Have a Stress-Free Party With Event Organizers

Throwing a grand party or arranging a corporate launch can be stressful. With all the factors you need to consider like the caterers, entertainment, and costs, how will you even manage to have a good time yourself? It's a good thing there are professional event organizers who can help you achieve your goals for your event.

Benefits of Hiring Good Events Planners

If you need help in making sure your event runs smoothly, look for reputable event organizers. Here are some reasons why you should hire them:

-They are highly organized

Events planners are efficient when it comes to booking venues for your event. They do their research and reserve the venue months in advance to give way for other important preparations. They also make sure appointments don't clash with the schedule of the client so they can both actively participate in brainstorming sessions.

-They always have a back-up plan

Good event organizers always know what to do in case something goes wrong. They also know whom to contact and who can be available on short notice. Event planners have a plan A, plan B, and plan C at bay.

-Events planners are both creative and business-minded

They know the latest trends and styles in throwing parties. Plus, they should be willing to explore new ideas and see if they are good options for your event. For example, your planner may suggest throwing a foam party or a reggae themed party for your teenager's sweet sixteen. If you can afford it, they may suggest hiring a mobile bar with a great sound system. Of course, you have a lot of say on the amount of alcoholic beverages served.

-Organizers are professional, warm, and accommodating

Most event organizers have personalities that can give you a pleasant experience working with them. They are professional and responsive - suggesting ways to make your event livelier and fun. They can also accommodate your special requests. For example, you may have guests with special dietary needs; your organizer may coordinate with the caterer to make the necessary adjustments. It's important to hire planners who can connect easily with clients. They usually have a clear picture of what the client wants and needs for their event.

-They have a broad network

Events planners have connections with the best suppliers to make sure their clients get the best value for their money. There is usually a budget to maintain and endless details tailored to the event. They can save you a lot of time and effort in finding the best service provider offering reasonable prices and quality work. They are also in a better position to negotiate and get discounts from vendors they have worked with before.

-They help avoid disasters.

Organizers help their clients avoid disasters as they oversee all preparations down to the last detail. In case there is an emergency at the event, organizers are usually the ones who will deal with the crisis instead of their client.

These are some of the reasons you should consider hiring professional organizers. You may search online for those offering affordable rates. Make sure you do a thorough background check and contact past clients. Ask about the turnout of their events. If it was successful, you have found a good catch.

What Are the Benefits of Getting Professional Party Planners?

There are a lot of benefits of letting the arrangements of your party be managed by a professional. Although small event can be planned by the hosts themselves but events like birthday parties, wedding or business conferences cannot be handled by a single person. Today everyone is so busy that nobody has enough time to make the arrangement of their parties as it can be a lot of stress and hassle. That is why they hire professional party planners. Once people do that, they are satisfied that their party is going to be a hit.

In a party, there are different constituents and each of them is of immense importance. These elements include location, catering, decorations, sitting arrangements, sanitary, electricity, reservations etc. If even any one of them is neglected, it can create problems for you.

There are many benefits of getting a professional party planner to arrange and manage your party. These include:

1. Hassle free management: A professional party planner knows how to manage each and every aspect of a party. People do not have much information regarding organizing their parties and make so many mistakes because they keep their concentration on only one aspect and forget the rest, thus other aspects are negatively affected. On the other hand party planners have great knowledge about so many things because this is their routine like; who is the best DJ in town or who will provide the best catering service etc. so whatever budget they are provided these pros choose accordingly. A pro will manage all arrangements and there will be nothing for you to worry about.


2. Perfection; Event planning is a field which is expanding day by day and there are many reputable educational institutions which offer courses of event planning. They teach students the pros and cons and the dos and don'ts of a party. Thus planners are equipment with detailed knowledge. They realize their responsibility and perform it in the most perfect way. Every aspect will be perfect and as per your desires. Your party planner will give you solid advice which will make your event far better than what you could do yourself.


3. Money saver: If you do not want to spend too much on your occasion, professional planners will tell you of different ways through which you can save your money and still impress your guests. Mostly event planners can save up to 30% of their client's money. Experience is the key which these event organizers have and that is why they are able to create a wonderful party.


4. Event rental facilities: Most pros have furniture and china available which can be hired for the occasion. This makes it even more convenient for you as you not only get everything but also enjoy certain rebates that they offer as a package plan for different events.?

Professional event planners have a very creative nature and they can make people's dreams come true. They will make your parties ethnic with a touch of class. They lower down your stress and increase your excitement and help you have a very memorable and fun-filled day of your life.

Best Ways to Use QR Codes to Increase Event Attendance

QR codes were developed by a Japanese Mr. Denso-Wave. QR codes are two-dimensional bar codes containing up to 7,089 numeric characters. They are primarily used to provide an easy, affordable way to inform Smartphone users about products, services or events and persuade them to buy or attend the same.

How do QR Codes Work?

You can use these codes to take a person to a URL via a Smartphone browser. For example, you can place the code on the back of your business card on clicking which the users will enter your business website. You can also advertise lucrative offers like 'free product' or "50% off" on particular purchases to your potential customers. All they need to do is to scan the barcode to visit your Smartphone optimized form and join your e-mailer list.

What is a Mobile-optimized Website or Form?

This is a special website designed specifically and optimized for usage on any Smartphone browser. The Smartphone-optimized form as the name itself suggests is designed on similar lines. A mobile-optimized website usually contains the kind of information that is short and crispy. What mobile users usually look is a short introduction about your organization, contact details, free offers or incentives, basic features of the products, etc.

Now, let's look at the best ways of using QR codes to attract people towards your products or events.

Create a Pre-event Buzz

Add the codes on your website as well as on your blogs and try to provide special advantages to people who share it with their friends on various social media sites or register early for your event.

Arrange an Ad Campaign

You will see many companies framing innovative promotional campaigns. For example, I once saw a chocolate company distributing chocolates for free to passers-by on the streets, especially to the kids. You too, can opt for such a vigorous campaign. Hire temporary staff to walk around busy shopping malls and streets wearing company branded t-shirts with attractive and witty tag lines printed on them. Many people take their pictures and post them on Facebook to share the same with their friends. It leads to a massive promotion of your events or products via the social networking route.

Encourage Location-based Activities

You can put QR codes on the busy street walls or on the gates of a public park, zoo, etc. to let people view the same and initiate engagement with prospective clientele.

Connect with the Tradeshow & Event Attendees

You can send the QR codes via a SMS or text message to the mobile phones of potential tradeshow attendees. They can easily scan those codes to gain entry to your tradeshow. Moreover, instead of just sending a QR code to each attendee, why not organize a SMS message contest. The contest can persuade the tradeshow attendees to share their personal contact details and on doing so they may win attractive gifts!

Event Planning: Making Sure the Outdoor Party Extends Indoor In Case of Bad Weather

Once of the best way to do you event planning for an outdoor party is to establish a backup plan. What if it rains, your guest will not be pleased to be soaking wet just by coming to your party. As the host, you should be able to provide them with a shelter to make the outdoor party a bit more convenient and comfortable for all especially if you know that the weather is quite unpredictable.

A good event planning is your key to make your outdoor party successfully and this is not hard to do. Some might put a tent outside as cover for an outdoor party but if it's too windy or the rain is very hard then it is not that comfortable as well. The best thing you can offer to your guests is to open your house as an extension of your party.

Make them feel that you house is open for all.

However, your guest might feel shy to get inside the house thinking that they might be invading your privacy since the party was supposed to be outdoor. You can do few arrangements that will give them a warm welcome that they are also invited inside. You can extend the party decorations in the house letting them know the boundaries of your outdoor party.

Use the dinner table or the center table in the living room and put some bowl of snacks. This will indicate to your guest that they are free to enter your indoor space as well. Event planning is really important especially if you are having an outdoor party because you do not want your guests to be uncomfortable with what you prepared. As the saying goes and can be applied to any type of planning, it is best to always have a plan B.

Important Aspects of Planning a Wedding

Whether you are planning a wedding for a client or for yourself, there are some things that you just cannot get by without. Certain things are more obvious, such as the theme, the cake, the dresses, the colors that the men and women are to wear, the music, and all other things that are commonly associated with a wedding.

This article focuses on the not so obvious parts of the wedding; the things that people do not actively notice, but definitely add to the overall experience nevertheless. Wedding decorations are a good example. Wedding linens such as chair covers and napkins are something that must be taken into consideration, but they are often overlooked until the last minute.

People mainly pay attention to the food that is going to be served, but little effort is spent on what the food is going to be served ON. It is just one of those small details that is going to come back and bite you. Fortunately there are companies that anticipate this, and make it easy for you to correct your mistake before it is entirely too late.

These companies are very convenient, as they are likely to carry the whole mess of your needs in one place, whether it is for party rentals or wedding linen rentals. San Diego in particular is home to exceptional event linen rentals.

It is important to take note of the area or building you are having your reception in. Study the architectural style, whether there is carpeting or hard wood floors and, if there is carpeting, the color of the carpet. If you really want to impress people, you could use this information to your advantage by having everything complement each other.

If you are having your reception in a ballroom that does not already have tables and chairs, you should look for a company that has table chair rental combos, along with chair cover rentals and linen tablecloth rentals.

Linen rentals that have the same general color scheme as the rest of the wedding are always impressive and complimentary. If all of the bride's maids' dresses are of different colors, then the rentals should emulate this. Perhaps the tablecloth could be white, an d the chair cover rentals could be the color of the dresses, or maybe all of the linens could be white with different colored sashes.

There are no limits to the colors you choose to use. There are many different companies out there with all different selections for you to peruse. If you are willing to spend extra money you could even get custom linens made, although these would undoubtedly be very expensive, and you would have to buy them rather than rent.

Of course the alternative is disposable wedding linen rentals. These are quite cheap, but unfortunately they have the look of being cheap as well. But if function, rather than image, is what you are going for, then have at it. Hopefully your guests will be having such a great time, they won't even notice!

What to Know About Hiring a Venue for a Party or Event

Hiring a venue for a party, corporate get together or other reason can turn an ordinary event into a truly memorable occasion. Choice of location is an integral part of the planning process and more and more venue spaces are available to enhance one's gathering. Here are some important things to keep in mind when looking for a space.

One of the firs things to consider when looking for a venue is the type of gathering. There are a wide variety of party and event spaces available, ranging from sleek, modern urban locations to rural outdoor settings. Look for space that is appropriate to the event and tone one would like to set for the occasion.

Of course the number of guests is a major factor to consider. It is important to get an estimate of attendees as early in the process as possible. This can help eliminate some venue options quickly, saving time and effort.

Depending on the time of year, one may want to consider holding some or the entire event outside. Even in chilly weather portable heaters can make an outdoor terrace or patio warm and inviting. If holding the party in warmer months, be sure to inquire about air conditioning for guest comfort.

If planning any activities, make sure the location can accommodate both the space requirements and any other special considerations. Corporate events often require a dais or other arrangement for presentations and speeches. If dancing or children's activities are planned make sure there is suitable space.

Ideally the site of the event or party will be conveniently located to the majority of attendees. If this is not possible, be sure to inquire about transportation options. Also note parking areas and proximity to public transport. Also, if one is unfamiliar with the area be sure to check the safety and security of the venue.

While reviewing the actual venue location, think carefully about the event and how it will flow; from guest arrival to exit, try to imagine how guests will enter and then integrate into the gathering. In some cases a large room sets the tone, where in other cases, smaller more intimate space is better. Also think about where entertainment or activities will be set up. It is also important to consult with the venue representative and get his or her ideas on set-up and arrangements.

Food and drink are what guests most remember about a party. Explore fully all the options available and don't settle for something that is not appropriate. Most places will accommodate outside options and it is most important to get this aspect of the gathering right.

Go into the search process with a budget in mind and get written estimates. Getting an estimate in writing allows one to fully review what is and what is not included. If there are questions about services, make sure they are clarified before signing a contract. Also inquire about deposit and cancellation fees. It is also wise to reconfirm specifics with the venue a week or two in advance of the event.

Keeping these things in mind when looking to hire a venue will make the process simpler and help ensure the location works with what one has in mind for their event.

A Limousine Blog - Are You Thinking of Starting One?

A limo blog? Really? At first, the idea may seem a little far-fetched or maybe just a little too esoteric to be of much use to anyone except the blogger. Who would keep such a weblog, and for what purpose? The average person enjoys very few limousine-worthy occasions in his or her life, so that, when Cinderella's carriage returns to its original pumpkin-ness, there's not much more to write.

But that's exactly the point. Because ordinary people do not very often take advantage of limousine service, a limousine blog provides them with vital information about sizes, styles, features, options, prices, and proper limousine etiquette. Because the everyday person very seldom limousines from one place to another, the limo blog schools them in all they need to know about riding in style, providing a great resource for people who need quick and comprehensive information about a subject not frequently discussed.

The all-purpose limo blog

Could you list and describe all the different sizes, styles, and models of limousines-everything from horse-drawn carriages to fifteen passenger Hum-Vees? Could you go the next step and explain the advantages, disadvantages, and proper occasions for each vehicle? The all-purpose limousine blog does that for you. Which limousine best will transport your children to the senior prom? Will your prom-bound children be able to break into the limousine's liquor cabinet while they travel? Which elegant automobile best will transport newlywed bride and groom from church to reception and from reception to honeymoon suite? Will they enjoy the privacy they desperately want and need? A limousine blog gives you the information you need to connect the dots.

In addition to the specifics of limousine sizes, shapes, designs, and seating capacities, the well-informed limousine blogger delivers the short course in proper limousine etiquette: What kind of service and courtesy should you expect from your driver? What is the best way to communicate your preferences to the driver? Where and what distance may the limo driver take you? Is it appropriate to tip your chauffeur for exceptional service, and if you may offer a gratuity, how much should you give; what is the most decorous way to deliver your thanks and cash? The limo blog breaks it all down for you.

Limo blog for event planners

A limousine blog provides an invaluable resource for event planners who must arrange transportation for guests, VIPs, and event staff. The term "limousine" does include nine- and twelve-passenger vans, and it also includes small party buses. The limousine blog shows a strategic planner how to make most efficient and economical use of all vehicles. In fact, the bigger the event or the bigger the name on the marquee, the more an event planner ought to avail herself of the limo blog.

Limo blog for upscale business travellers

A skilled administrative assistant rapidly rising on the corporate career ladder should become an avid reader of limousine blogs, gleaning essential information to make her boss's business travel as comfortable and speedy as she possibly can. Habituated to their perquisites, executives demand their staffs pay attention to minute details. Planning for the boss's trip to Houston, a limousine blog will teach the skilled assistant how to assure that the boss's Wall Street Journal and morning Starbuck's are in the back seat waiting for him as the comfortable Lincoln Town Car rolls-up in front of his semi-palatial suburban estate. The well-developed limo blog gives the ambitious assistant all the tools she needs.

5 Fundraising Ideas for Charity Auction Event Planners

Executing pitch perfect fundraising ideas for your next charity auction event will be about more than just the event itself. You already know, you're going to want every detail to be flawless, but planning an auction fundraiser is about more than simply choosing items and making them look appealing on display. It's about developing a strategy to ensure your organization reaches its maximum fundraising potential. That means planning for a successful fundraiser can be a 365-day-a-year job.

1. Learn from the past. All too often, charity event planners repeat their mistakes and neglect to capitalize on their successes from one year to the next. After every fundraising event you host, deeply evaluate your results. What went well? What didn't go so well? Asking these simple questions will help you gauge what you should do more of and less of at your next auction fundraiser. Set overall goals for your next event, as well as short-term goals, like X invitations accepted each month or Y pickups by local media outlets. Realistic, measurable goals will help keep you focused on the charity event's larger goal long term.

2. Don't procrastinate. Even if your last auction event just happened and you have another year before your next one, now is the time to get your marketing program off the ground. Thank attendees and especially bidders for supporting your cause and being a part of your fundraiser, and be sure to ask them what they'd like to see in the auction next year. Send notes of thanks promoting next year's event, and get a date on the calendar as soon as possible. Talk about your next charity auction in every communication, especially on the homepage of your organization's Web site and via all your social media channels. There's no such thing as promoting your next event too early.

3. Choose the right auction items. Above all else, choosing the right auction items for your event comes down to knowing your audience. But, a lot goes into knowing your audience. They could be more apt to bid on entertainment or music memorabilia than sports memorabilia. They might be looking to take home several low- to mid-priced items, rather than one big-ticket auction item. Variety is important, but you'll also want to think about whether you're planning a live auction, a silent auction, or both. Some items will inevitably garner higher bids in the high-energy live environment, while other fundraising ideas belong in a more casual silent auction.

4. Promote using all available media. Since you'll already have your Web site and social media channels covered, next it's time to plan the rest of your marketing campaign. News of your auction fundraiser should hit your local newspaper, radio broadcasts and TV news. In fact, you should bring a few of the most impressive, flagship fundraising items you'll be auctioning off with you on a few local programs. Let the shows' hosts check out your auction items first hand and pitch your event for you. Also, don't be afraid to target your most affluent donors individually to let them know what auction items you'll have at your event. This will help get those influential donors into the mindset of bringing their checkbooks.

5. Track your progress and adjust accordingly. Setting short-term goals will help you keep your status in perspective and allow you to make adjustments to your plan, as needed. Whether your numbers are coming in too low and you need to increase your efforts, or they're coming in higher than expected and you need to increase your goals, constantly shaping and reshaping your plan will result in a more successful event overall.

Developing and executing a blockbuster charity auction can be an intimidating task, but with the right planning and a year-round focus, success is well within reach. Follow these simple tips, enjoy an epic auction fundraiser and repeat next year.

How to Plan a Corporate Outing

Corporate outings and retreats can be a great way to motivate employees and reward those for a job well done. They can be ways to build team unity and promote retention. No matter the reason, there are a few steps to follow when planning a corporate outing.

The first step is to determine the purpose of the outing. Once you know the reason you're planning an outing, then you can start to look at locations secondly. A team building outing should be different from a reward outing and a full company outing. The reasoning is just as important as anything else in the decision making process.

The location comes next. Once you know the reason, you can begin picking a location for your corporate event planning. There are many different companies that cater to corporations looking for retreat locations. Some can be parks or in the mountains, others are cruises and beach locations. Are you taking the whole company? You might want to go to a location in town for a day or two. Is it a reward? A cruise to the Caribbean may be a great way to reward top employees for reaching certain benchmarks. Small team building? Maybe a cabin in the woods is the right location for your company. Location matters.

The total cost is the next issue. Depending on where the outing is going to be held and how many people are attending, the price can vary greatly. If you have to work on a limited budget, there are companies that can help plan a corporate outing for a specific reason and work within your budget. The company itself can plan their outing by making phone calls to various locations to determine the right combination of scenery and price. They can even help with booking all the arrangements without huge deposits.

The next step is to find out who is paying for it. Is the company paying for everything for everyone? Are people expected to pay to participate? Is it a reimbursement for the employees to pay now, get paid later? These decisions factor into the budget for the outing and figuring out how many people will be in attendance. If a company pays for the outing, it can allow more employees to attend. If the employees are asked to pay for hotels or travel, that can reduce the total number of people in attendance, thus creating a situation of the company overpaying for the outing. Knowing who is funding the outing allows the company to know how much to budget and to estimate total expenditures.

Planning a corporate outing is not difficult but it can take some time. Allow yourself a lot of time to setup the outing and give people as much information as possible when you inform the employees. The more time and information the company provides when the decision is finalized, the easier it is for the company to ensure they are getting the most bang for their corporate event planning dollar.

Choosing Professional Bands for Corporate Events

Corporate events are just as essential as any affair in the organization's calendar of events. Many event organizers are confused between choosing to book a band or DJ or just play music from the iPod playlist for a corporate event. However, even with the growing popularity of mobile audio devices like iPod, music bands are still very much thriving in the music scene. If you're hosting a special event for potential clients, you can create a nice impression by selecting a professional music band to entertain them.

Whether you plan to have a small intimate event for your entire staff or you want to have a huge party for your clients, it's crucial to find appropriate bands for corporate events. The right band should be able to play great music that can keep your guests entertained. There's no doubt that live bands make any type of function seem like a grand affair. A band can raise the energy and enhance the essence of the sound that no pre-recorded music can match. A highly experienced band leader is very keen on what the crowd wants and can attract the guests to dance to the song they like. In a formal corporate gathering, the elegant appeal of the sleek horns, crisp tuxedos and stylish singers makes for an unforgettable event.

The leader in the band can also serve as the emcee of the event and can assist in making the show run smoothly according to the flow of the program. To make the whole program more seamless, band breaks are scheduled well around the primary program elements. Pre-recorded songs are played while the band is not playing and allow the hosts and other guests to use the sound system for speeches and toasts.

Aside from corporate events, live bands can be a great choice for almost any type of events which include wedding receptions, reunions, fundraising charity event, high school prom, birthday parties and others. You can choose bands that specialize in either jazz, blues, pop, rock, swing, funk, country or a variety band that can play different types of music genre to suite everyone's varying musical tastes.

Before you begin looking for music bands, you might consider the size of the venue. You need to have a venue that has enough space for the band to perform. The band that you booked should be flexible to make that corporate event of yours a success. They should know how to play music based on the general profile of the guests. Family members and friends who have been to several corporate parties are the best people who can recommend you reputable names of live bands. You can also take suggestions from the internet searches to locate some good bands since most of them already have their own websites where they post details about their work and contact details.

So if you want to make your corporate event very memorable, then you should book live bands to keep the crowd entertained and engaged all throughout the event.

How to Achieve a Diploma in Event Management

In the present day, organising and planning functions, celebrations and other events appears to be a burden for many people. This has led to the emergence of event planners and organisers who do all the organising work on your behalf. Having someone else do the work allows you to enjoy your event and to participate with the guests you have invited. With the need for such organising increasing day by day, Event Management courses are becoming popular and have become a lucrative career option for many. A Diploma in Event Management, is a course that will help to provide you with many opportunities.

Many institutes and academic establishments are offering these types of diploma courses. Many in the corporate world, consider these courses to be extremely important and view them as a strategic marketing tool. This diploma provides you with the up-to-date modern techniques for organising events and other occasions. You can also learn to create your own events and functions, explore the resources, increase and improve contacts and publicise yourself. The profession is filled with fun and many challenges involving the organisation of certain unique events as well. You can have a bright and successful career if you move forward with right training and dedication.

Event Management is a broad concept in itself and includes varied functions, ranging from attracting clients to marketing, organising, technical nuances, publicity hype, providing the utmost comfort levels to the clients and their guests, the professional touch in your approach combined with exquisite arrangements.

Eligibility:

Anyone who has passed the HSC can apply to enroll for the diploma for the diploma in event management course. The candidate opting for this course must be passionate, ambitious, outspoken with good communication skills, marketing skills and must also have the drive to further hone their skills regularly, for a flourishing career.

A formal education combined with the practical experience gained in this field, will help in reaching greater heights. It will help in achieving certain key attributes that one should have. They are experience in vendor services, marketing skills, time management and so on. Candidates entering this arena have to improve their skills and gain experience by doing ample projects and internships.

A minimum qualification is required for organising non-professional events like weddings, stage shows, parties and so on. An event professional can also organise non-corporate events like meetings, conferences, exhibitions, incentives and so on.

There are both professional and non-professional opportunities for the event management candidates. A good network, dedication, hard work and good communication skills can pave the way for the various and exciting opportunities ahead.

Once you have decided that this is the career for you, you may wish to consider conducting an online course, or you could attend a university or training center that offers the courses you are looking for. There will be fees associated with both, although the advantage of online learning is that is can be conducted during your own time and this will allow you to continue to earn money in another job whilst you are studying for your new career.

5 Tips To Improve Corporate Event Planning

If you are an employee in charge of corporate event planning in NYC, you may need tips and ideas to make your festivities a huge success. Take the following suggestions into consideration, especially if you want to create a spectacular party, one that will be talked about for year to come.

1. Taking the purpose of your corporate event into account, find the best spot for your party. Select a convenient location. If this is an event to attract new business, make sure that the guests will be able to find the party site. Provide maps and driving directions.

2. Decide on a set of rules when you are in charge of corporate event planning in NYC. Will this be a casual or formal party? Do you need to send out written invitations, or are emails and internal notices good enough?

3. Make sure that your ideas are appropriate for your guests when organizing a themed corporate party. This is extremely important when children are invited.

4. Select a date that is convenient for your invites. There is no sense on planning festivities when nobody will show up.

5. Make sure you hire the right company to supply all your essentials. You may need a tent for outdoor events, as well as glassware, silverware, fine china, barbecue equipment, table and chairs, linens, lighting, party decorations and balloons, a dance floor and a portable bars. When handling corporate event planning in NYC, you will have lots on your mind; therefore, find a company that can provide you with everything you need. It will make your assignment a lot easier.

How to Hire a Corporate Event Planner

If you have been put in charge of the next big corporate event, you may have gone into panic mode. Any event can be a challenge to plan, but a corporate event often puts a lot more pressure on a person. You may feel overwhelmed just thinking about it. The thing you can do to avoid the problems of doing it yourself is to hire a corporate event planner. This will simplify your job and you can leave the tedious and difficult job of planning the event to the professionals. That's right, if you go with a planner who has plenty of experience, a good track record, and a large list of services for you to choose from, your event will be a smashing success.

Look for a company that has had years of experience. If they have planned hundreds of corporate events for companies of different sizes, you know that they will be able to handle your event. It is good to find out whether they have planned events similar to the type of event you desire to pull off. Whether it is a small meeting with only the heads of departments or the entire company and their family members, you want to be assured that the event planning company you are hiring has experience with the type of event you want to pull off.

Working with a corporate event planner will free you up from all of the small details. Rather than having to find a place to rent tables and tablecloths from, and another place to cater the food, and another place to come in and decorate, you will actually save money by hiring a corporate event planning company that has all of these resources at their fingertips. By hiring every aspect of your event through one company, you will usually get a package deal that beats out the individual prices you would pay to separate companies.

If you are looking for entertainment, using a corporate event planner is a good way to go because they usually have connections in the entertainment industry and can help you find exactly what you are looking for, and at a reasonable price. By using a corporate event planner that has years of experience planning a variety of corporate events, you can be assured that your event is more likely to be a success. It will be cost effective to go with a company that has all of the resources at their fingertips. Your event will be a success, and so will you.

How to Avoid a Corporate Event Nightmare

It's like the old dream where you're delivering a speech to a packed house - and suddenly realize that you're standing there with your trousers around your ankles. You've planned the perfect company dinner - and the caterer got the date wrong. Your keynote speaker didn't show up because his travel tickets were never confirmed. And the napkins at the tables don't match the tableskirts. Are your guests going to think 'Oh, their corporate event planners let them down? Of course not! When you plan a large scale corporate event, your company's reputation is on the line. Why would you leave that in unskilled hands?

The most successful corporate events are those that are well-planned and flawlessly executed. If your company is hosting a customer appreciation event, a team building day or any other type of corporate event, it pays to hire the best corporate event planner you can find to take care of all the details. But how do you choose the best event planners? Here's a checklist of criteria to help you narrow down your choices to those corporate event organisers that will deliver an event that your customers and employees will enjoy.

1. If you're new to planning corporate events, ask around among your business colleagues for recommendations. If you attend a grand opening or company dinner that impresses you as well-planned and well-organized, make a note of whether an event planner was used, and which one it was. Excellence has a way of being noted, and word of mouth is the best recommendation you can find.

2. When you interview a corporate event planner, pay as much attention to the questions that they ask as to the answers that they give. A professional will ask questions designed to gauge exactly what YOU want to accomplish with your event so that they can translate your vision into the spectacular event that you have in mind.

3. Ask the right questions to get the information you need to know. How often do they handle events similar to yours? What other corporate events has the firm planned lately? Do they have experience with the type of event that you want to run? How will they approach your goals for this event?

4. Always ask for references. A professional event planner will be happy to provide you with the names of other clients that you can contact. Just as importantly, they can provide a list of vendors with whom they've worked and have relationships. As in any other business, successful event planning is based on who you know as much as it is on what you know. An expert corporate event planner will have worked extensively with vendors and services in your area. They'll know which companies are reliable and which to avoid.

No matter what the event you're planning, it makes sense to turn to a knowledgeable professional for help with the details. A professional corporate event planner can make running your event painless - so that you can relax and enjoy the evening as much as your guests.

Event, Conference and Meeting Planning Guidelines: 10 Steps to Success

Every event whether it's a meeting, party, seminar, conference, charity event, or your high school reunion will have common threads regardless of what it is, where it's held, when or why it is happening. The following common threads are found in every organized event. Make sure you plan each of the following steps thoroughly and you are guaranteed success.

1. Plan Your Vision: Your vision is the main reason and focus for having the event? It is a combination of your goals and objectives.

2. Set the Goals and Objectives: A goal is the general purpose of the event that provides a road map for the planning process. An objective is a measurable, attainable target that contributes to the accomplishment of the goal. An event can have one or multiple goals and objectives.

3. Select a Site: Location, location, location! Every event needs a site! Pick the location to match and support your vision, goals and objectives.

4. Create Promotion/Marketing Materials: You must get your message out. You need to get the basic information to the right people in the right amount of time so they know when to show up, where to go, and what to do when they get there. The message could be as simple as the date, time, and location via the telephone or as complicated as a multi page brochure for a multi-day conference with numerous events combined in one event. Or perhaps some major TV advertising and sophisticated website design for online registration.

5. Identify Your Participants/ Guests: Without them, you would not have an event. Whether they are invited guests, paying participants or required attendees, people will be coming to your event. Know your audience and target them carefully.

6. Create the Agenda/Timeline: Whether it is written down or planned, every event has a timeline. There is always a starting point and a finishing point. This is detail outline of the activities. What is happening from hours before the participants arrive to the follow-up when the event is complete. And it is the schedule of what is actually happening throughout the event. The agenda can be two types. The one the participant receives and follows and the one that the people working the event receive and follow. This tells people where to go, or what to do when you get there.

7. Establish a Budget: Money comes in and goes out. With some events no obvious money will be coming in, such as a wedding or company social. Create a budget nonetheless to make sure not too much money goes out. For larger events, budgets are a must especially when profit is one of you objectives. Without a budget it is hard to set guidelines and measure results.

8. Select the Food and Beverage: It may be a pitcher of water and mints at a one day seminar, a sit down dinner for 10,000, an all day concert where vendors will be brought in to serve the public, coffee and doughnuts at the morning sales meeting and/or soda, cookies in the afternoon for an all day conference, or appetizers served during a 3 hour cocktail party for 700 people. This is a wide and general segment of an event and will vary widely depending on the vision, goals, and objectives and of course, money.

9. Arrange for Transportation: You may need to transport 800 people from 10 hotels to the meeting site twice a day or it could be just getting yourself to the site on time. You may need to arrange the travel needs for the entertainment, speakers, and VIP's, including picking them up at the airport. Or this may include contracting with an airline for discount airfare or negotiating with rental car companies for special rates to offer to your participants.

10. Hire Staff/Volunteers: This could range from checking in your participants for your workshop, or 100's of volunteers at a conference or sporting event. It could be the caterers, musicians, florists, cleanup crew, equipment setup, valets, ticket takers, MC's, speakers, or the balloon lady. It almost always takes more than one person to successfully coordinate an event.

Christmas Party Games That Will Cheer Up Your Guests

It's time to hang your stockings near the fireplace and be with your family and friends to celebrate the joy of Christ's birth! Whether you are hosting a quiet dinner or throwing a big party, you have to plan some fun activities to keep the party going. Interesting games and activities will add a lot of fun and frolic to the environment and will set the mood for the rest of the evening. Here are some Christmas party ideas that will help you in engaging and entertaining your guests.

Passing the Christmas gift box

Customize the popular party game 'pass the parcel' to make it fit in your party theme. Instead of the parcel, have your guests pass a gift box. Instead of playing regular music, play Christmas carols and when the carol stops, the person holding it have to answer a Christmas related question. If he/she answers correctly, let him/her rejoin the game or else, they are out. This way, your game will last longer. Moreover, people will enjoy the questioning part of it. The person who lasts till the end will be the winner and will get the gift box as a reward.

Christmas treasure hunt

Although this is a very common Christmas party idea, adults and kids still enjoy it alike. Hide about 20 Christmas-related things around your party area. Divide your players into two or three groups depending on the number of guests and give them a list of the things that they need to find. To make your game easier as well as interesting, give them some clues. The group which finds the maximum number of items in lesser time will be the winner. For kids, you can make this an individual activity instead of team activity.

Making Santa costumes

Creating Santa costumes will be an enjoyable activity for all your guests attending your Christmas party. Divide the participants into two groups and give them the Christmas party supplies they will need to make the costumes. You can even divide the players into smaller teams and ask each of the teams to make one part of the costume. Although there will not be any winner in this activity, the participants will certainly enjoy this creative game. This is a great idea for office parties as well.

Apart from these interesting party activities, think of any party game and add a Christmas twist to it to come up with your own innovative ideas. Reward the winners with exciting Christmas-related prizes such as snowflake bookmarks, pens, holiday themed key chains, and much more.

Planning Corporate Events for a Healthy Workforce

Corporate events don't have to be about the annual reports, which is good news when many businesses may be finding those reports are less than inspiring. Many businesses are using their budget for these events to encourage their workforce to be healthier. As an event planner you can come up with some truly innovative corporate days, which offer great opportunities for team building and self improvement.

Where many businesses are still feeling the squeeze after the financial crisis, employees are also suffering, with reports of low morale commonplace. Facing pay freezes and a tough jobs market, some employees are unsurprisingly feeling under the weather. This can take its toll not only on productivity, but staff sickness is also likely to go up under times of stress and strain, so a health boost is just what the doctor ordered.

Health and wellbeing

Often, gyms, spas and leisure centres will offer discounts to local businesses. Why not approach local fitness centres to see what deals they can offer to your business? You could ask these companies to speak at your event to promote their services as well as to advise your workforce on a healthy lifestyle.

Local healthcare providers are often happy to run health fairs, offering free cholesterol, weight and blood pressure monitoring for local workers. This could help with the early identification of any medical issues, and also demonstrates to staff that their employer cares about their wellbeing. This could be included as part of a corporate wellbeing day.

Cooking up a treat

In tough financial times, employees may be cutting back, and could be eating less healthily. Why not combine a healthy, yet frugal cookery class with a spot of team building to help your staff work better and eat better.

Team building activities where participants have to learn new skills as well as work in a new environment help to take everyone out of their comfort zone and allow new friendships to form. Working with colleagues on non-work problems allows everyone a degree of freedom to express their ideas. As it is not a work environment there is no fear in 'getting it wrong' as no one is working in their area of expertise. This team challenge should end in a feast where teams get to sample their culinary creations.

Healthy habits for a healthy workforce

Demonstrating healthy, quick and affordable meals as part of a corporate event day is a great way to encourage a good diet. If your team building event includes cooking demonstrations then you can show some quick and easy healthy meals, as well as demonstrating how these compare with quick fix equivalents in terms of both cost and nutritional value.

Feedback and Review

Don't forget that asking for feedback and review is a good way of getting participants to think about what has taken place. Often, review is left until a few weeks after the event, however getting participants to think about how the various objectives of the day were covered actually on the day, will help clarify to them what the purpose of the day was, and appreciate it in the context of self and team improvement.

Corporate Events - For the Benefit of Your Company

In this competitive world, employees need something more than just a holiday. Corporate events like holiday parties, picnics and activity days not only provide the employees and staff that much needed break but also help in bringing them closer. So, here we will be discussing some of the things that people running huge commercial businesses must know.

One way by which corporate functions strengthen the company is by providing rejuvenation to employees so that they become more productive at their workplace. These functions help in increasing the interaction levels among all employees.

During these events, employees get a chance to show their skills and talents. Most of these events consist of team building games and activities. These activities not only increase the bonding among employees but also sharpen their skills and abilities. They also help in motivating them to learn some new skills.

Planning part of the corporate events is difficult and stressful. It requires a lot of detailed thinking. Finding the right venue is not the only thing that is important. Right food, lodging facility, entertainment and transportation facilities are equally important. To lessen the stress, one can opt for professional help. These people have knowledge about all the things that are essential for organizing a corporate event. In fact, they not only help in providing the basic needs of an event but also help in making it a special one by adding extra effort.

In fact, many of these events involve the whole weekend where the employees participate in different activities like treasure hunts and mind games. These games do not just provide enjoyment but also teach the employees time management, delegation of responsibilities as well as organizational skills. For instance, some games and activities are especially designed to help the sales people in honing their selling skills.

One can organize such events at regular intervals. There are many companies which offer corporate packages for organizing such events. They provide everything including venue, food, transportation and lodging. Some of them also suggest the kind of activities you can have at these events and provide all the necessary things that are needed for them. They also offer discounts on these packages.

So, organize such an event and increase the motivation levels of your employees.

Is it the First Time You Are Planning an Event - Get Some Ideas From Us

Event planning is the procedure of planning a festival, party, ceremony, competition or any gathering. It includes many things like budget; confirm date for the event and also the alternate date for it, choosing and reserving the sites for the event, obtaining permits and managing transportation and parking. Depending upon the type of event the arrangements are done accordingly.

As you know that New York is considered to be the most vibrant, most classy, most fascinating and the most exciting city in the world. There is no need to mention that large number of visitors comes here so you can imagine the number of social events, functions and all types of meeting or gathering are continuous part of New York social life. In reality it is quite easy to find a New York event planners anywhere in this happening city because it has thriving demand in event planning. If you are looking for New York event planner in respect of your event you will get the best arrangements that would be provided by many fantastic event planner companies.

The company should be good enough in taking care of every single aspects of your social function in the New York City like from event planning to acquire the place for the event to take place. The company should also take care of your budget which you actually desire to spend for the event. Decoration of the event place also comes under event planning. An event looks very attractive when decoration and arrangements are done properly.

The event can look very grand if your event planner can plan it wisely. Many nightclubs in the New York City offer the best amenities and other facilities at a very low budget and will make your event the most memorable one. Some of the nightclubs which offer space for event planning are:

1. Dune: this one of the most famous and reputed hotel in the city. This hotel hosts many grand and famous events almost every month. And if you are planning to organize an event in this hotel you can also avail this opportunity that too in your budget or at a very low rates. In fact the hotel also gives high discount at the time when the hotel nightclub remains closed.

2. Pink elephant: this night club has extremely great atmosphere and has a very beautiful decor which attracts the people a lot. It is one of the best nightclubs in the New York City. Those who are looking for low budget event this will be the best place for them. Events of low as well as high budget are planned here. Event planning in such a nightclub will make it one of the memorable one.

Become a Top Wedding Planner - 9 Steps to Take Before Your First Meetings With Wedding Vendors

When you are a new wedding planner, it's important that you develop a network of high-quality vendors you can work with to plan your weddings. Vendors are usually eager to meet a wedding planner because they see you as someone who can bring them many referrals. But you want to make a good impression so they take you seriously as a potential business partner.

Here are 9 steps you should take to prepare to meet vendors for the first time:

1) Study the vendor's website and any marketing materials you might have so you know something about them. Vendors will be impressed that you did some research before meeting with them. Your website should be up and running by the time you contact vendors so they can also do research on your business.

2) Prepare a list of questions to find out about their business, experience, style, services, products, and fees. From their answers you should be able to decide if they are the right fit for the brides in your niche and if you would work well together.

3) Prepare your portfolio and bring it with you. Vendors will want to see photographs of your wedding and event planning work. You will also need to show your portfolio to potential clients so be sure you take the time to select the photographs and information that represent you well.

4) Be ready to answer questions about your background and experience as it relates to wedding and event planning. Vendors will want to know the type of experience you have and that you will give good customer service to anyone they refer to you.

5) Call to confirm your appointment the day before your meeting. People get busy so be sure you are on their schedules.

6) Dress professionally, as you would for a client meeting. No matter how you think they might dress, you should look like a professional wedding planner when you meet.

7) Bring plenty of business cards and your marketing brochures so you can give them to vendors to distribute, if they are willing to do so.

8) Allow plenty of time to get to your meeting and plan to arrive early, don't make them wait for you.

9) Send a note in the mail after your meeting to thank them for taking the time to meet with you. This is a courtesy that few people do, so it will make you memorable.

Stay in touch with your vendors so you'll know when they add products and services that may be of interest to your brides. Also, let them know when you add services to your business so they can refer more people to you.

Tips to Effectively Survive Networking Events

Networking events are primarily organized to meet business and social networking needs of enterprises. Hundreds of professionals participate in networking events held at different points of time to make new contacts, generate effective leads, and develop business opportunities.

Networking is hard and very few are adept at this game of generating quality contacts. For most individuals such occasions tend to be full of situations which may be monotonous in nature and small talk. Every professional should be aware of the formalities and the etiquette in order to mingle with attendees to achieve their business goals. Let's talk about some tips which may prove to be effective and would help you make the most of these events.

Walk into the Room Smartly

Don't just stand still after entering the room where the event is being hosted. You can either look for your friends who are already there or else go to the registration desk to find out the whereabouts of the speaker or the host. Instead of heading straight towards your seat or the bar, it is good to meet up with your friends or join a group of people discussing the latest market trends or stock exchange reports.

Introduce Yourself

When meeting up a new person or a group, you should introduce yourself first, and then tell them a little about the company you work for, your designation and most importantly how being associated with you can benefit them. Don't just wait for others to ask what you do, etc. You should frame a small introductory paragraph in your mind which should ideally comprise of phrases that should easily catch the attention of your new friends. However, do not try to dominate the over the group and ensure that it doesn't sound like a speech.

Have Honest Conversations

It means you should participate in a conversation healthily and smartly - it should not look like you are forcing yourself to chat or trying very hard to butt into an interesting dialogue going on between some of the people. In case an individual asks you about your role you should explain it in plain, easy to understand terms without being too technical about it. Remember, your goal is to allow interested individuals to be acquainted with you and not listen to a sales pitch.

Give Your Business Card plus Collect Other's Cards

After a successful introductory phase and participating in useful discussions, it is now time to give your business card to the ones who in your assessment may be interested in doing business with you and your company. You should approach potential contacts and in turn ask them to give their cards for future follow ups. In this way, you can establish a personal and professional rapport with prospective clients and business associates. Also, you should note down their social networking link ups to be able to add them to your friend list.

Follow Up Post Event

Your research and physical presence in a networking event will go to waste unless you follow up with your contacts after the event! You should communicate with your target contacts at least 3 days post the meeting. It is better to email the person rather than to call him or her on the first instance. Once your target responds, find out the best ways to keep the conversation going!

Dispel Thoughts of Meeting Mishaps with Hotel Event Planning

Planning a meeting, corporate event or conference can be a trying task - particularly if you expect the event to be a large one. But before you despair over thoughts of potential meeting mishaps, remember that there is help at hand.

There are a number of comprehensive resources to which you can turn when planning a meeting or event - from extensive checklists to professional event planners. And whether you're a practiced corporate event planner or are about to embark on your first ever event-planning effort, it's always essential to make full use of these resources.

One of your most significant event planning resources will likely be the venue at which you choose to hold your event. That's because event venues are usually equipped with a range of internal event services and facilities, such as audio-visual technology and dedicated event staff. However, you'll likely still need to outsource various other services, such as transportation and accommodation (if the event requires travel) and possibly even catering services. In the end, all the outsourcing can amount to a lot more work than you had bargained for - meaning the organization of your event might face compromise.

However, certain types of venues, such as hotels, can offer a comprehensive set of event services through a single facility, meaning that your event planning package can encompass all of your meeting requirements. For instance, many hotels operate divisions that specialise in organizing hotel meetings and events, in addition to providing meeting facilities, catering and event staff, as well as guest accommodation - so you'll be covered in terms of both meeting services and event facilities.

Moreover, hotels can offer exclusive services which are personalised to ensure success for you and your event - so you can expect your event to run according to your company's unique needs and requirements. And finally, you'll find countless hotels that are ideally situated for business travel, whether that means being located in close proximity to the airport or having easy access to the city's business district.

So, whether you're planning a large corporate conference or a small company meeting, you'll have a number of essential factors to consider. Choosing to hold your meetings and events at a hotel will give you access to a wide range of meeting and events facilities, as well as tailored support to produce a successful event - meaning that no factor will be overlooked.

Benefits of Selling Tickets Online

You do not have to wait in long queues anymore to buy tickets of your favorite concerts or events. The Internet has made it a lot easier to buy and sell tickets from the comfort of your home or office. Many event companies have chosen the online ticketing system over its manual counterpart.

The major benefit of using the web-based ticketing system is that it can be purchased anytime and from anywhere. The event organizers can sell tickets 24x7 through this new web-based ticketing system. Some of these systems are Cloud based. Hence, you do not need to download any additional software or hardware to use this solution. Online ticketing solution can also be set up easily and in no time.

No HTML programming is required for using these ticketing services. You can use the built-in HTML editor and pre-packaged color themes and template options. This helps to save time and create a professional look and feel of your ticket-selling page.

The Cloud-based event management solution also offers safe and secure payment procedure. Funds transfer is securely authenticated and verified through Verisign, providing the highest level of security. In addition, many online event management companies offer GeoTrust and Trustwave getaways to provide third-party audits. It ensures extreme security for organizations accepting credit card payments online. Almost all event organizers conduct online transactions through a PCI-compliant credit card processor.

Most of the online event management solutions facilitate hard copies of tickets. You can take the printouts of tickets with your logo and have all of your event information on them. These tickets can then be mailed to all your attendees. However, you can also enable the options to help the potential attendees print out the tickets with the bar-coded confirmation at home. The online ticketing options are a great way to simplify the check-in process on your event day. It works toward making your event registration run smoothly and easily.

The online ticketing system also enables:

Generation of Sales Report: Along with selling tickets online, you can also track ticket sales easily and instantly. Some online event management services also send email alert on every attendee registration and ticket purchase.

Customize Your Event Tickets: You can customize your event tickets into various categories as per their price, attendee types, and so on.

Offline Payment Facility: Acceptance of offline payments is also possible through checks, POs, and door collection.

The online event and class/training administrative services also provide easy and quick set up and customization of registration pages. It also enables tracking of every event registration page, VIP sales, special discounts, as well as RSVPs.

Event Registration - The 6 Biggest Problems Event Planners Have and How to Overcome Them All

Let's face it, setting up and operating the registration process for events and conferences is one of the least favorite things on most event planner's list of things to do. There is a lot of repetitive and mechanical stuff to do to make sure that everyone gets notified and signed up on time.

The Biggest Problems with Manual Systems: Mail, Fax, Phone, Email

1. Illegible handwriting on registration forms

2. Mistakes in transferring information from registration forms to your database.

3. Having enough time to register people by phone, process credit card charges and still organize a successful event.

The Biggest Problems with Intranet Systems (In-house)& Internet Systems (web-based)

4. Getting Your IT Department to get you what you need on time and make the changes you need when you need them.

5. Figuring out which of the 45 online systems on the market will actually do what we need done at the best price

The Biggest Problems with All of the Above Systems

6. How to make the process easier for the registrant and how to get maximum attendance.

How Can I Remedy These Problems?

The best way to overcome all 6 of these problems is to use an online registration system that is designed and built to address each problem independently. For Example, a good online registration system will enable you to quickly customize the registration forms, adding your logo and other identity info, so that your new registration website looks like a custom system and is the easiest possible for attendees to use in signing up.

What's the Real Benefit to Me?

A good online system can reduce the time you spend on the entire registration process by more than 80% and give your attendees the ease and flexibility they love by enabling them to register anytime of the day or night. No more mailed or faxed in forms to deal with. No more telephone calls from attendees to get registered, book their hotels or, order merchandise. It's all done online, faster for the attendees and zero time for you and your staff.

How Long Does It Take and How Much Does It Cost?

Setting up an online registration system for your next event can take as little as an hour and, you'll have a registration site with your own logo and identity so your guests will recognize your site immediately. You'll be able to make changes to any of the forms, schedules or dates anytime you wish because you are in complete control of the system at all times and, you'll know exactly what your costs are because most web-based registration systems charge a fee per attendee (from $3.00 - $10.00), depending on your number of attendees each year.

Online Payment Solution: Leading to a Cashless World!

Today's society is slowly progressing towards a cashless economy! People prefer to use their plastic instead of hard cash. Indeed, using credit cards is a lot easier than carrying cash around. One card is all that you need to fit in your wallet whereas in case of cash you need to carry a bulk amount since you don't know how much you may require at one go. While speaking to a corporate honcho who lives next door, I realized the significance of online payment and its growing importance for the business world. They have started using different online payment solutions and phasing out the acceptance of cash from the customers. You need to hire people in order to man the cash counters while in case of online money transfer the process is quick, simple and hassle-free.

Online payment transfer is much safer option too. Credit cards are issued by a bank after a lengthy verification process. While paying with your credit card, you should mandatorily double check all payment related information before final confirmation. Also, you MUST check credit card and bank statements carefully after every payment to ensure the correct amount has been debited, and also that no fraud has taken place during the particular transaction phase. Majority of the people also use standard payment gateways (PayPal, Authorize.net, etc.) to transfer funds to the seller. Event organizers too are relying heavily on such online payment processing and management solutions to efficiently handle event registration fees and/or ticket sales.

Online payment solutions come with some major advantages such as:

PCI Compliance

It means you can safely use such a solution for financial transactions of any kind. PCI which stands for Payment Card Industry has enlisted a few goals that all credit card issuing and dealing banks need to follow. Some of the goals include maintaining a secure network, protecting the card holder's data, and regularly monitoring each and every transaction that takes place using credit cards.

SSL 128-bit Data Encryption

Majority of online payment management software adhere to the SSL 128-bit data encryption policy to protect information that passes through the system. Thus, the online payment solution lets you process all types of credit/debit card payments and payments made via popular gateways securely, preventing any chances of fraud.

Tension-free Money Handling

Businesses of all kinds, event management companies plus class organizers find an online payment solution very user-friendly. It is because they don't have to bother about individually collecting money from the customers, attendees or students. The online system successfully transfers money from the buyer's to the seller's bank account in minutes with least human interference.

Corporate Strategic Planning

I would like to share the definition about the corporate strategic planning and competitive advantage. They are mandatory for all big, middle, at least settled company/ institutions to make a sustainable and going concern business.

1) Strategic Planning is the managerial process of developing and maintaining a strategic fit between the organization's objectives and resources and its changing market opportunities.

2) Strategic Marketing is "a series of integrated actions leading to a sustainable competitive advantage"

- John Scully-

3) Corporate Mission is broad purposes of the organization, driven by heritage and environment.

4) Corporate Objectives is a long range purpose.

5) Corporate Goal is a measurable objective of the business.

6) Strategic Business Unit (SBU) is a set of product lines for which a business or marketing strategy should be designed.

Now about competitive advantage is:

1) "Competitive advantage is a company's ability to perform in one or more ways that competitors cannot or will not match."

-Philip Kotler-

2) "If you don't have a competitive advantage, don't compete."

-Jack Welch-

Now is the discussion about the Corporate Strategic Planning:

Entrepreneurs and business managers are often so preoccupied with immediate issues that they lose sight of their ultimate objectives. That's why a business review or preparation of a strategic plan is a virtual necessity. This may not be a recipe for success, but without it a business is much more likely to fail. A sound plan should:

* Serve as a framework for decisions or for securing support/approval.

* Provide a basis for more detailed planning.

* Explain the business to others in order to inform, motivate & involve.

* Assist benchmarking & performance monitoring.

* Stimulate change and become building block for next plan.

For inspiration (and a few smiles), have a look at some of the quotations and examples of bad advice included in other pages!

A strategic plan should not be confused with a business plan. The former is likely to be a (very) short document whereas a business plan is usually a much more substantial and detailed document. A strategic plan can provide the foundation and frame work for a business plan. For more information about business plans, refer to How to Write a Business Plan, Insights into Business Planning and Free-Plan: Business Plan Guide & Template.

A strategic plan is not the same thing as an operational plan. The former should be visionary, conceptual and directional in contrast to an operational plan which is likely to be shorter term, tactical, focused, implementable and measurable. As an example, compare the process of planning a vacation (where, when, duration, budget, who goes, how travel are all strategic issues) with the final preparations (tasks, deadlines, funding, weather, packing, transport and so on are all operational matters).

A satisfactory strategic plan must be realistic and attainable so as to allow managers and entrepreneurs to think strategically and act operationally

Planning Your Next Successful Corporate Seminar

Successful businesses always look to the future. Planning for contingencies in the marketplace, readying new services and products while keeping current with advances in technology and business practices requires regular face time with associates and employees. Corporate events, seminars and regular business meetings help to motivate employees and bosses alike. A well planned seminar or conference helps a business remain competitive in the marketplace, and allows employers and their employees to exchange new ideas, devise new and better marketing strategies and troubleshoot problems in both the marketplace and the company. Off-site business events in particular go a long way towards boosting the morale of the workforce, and inspiring employees to a higher level of performance.

Anyone who has ever found themselves organizing one of these corporate events knows how daunting a task it can be. There's quite a bit of juggling that needs doing. Presentations need to be prepared, media services must be secured and itineraries must be set. Of course, one of the most important considerations is finding the perfect venue for the proposed seminar. That's quite a bit to be concerned with, and while choosing a location for your corporate event may seem like the lesser of your tasks, don't be fooled. Choosing the right location for your conference is vital to a successful and trouble free seminar. Weeks and months of planning can easily be undone by booking an unprofessional service, or an ill suited venue.

What To Consider When Choosing Your Events Venue

When planning any corporate event, there are a number of important things to consider. If it is an off-site event, can the location accommodate the number of people in your group? Do you have a choice of rooms or halls? Remember, an over-sized meeting hall for a small group will likely make your party uncomfortable, and will fail to engender the feeling of camaraderie that is so beneficial to a successful business conference, Likewise, a room that is too small to comfortably accommodate the people in your party will also leave them fidgety and ill-attentive. In this respect, size does matter. When planning your conference or seminar, be sure your events coordinator can offer you a choice of venues to suit you and your group's needs.

What Should Your Events Coordinator Provide

Whatever size venue you require, you will need to consider decoration. Proper furnishings are vital to a constructive seminar. Can your event planner provide adequate seating? Tables and chairs must be comfortable and serviceable for the afternoon's speeches, and easy to negotiate when breaking into discussion groups and work teams. The furnishings must also be clean and ready for service come refreshment time.

Speaking of refreshments, will you be breaking for lunch or dinner during your seminar? What can your event planner offer in the way of catering? A five course meal may be perfect for an awards dinner, but is definitely too cumbersome for a business seminar. Consider the culinary choices available to you when booking your event, and choose the events coordinator that offers the widest variety. The best services should be able to offer menus that fit any occasion, from large ceremonies to practical business meetings.

You may wish to consider an open bar for the evening. A hired bartender and a wet bar gives the attendees a chance to unwind and socialize after the days work is done. And it's not unusual for a great deal of the real work to get done when people start to unwind at the end of a seminar and begin to discuss the days events.

Yes, there is much to consider when planning any off-site business meeting or corporate seminar. But if the secret to success in business is delegation, than choosing the right events coordinating service is the secret to a successful business gathering. While you concentrate on preparing the presentations, and editing and printing spreadsheets and reference materials, your event coordinators will be handling all of the on the ground arrangements for your gathering. From location to refreshments, service staff to d矇cor, let a professional event coordinator help make your next corporate gathering or conference successful, productive and rewarding.

How to Expand Your Event Business - Catering, Event Planners and Event Services Marketing Tips

Social Failures

The typical social event professional (from wedding planners to caterers and photographers to DJ's) struggles to find new clients because they never leverage the power of relationships.

They assume that their customers are not likely to become repeat clients - and after the party's over they fail to keep in touch.

The unsuccessful event pro says, "Why should I waste my time following up with a bride after the wedding is over? It's not like she's going to hire me again any time soon."

It's this type of faulty thinking that causes many event people to fail.

The successful event business owner says, "Of course I keep in touch with my brides! They're not going to get married again soon - but they've got sisters, brothers, cousins, friends and co-workers. When I get referrals I don't have to sell hard and I don't have to deal with price shoppers."

And this applies to corporate event pros even more so!

Referrals are your easiest sales and your best customers. They trust you and they're willing to listen to your advice. They don't want to waste time shopping for price. So, are you getting enough referrals?

Here's a few ways to get more referrals - or should I say "earn more referrals" from your clients.

1. 
   Amaze Your Clients. If you want to be successful don't give them a good deal for the price, give them a remarkable deal. And then give them the very best personal service in your industry. Being good enough isn't good enough.


2. 
   Know Your Clients. Where did they grow up? When is there birthday? What college did they attend? What's their biggest passion in life? What's their favorite restaurant? Hobby? Teams? If they're a social event client - what do they do for a living and how can you help them? If they're a business client - what do they do for fun? If you don't ask it shows you don't really care.


3. 
   Connect. Use social media tools like LinkedIn with every B2B customer. Friend them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. Get their email addresses. Always.


4. 
   Find Ways to Serve Them. Don't use Facebook to sell and tell - use it to listen and help. When an old client posts "I have the flu" on Facebook - pick up the phone or send a get well card. They'll be amazed... just don't stalk. That's creepy.


5. 
   Let Them Know You'd Appreciate New Business. If you always seem overworked - nobody will want to burden you with new clients. Think about it! Let your clients know you want to help there friends.


6. 
   Don't offer commissions to everyone. Yes- sometimes it helps to offer a percentage - but many times it can insult your client. If they feel you are bribing them - or exploiting their friends they won't want to refer clients to you. Use commissions with other event vendors only.


7. 
   Tell Them What Kinds of Clients You Want. Don't assume your wedding photography client knows you also do family portraits. Educate your clients about your business.


8. 
   Expand You Definitions. Are you only an A/V company or are you an event production solution? Or are you a partner in your client's success... above and beyond the event?


9. 
   Love. That's right. Love and serve your clients to the best of your ability. It will come back to you in a big way.

Growing your event business isn't that hard when you do an amazing job and love your clients. Make sure you're marketing your business in the most effective way. There are many free internet tools that make attracting more event clients easier than ever before.

How to Prepare Effectively for a Networking Event - Eight Top Tips

Much of our business these days comes from recommendations, referrals, introductions and existing clients coming back for more - that is, through relationships. Done well networking helps you start those relationships and is an effective shortcut to business success.

The Most Important Thing to Remember

Build the relationship before you ask for help. Networking is not about what you can do for me. It's a two-way street. Be prepared to help others without expecting any help in return. It's about relationships. Help others, offer assistance, give them useful resources and they will usually return the favour.

Barriers to Getting the Most from Networking Events

There are barriers that get in our way when it comes to networking events. For example,

• Nerves and feeling overwhelmed by having to meet so many new people at once


• The people at the event seem to be the wrong people - they're not the people you were hoping to meet


• You meet up with a good friend you haven't seen for a while and spend time catching up.

All of these can get in the way of your success. But with careful PREPARATION they can be overcome.

1. Make a list of the people you want to meet

Is there a specific person, or type of person that you need to meet? Maybe you're looking for an expert in a particular topic? One of the simplest ways to work out who you need to know is to look at who you already know and how they can help you, and then look at where you want to be. The people you want to meet are the ones who can fill the 'gaps'.

2. Find out who's going to be there

It isn't always possible but if you can get a list from the event organisers. Sometimes they will be unwilling or unable to give you a list, but they can probably tell you if a specific person is scheduled to attend.

3. Make a list of people you want to meet

Making a list of who you want to meet improves your focus.

I recommend that you make two lists.

• Those you are determined to meet, and


• Those it would be good to meet.

If you have extra time, you can make more contacts.

4. Avoid limiting yourself to a specific industry or sector

Sometimes when we're in a hurry we limit ourselves. Your top connections might come from within your industry, but there are often influential people outside of the sector and it's worth investing a bit of time to identify a couple of them and meet up. They increase your chance of spreading your influence more widely. It's the networking equivalent of "going viral".

5. Know your story and who exactly you are telling it to

Work out what you want to say to each of your "must meet" people. A lot of people recommend that you have a prepared elevator pitch and this is useful for many meetings. But when you really want to build a relationship with someone, make the effort to tailor your pitch to what you know about them and their needs. Focus on skills and solutions rather than your job title. And remember, writing your pitch, actually physically putting it onto paper or a screen, helps you clarify your ideas.

Tailoring your pitch is a winning strategy that will boost your networking success. Practice your pitch before the event. And make sure you keep it short - about 10 seconds.

6. Choose the right clothes

Work out what you are going to wear. Choose clothes that

• You feel comfortable in


• Are clean and well-pressed


• Fit well.

Also think about what you might be carrying. How are you going to access your business cards, manage handshakes, and maybe a pen? What if you want to enjoy a drink, or something to eat, at the same time? What do you really need to carry with you? If you need a handbag, it's useful to have one with a shoulder strap.

7. Give yourself a pep talk

Do you hide at the edge of a room, burying your head in someone's sales literature or staring thoughtfully at your drink? Give yourself a pep talk before you the event. Remember your purpose. Make sure you are mentally prepared to deal with networking, even if you know that you these events make you uncomfortable. Practice looking straight ahead, rather than down. Remember that you are probably on someone else's list of people to meet and go forward with confidence, or at least the appearance of it. It may be tiring, but it's just for a couple of hours.

If you're really overwhelmed by these events, set yourself a target. Aim to meet the top three people on your list and once you've done that, if you don't feel up to continuing, call it quits. You've achieved a lot by meeting three new people.

8. Set a time limit

Sometimes we meet old friends, or make contact with someone we really like, at networking events. Remember your purpose. To avoid monopolising their time, or using all of your available time with them, set a time limit for each interaction. Tell yourself that when you meet Person A on your list, you will spend at most 10 to 15 minutes with them and then move on to Person B. This is what the event is for. When you want a long chat with someone, you can make a time to catch up with them at a later date.

Important Things to Consider While Catering Corporate Events

One of the most important aspects of running a successful business is the planning and execution of corporate events. The planning of a corporate event is vital to its success and as more executives and/or their personal assistants are far too busy to be worrying about the details involved, it is best to put the whole event in the hands of a professional corporate catering company. Do your homework here, ask around for a catering firm with extensive experience and a fantastic reputation and you won't go wrong. A really good corporate catering business will give you several options, according to what kind of corporate event is being planned and from there you can leave all the details in the hands of your chosen catering company.

Obviously, they will want to know the number of people who will be attending, the demographics of those people, i.e. professional, entertainment industry etc. which will then decide what type of food would be suitable. You may want something very formal for a banking business meeting and more casual food for people from the entertainment industry. You want an exceptional standard of food to make the right statement about your company. You may select from their standard menus or they may design an entirely new menu selected especially for the occasion.

You may not wish to hold your corporate event in your boardroom or offices and a really good corporate catering firm will have a selection of catering venues available. Their experienced team will help you find the perfect setting for your corporate event. Another important aspect of holding a successful corporate event is the choice of wines, beers and spirits. Again, a top class catering company will take all the hassle of this by organising all the drinks for you, not to mention the right sort of glasses, punch bowls etc. This also goes for all the other aspects of entertaining; tables and chairs, tablecloths, crockery and cutlery, whether coffee and tea will be served and of course, the very finest in food choices.

You really won't have to worry about anything if you choose the right catering company and this will leave you free to entertain your guests, secure in the knowledge that your corporate event is reflective of the high standards of your business. Ask around as a good reputation is hard to come by and the best catering companies will be well known.

How Is the Event Registration Software a Boon for Modern Day Event Organizers?

Most event organizers often find it difficult to manage event related administrative tasks single handedly. Taking an event to the next level demands more than thus recruiting external staff. Besides, there is also the constant pressure to attract potential customers and build a long term relationship with them. The introduction of the Cloud-based event registration software has made the entire process of event management and execution effortless and is being considered to be a boon for modern day event organizers. This web based service has reduced much of the organizers manual workload and work processes by streamlining events in a methodical and systematic manner.

Let me now discuss some of the benefits of this advanced event registration software that makes the event planning experience a little more hassle-free for organizers.

User-friendly Service:

The service on the Cloud-based platform does not require installation of any additional hardware or software programs. Neither does it need event organizers to be exceptional technology users. Besides, the system also does not call for any support cost or hidden charges. What the organizers are required to do is to only pay one time monthly or yearly subscription fees.

Automated Registration With Customization Facilities:

The smart web based service eliminates the complications of a manual registration work process by automating the entire form submission procedure. Here registration is carried out totally online. Right from the point of form creation to its submission, all activities can be performed with the click of few buttons. The interface also brings in the provision of customization of registration forms by adding graphics and logo in order to complement the page with their respective corporate website. This also adds to the convenience of the registrants as they are able to sign in at any time, from any location. All they need to have is a web enabled device like a personal computer or a Smartphone.

Uncomplicated and Secure Payments:

Most web based event registration systems comes embedded with an online payment management service that adds to the convenience of payment transfers and receipts for both the attendees and the organizers alike. However, the organizer needs to make sure that the payment is PCI compliant and SSL certified. These certifications ensure the highest level of security and prevent any divulgence of account information to any third party. The Cloud-based interface allows attendees to make payments via credit/ debit cards and payment gateways like PayPal. Payments can also be received directly into the organizer's merchant account.

Easy Reach Out To Large Scale Audience:

Spreading the message about your event has also become so much easier with this online registration software. It facilitates organizers with a social media connector tool that allows you to promote your even on popular networking websites. Also the emailing tool helps to convey messages via regular email blasts including notifications, updates and reminders. This allows easy reach out to the prospective audience at large.

Easy Preparation of Custom Reports:

Quantifying events have also become easier for organizers. Gone are the days of preparing spreadsheets and spending hours over manual data entry. The software comes with a custom built reporting tool that helps in easy creation of customized reports related to the events performance, attendee participation, ticket sales, etc.

Online event registration software thus brings in loads of benefits for event organizers that help to create a stress free event management environment.

Toilet Hire For Your Event Planning: Facilities Provided

Several events need careful planning and organizing every little detail. This makes a party or any other official and personal event a complete success. If you are planning an event on a big scale like a wedding followed by a reception, sports meet for an office or school or college, a camp for scouts and guides or a military training camp, there will be a need for open area spaces as well as the other necessities for a comfortable time.

One of these necessities will be the arrangement for a bathroom and a toilet. For every event, there is the possibility of a large number of people, guests consisting of both adults and children. There will be a regular and periodic need for the toilets and a bathroom. As a host or an event planner, there is a responsibility to make appropriate provisions for such regular requirements.

Portable Toilets

There are portable toilets that can solve your problems pertaining to arrangements and organizing facilities for your guests and visitors. These are modern toilets and bathroom shower arrangements in state of the art designs that are also completely mobile. They have wheels attached to them that make movements easier. They can be installed anywhere you plan to.

The toilets and bathrooms have full arrangements of toilet and shower facilities on the latest modern trends and designs. There are items like towels, soaps, liquid cleansers that are provided within. Bathroom disinfectants and deodorants are also provided and so are tissues and toilet paper rolls.

There is inbuilt water supply facility that provides the water when you flush the toilets or take a shower. There is also an inbuilt storage for the sewerage. It can store up to 7 days sewage for at least about 10 people. There are even the uses of chemical powders in some cases that are added to the sewage disposal bags. This helps to turn the sewage into gel form for convenient storage and disposal.

Apart from toilet facilities, there are also arrangements for shower bathing if it is needed. There are modern fixtures and arrangements that make it easy and comfortable as well.

The companies only undertake the maintenance and cleaning of portable toilets. Depending on the period of your usage, they will come in between and clean the toilets and bathrooms completely. There will be a sanitization and disinfecting the toilets with a fresh supply of all the accessories.

Portable Toilet Hire Service Companies

There are companies that are engaged in the business of hiring out portable toilets to event planners and individuals that require these for their events and outdoor parties. These companies are available all over the UK, the USA and different parts of Europe.

There are comprehensive package fees charged for the portable toilets that include delivery and pickup of the same from the venue itself. The package also includes supplies. Cleaning and maintenance will also be included within the package itself.

Emergency Preparedness for Large Events

Do you have an emergency preparedness plan in place to protect your business and employees from the disruptions that may occur due to a large event? The upcoming Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, like all large events, will attract large gatherings of attendees and increases the corresponding odds of a dangerous occurrence. Communication may be difficult and transportation may be next to impossible - therefore, having a well-constructed crisis management plan is imperative to responding to and managing incidents that occur under these conditions.

During the NATO Summit 2012, authorities and surrounding businesses struggled to contend with the disruptions deriving from protests, threats, transportation blockades and communication problems - are you prepared to respond to these occurrences during an upcoming large event?

Below are several key steps to take into consideration when creating your crisis management plan.

Make a Crisis Management Plan: Use Your Crisis Team

Form a special event planning committee and try to use your established crisis team as much as possible, as these individuals have worked together before, so it should be easier to create a crisis management plan for the large event. You may, however, need to bring in outside personnel for help (e.g. head of security or property managers). The team should have a leader, and you may want to use your emergency preparedness team leader for this position, as they are already trained in the event of crises.

Begin planning for the event immediately and stay on track. You may want to create a timeline to ensure that planning and implementation is unfolding as necessary to stay on time.

Local and State Involvement

Interact with local resources as soon as possible. Local resources will be able to provide you with assistance that will help your office run smoothly, as they know the lay of the land and are in a better position to offer assistance with event planning and emergency preparedness. These resources may include committees, local security, police officers, firefighters and more.

Meet with these individuals and invite them to contribute input on your crisis management plan. They may be able to offer advice that you would otherwise not have known to plan for, such as rules that must be enforced during the event, transportation blockades that might occur and potential security problems. Working with local resources will only serve to strengthen your event planning and emergency preparedness strategies, ensuring that you will be on the same page during a crisis.

Probability and Impact

When you're planning for a large event, two types of occurrences may happen: the event itself, with higher-probability but lower-potential for risk, and smaller events spurred from the larger one, which are lower-probability but have a higher-potential for risk (e.g. emergencies and protests). Successful event and emergency preparedness plans will prepare for both occurrences. Remember, your crisis management plan should address both the event and your hard-working employees who must still maintain business as usual during this time.

Large Event Planning

Your emergency preparedness plan should address the massive amount of people that will disrupt the infrastructure of the city. These items include:

• Commuting. The commute will be brutal during the event, as the city will likely experience a high traffic volume from attendees. Address high travel times in your crisis management plan, and outline alternate routes to and from your work, or shift work hours for your employees to make sure that they do not have to travel at peak hours. Calculate how many attendees are expected at the event and be flexible, as employees may have to work from home if the event is near the office. Additionally, stay in touch with local resources in order to maintain up-to-date emergency preparedness information, as you need to be among the first to know if you won't have access to certain streets due to blockades or unexpected accidents.


• Internet Usage. In addition to high traffic on the roads, your crisis management plans should address potentially high internet traffic. The internet may slow to a crawling pace around your area while visitors use smartphones and other wireless devices. Work with the appropriate personnel to determine peak and non-peak hours of internet usage during this time. Schedule important conferences at non-peak hours so your employees don't have to struggle with lower bandwidth or dropped calls. Your emergency preparedness plans may even include not planning any important meetings during the event at all, as communication may be difficult, and some individuals may be late or unable to attend.


• Disruptions. Your emergency preparedness plans may also address disruptions caused by an event, which can last longer than the event itself. For example, a week before NATO 2012, the city of Chicago was disrupted because important diplomats were arriving; additionally, the torch relay for the Olympics is held in the month of May, but the actual Olympic Games are held in July. Plan for these types of disruptions ahead of time in your crisis management plan, and be prepared to address how these may also disrupt the city's infrastructure.

Smaller Events - Protests, Emergencies, Terrorism

These events, spurred by the larger event, are mostly uncontrollable by you, but must still be addressed in your crisis management plan. A comprehensive emergency preparedness plan includes strategies to tackle these types of crises, including spontaneous protests (some of which may occur in front of your office building), terrorism, emergencies, and disasters, such as fires and flooding. Be sure to:

• Interface with security and local authorities. If you're worried about security, meet with property management and local and state authorities to learn about the types of resources they may have available. If you do choose to hire an outside security company, make sure that the company is experienced, has strong credentials, and is willing to work with outside authorities to ensure that your office is as safe as possible. You need a contact point for your crisis management plan - if you hear that there are protests occurring outside of your office building via a message from the company or a newscast, you should have a crisis leader in place who will call your contact point to figure out the next steps to take in your emergency preparedness plan.


• Work with property management to assess the safety of your building. Plan ahead and have extra security in place at your office, if the event is nearby. Plan who is and who isn't allowed into the building, search for alternate entrances and exits, and be prepared.


• Plan for the unexpected. During large events, take extra emergency preparedness precautions and treat everything much more seriously. This includes bomb threats, suspicious packages - anything out of the ordinary. If you see something that seems wrong, say something about it. Be on extra alert during this time, because the probability for risk is higher than normal.

Practice Your Plan

As the large event draws nearer, you will want to practice your crisis plan. Either practice it internally or have an outside company conduct an emergency preparedness tabletop drill to ensure that all individuals involved know what to expect. During this drill, conduct tests of your emergency messaging system. Make sure that the message begins and ends with the phrase "This is a test," so that employees are aware that it is not a real crisis. This is the time to test your emergency messaging system, as you will need to know that it works - and how it works - prior to the actual event.

During the tabletop drill of your crisis management plan, address all event crises that may occur. Additionally, comprehensive emergency plans should include recovery planning. Determine who makes the decision about when business should return to normal and speak with all members of the crisis team (e.g. executives, security, property managers, etc.) to ensure that everyone is on the same page in regard to plan execution and recovery.

Local authorities are generally very responsive and, if they have personnel available, are usually willing to participate in the drill for your crisis plan to provide you with valuable input. They can tell you if they already have resources in place and where, and they can also let you know if they are otherwise occupied during this time.