimbledon

More and more people are exploring this option - you could even do it at home for free, or in your own workplace. This event can be used in many different scenarios from indoor team building to after dinner fun at corporate dinners and evening event ideas.

Xbox Kinect Olympic Games Night

This brings a new dimension to evening entertainment ideas, this brand new team event will amaze your guests as you become the controller in what is always a very energetic activity!

Quiz Nights

Always a great choice to fill in the gaps between meals. A corporate quiz is always fully interactive with the use of wireless answering gadgets and giant projector screens.

Game Shows

Audience participation is what this should be all about, if you want some light hearted entertainment to keep your guests amused throughout and after dinner then this is a cracking idea!

F1 Simulator

Simulators can be hired from professional events organisers and will always get your guests' hearts racing!

Fun Casino Hire

The perfect addition to any corporate dinner, product launch or client entertainment when looking for something a little more sophisticated.

Giant Pub Games

Bring the fun and laughter to your after dinner spare time by using a giant indoor pub style games. Perfect for any team based activity after or before dinner.

Scalextric Grand Prix Evenings

The children's toy that you never grow out of. Great for breaking the ice and adding some competition to your evening.

Virtual Horse Race Evenings

This is very popular these days - you don't need to go to the races - and you don't even need to gamble if you're using funny-money!

Arcade Games

If you need something to keep people entertained throughout the evening whilst the disco is playing on till the early hours then why not consider full size arcade games. Many companies now offer the chance to hire an entire suite of these machines for you to play with.

Do You Need Help From A Wedding Planner?

Wedding is an event that comes once in the life of an adult and every man and woman want their wedding to be the most memorable and joyful day of their life. Planning for this event is not very easy for everyone especially when you want your event to be special. You need to pay attention on many things at a time, from time management to shopping, everything requires your attention. Coordinating with different venders is a very hectic job. Many people have this talent to make all arrangements themselves but this is something very difficult for many people. In this situation the wedding planners are the best solution for you to handle the problems and make your event successful.

At times people who are busy in their jobs and don't get time for shopping, dealing with vendors and making appointments, so they require the help of a wedding planner; they can hire a good event planner that can find out about their requirements and arrange the event as per the requirements.

Many people have time and they can deal with different vendors but lack sense of style and are not creative enough, the wedding planners use their esthetics, bring new ideas and give a touch of class and style to the event.

At times you have friend and family members willing to help you but this doesn't mean that they will arrange things as per your style and requirements. It becomes very difficult to tell them to change things. If you hire an event planner none of your family members and friends will interfere and you will get the arrangements according to your style without breaking your love one's hearts.

Wedding planners have knowledge of different traditions followed in the weddings and they make arrangements for them. If you want to have your wedding in a traditional way you can consult the wedding or event planner about this.

Sometimes you have a fixed budget and want a lot done at your wedding; you can ask your event planner, they have different packages and they will arrange your wedding within your budget as they have contacts with particular vendors and get the things done on discounted rates.

Selecting wedding venue at times become difficult, take help from a wedding planner to solve your problem; they know of different locations, their traveling fare, resorts and hotels and their cost; event planner can make you a better plan within your budget and requirements.

If you have any such problem you can take help of a wedding planner to make your wedding event go smoothly.

Student Leadership: 3 Easy Ways to Make Event Planning Innovative, Fun and Successful

Leaders in the community are usually in charge of many different events. Junior high and high school students will be the future leaders in the community. Therefore, schools need to have student leadership training in their curriculum so teens can learn how to plan events and make them successful.

Jane's class is having graduation soon, and, as president of the class, it is up to Jane to plan a graduation party with a committee of fellow students. The graduation is only weeks away, and she is feeling overwhelmed and concerned. "What can be done to make planning easier and more fun?" she wonders.

Three important processes that will make planning easier and more fun for student leaders are brainstorming, storyboarding, and delegating.

• Brainstorming allows you to come up with several creative ideas.


• Storyboarding helps you to view those ideas in an organized fashion.


• Delegating helps you to determine which people will be responsible for the various tasks that will be needed to prepare for the event.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is the process of getting creative ideas from a group. The purpose is to come up with as many different ideas for the event as they can.

• Individuals are encouraged to call out their ideas, no matter how off-the-wall or outrageous they may seem.


• No negative comments are allowed, and no criticism can be given.


• One person's idea can lead to other group members' ideas.

For example, if you are planning a graduation party, your group members may come up with different ideas ranging from making it formal, to having a jazz band. One member may come up with the zany idea to make it a costume party, which can lead to other ideas like having a magician or performers.

Storyboarding

Storyboarding is the process of organizing the ideas that come from the brainstorming session:

• The ideas are put on Post-It notes.


• The notes are then placed on a wall under different categories.Some event planning categories may include Food, Music, Activities, and Miscellaneous.

For instance, the idea to make the event a costume party may be placed on the wall under Miscellaneous, while having a jazz band, magician or performers would be put under Entertainment.

If several miscellaneous ideas have the same line of thought, group them under a new heading.

Delegating

Following these procedures, the students can then vote on each idea with a show of hands. The ideas that are voted out have the Post-It notes removed from the wall.

Then the teens must determine the necessary tasks and delegate them to different people. This can be done by using a task list and a delegating list. The tasks from the task list can be put next to the names on the delegating list. They will correspond with the person who will be assigned to that task.

Voila! Now you have an event all planned out.

Planning an event does not need to be overwhelming and stressful for youth leaders. It can be fun, using the processes of brainstorming, storyboarding, and delegating. Teen leaders can learn to use these techniques in student leadership classes. They will then be on their way to becoming our community leaders of the future.

Why Opt For Online Event Registration Software?

Following the increasing competition within the event industries, the event planners are constantly finding out effective and innovative ways of maximizing their profits and minimizing their costs as well as work load, maintaining a good and positive reputation within the industry. Taking all the activities of event management online, has become an emerging trend, where event planners are taking help of the online event registration software in making the registration process easier and simpler. Below mentioned are some benefits of this software:

· Fast and convenient registering process:

Paper works for registration is a long process and initially requires the registrants to download and print out the copy of the form. The registrant needs to fill up the form according, make the payment using cheques or demand draft and mail it back to the mentioned address. But online registering is quick and convenient for the attendees as they can directly fill up the form online from your official event site. The organizer of the event can also give a new look and feel to the form and make it more attractive to generate more attendees. The software eventually stores the data or information of each attendee and maintains an online database which can be easily accessed by the organizer, whenever required.

· Secure database storage:

Storing and maintaining data or information, in a registration process is a complex task and must be safeguarded. The online software offers a safe and secure environment for storing data related to each registrant. It maintains an online database, where relevant information about payments and transactions can be stored safely.

· Auto-generated confirmation emails:

Registering manually by filling up paper forms may take days or even weeks to receive the confirmation. The organizer opting for paper forms may have to spend a huge amount of time in attending the calls or replying to the mails of the curious attendees, regarding confirmation. However, your time gets saved using the online software, which automatically sends a notification mail to the attendees mentioning their confirmation details and other relevant information. This automated confirmation mail relieves the participants as well as reduces the additional work of the organizer which would be required in attending the registrants and finding out their current status of entry.

· Quick Reports and Surveys:

The most common problem faced by event organizers is that they often fail to keep a track on the number of attendees who would actually turn up for the event at the end of the registration process. Tracking the updates and maintaining a report at the last moment becomes tiresome and can increase your work load. Online software offers you the facility of viewing the updates instantly and helps you in making a survey report about the expected attendees to the event.

Thus, the online event registration software can assist you in handling your work in a trouble-free manner, saving your time.

The Importance of Marquee Set Ups at Corporate Events

These days, it is quite common to find marquees used at various corporate events. From product launches to re branding, marquees are used at various corporate events. Marquees, in simple terms, refer to the mobile warehouses that are used by companies to showcase their different products. The consumers get a sight of the new products and their varied applications. In recent times, marquees have undergone a lot of change in terms of their appearance and size. Companies now have the flexibility to modify their marquees as per their requirements. This is enabling them to keep the marquees compact.

For several years, companies did not focus much on their marquees. They treated the marquees as tents that could be put up at any event. With time, this notion has undergone significant change. Marquees are no longer neglected and special attention is paid on making them more appealing and attractive. The main factor that has led to this change is shift in consumer's perception. Several studies have found that consumers are more likely to get attracted to products put up at a decent marquee. As a result, companies are ensuring that their marquees stand apart in the clutter.

These days, a large number of companies are focusing on creating well equipped marquees. Some of these marquees may have a full seating area, a catering area or even a dance floor. Instead of spending many hours and dollars on designing the marquee, several companies are hiring professionals who come with years of experience. These professionals offer their inputs to make the marquees innovative and appealing. You can find information about these professionals at various web directories and yellow pages. It is always advisable to opt for these professionals at least some time in advance to prepare the marquees at a cost effective price.

What to Consider When Corporate Event Planning

Corporate events range from product launches to an exhibition but organising such an event can seem like a daunting task. Following some straight forward rules can make corporate event planning a breeze and ensure your guests are treated to a special occasion that creates a lasting memory.

The first consideration is the location of the venue. Even if your company quarters are large enough to host an event, is it convenient for your guests to attend? In the event that you are inviting people from further afield than your staff a separate location such as a golf course may be more easily reached by all of your guests.

Corporate event planning for outdoor events normally includes marquee hire to ensure your guests are protected from the elements. Numerous companies can offer marquee hire services. You will need to confirm that the proposed surface the marquee is to be set up on and the area size will need to be supplied to the hire company. You may also want to have the interior of the marquee decorated to add atmosphere or create a theme.

In addition to decoration, lighting will play a large part in setting the scene and ensuring it stay the same regardless of the level of natural light outside.

The next arrangement for your corporate event is seating and dining areas. If you are providing a meal for your guests the interior of the marquee needs to comfortably seat all of your guests with tables and chairs in place.

When corporate event planning, there is often a message to be delivered. If you have over 50 or so guests a PA system will be essential to make sure the message is heard. This involves a stage area and equipment rental. If there will also be entertainment, the stage area and audio/visual equipment should be suitable for their needs as well. A live band will require a significant area to set up their instruments and their own equipment. If you need to present information, a projector and screen will also have to be hired or provided.

The last consideration is transport. If you will be providing transport for one or more of your guests, a limousine hire service is an excellent way for your guests to arrive in style.

Taking into account these considerations should help you on the way to planning a successful corporate event.

Event Planning Tips: Your Workshop Checklist

Are you planning a training workshop or event? Content will always be the most important factor of a workshop but logistics are often overlooked during the event planning stages. This has a big impact on the comfort of your guests and overall memorability of your event. Considering the following six points will ensure your event is remembered for all the right reasons and score you extra brownie points with your attendees.

1. Location

Ensure your event space is well served by good transport links or has parking facilities. Make it easy for attendees to attend and provide them with a good printable map with transport and parking information in your pre-workshop delegate pack.

2. Facilities

Are the toilets near your training room or will you and your guests have to race up two flights of stairs for the nearest washroom? Don't overlook the importance of nearby facilities. Fact: Your guests will take a toilet break during your workshop - you don't want them to miss any of your important content and neither will they.

3. Going up?

Is your room on the top floor of a six story building with no lift or in a windowless basement? Consider accessibility as well as ambiance when choosing your meeting space. Ideally a room on the ground or first floor with plenty of natural daylight. It will keep everyone perky and create a sense of space.

4. Seasons

Ok, so if it's mid-winter maybe a cosy basement room isn't such a bad idea. However, guests will want to check-in coats. Find out where these can be securely stored. Summer will be the opposite - think natural daylight and air conditioning.

5. Equipment

It's not unusual for venues to charge extra for equipment, such as flip charts, projector screens and especially AV equipment which can turn your good value workshop into an expensive event that eats in to your budget. Consider your equipment requirements and discuss everything with the venue before confirming your booking.

6. Refreshments

What's included, where is it served and when do you want it? Discuss this with the venue and arrange refreshment breaks around your workshop agenda. Remember to consider the dietary requirements of your guests and communicate this to the venue to avoid any embarrassing situations when refreshments are served.

Read on If You're Interested in Gaining an Event Management Certificate

If you are interested in planning events for a living, whether it is an entertainment, culinary or major sporting event and even a recreational event or festival, you might want to consider the employment advantage you get with an management certificate. Those that want to be experts in catering meals, planning functions like weddings or any other kind of group convention, need to learn the skills necessary to properly plan events for others. You can learn how to add diversity and proper management to ensure that every detail turns out better than expected. This is an important part of being an event manager, no matter what kind of event it might be.

The course content for your qualification will include the important areas of event planning, marketing, budgeting, licensing, operational and technical considerations, staffing, health and safety issues that include the ability to assess risk and contracts. Learning event administration involves many details that most people take for granted when they are attending an event, but these are things that are addressed when you are in event management. The difference in a good and a spectacular event is the manager that planned and oversees the event through completion and payment of the bill.

When it comes to the management of events, there are many areas that you can consider for employment, whether you are planning recreational events like festivals and dog shows, or a life event like a wedding reception or large anniversary party for a major hotel. Many people that are in the field of event management should take the course and go through the evaluation and review that is part of the qualification. Not only can it mean an increase in your salary for event planning, but also you will be among the experts in the field and you can learn many ideas to make your events more interesting.

If you are interested in the more advanced certifications, those are available under certificate programs, as well. Many event planners will seek the advanced certifications, especially those that are in tourism. When it comes to planning large events on a world stage, you will need the most advanced certifications to become involved and the salaries in this range of event planning can be substantial. When you consider the metropolitan festivals and celebrations, major sporting events and fundraisers, there are many options that require more advanced expertise than you will learn in college. Often, real-life experience is required to fully understand the importance of the more detailed knowledge you get from the courses that are the most comprehensive, in event planning.

The field of event management is very interesting and rewarding. If you like planning events and you are detail-oriented you can put your talents to use in event management. Getting the certification is important to many employers that plan the larger events, so your chances of employment are much better, once you have achieved a certificate in event management.

Employee Bonding Through Sports Events

Corporate Sport Events are those events that are organized by the organization especially for their employees, who actively take part in the events.

These sports events can be indoor or outdoor depending on the type of event. The employees compete with one another or in a group based on departmental status. These events help the employees in being motivated, have a healthy relationship with colleagues and enjoy the work and the workplace they are involved to.

Corporate sport events usually take place during the winter season. The idea time to launch these sports events is between December and January.

Most of the organizations term these events as "ANNUAL SPORTS MEET" or "ANNUAL SPORTS DAY".

Corporate sports day focuses on 3 to 4 different types of well organized sporting event, and is the most effective outdoor team building activities. Team building in a sports environment encourages fun, interaction and bonding, and allows for maximum participation by all involved.

These sports event can be made more interesting by creating different sports houses among an organization. Each of these houses or groups will consist of members from different departments. This will only help in making the employees become familiar with employees from departments other than his/her.

This introduction of houses will also help in introducing an interhouse challenge or competition. The trophy will be provided to the winning house by the organization and for one year that house will remain the champions unless the next meet.

Believe me, this is enormous fun, just like the school days!

Now sports like Cricket, Football, and Basketball are common games but due to their popularity are always acceptable. These games are all long duration games and require a minimum of 5 players to play. But some games like The Tug of War, Penalty Shootout, and Sack Race are very interesting and take less time to finish. Other than this, Breaking the Clay Pot, Hit the Bull's Eye, etc are some interesting and popular corporate sports games that can be played by a single player.

An Interhouse Quiz Competition can also be organized. One facility of this event is that, all the created house can participate in the event at a common time and competition will be among all the houses. A great competitive challenge!

These events may run for a maximum of two days other wise it gets boring and tiresome.

Another important thing that should be kept in mind is the arrangement for refreshments. There have to be a proper arrangement for Lunch Packets as well as some snacks and soft drinks. Also, it is advised to have a memento awarded to all those who take part in the events. This not only will please the employees, but also will encourage others to come forward and be a part of this sport event from the year ahead, thus making it a Mega Hit!