Company Anniversary Marketing Events - There Is No Substitute

Creating company anniversary marketing events may be the most important thing you do to celebrate your organization's history.

Electronic media and all the forms of social media can nurture a connection, suggest a connection, facilitate a real connection but are still like talking to your loved ones through plastic screens at the county lockup. Meeting in person with no barriers is the surest way to actually make a connection.

Anniversary events can create bonds between people. There is simply no substitute for being in the same room with people who are buying your products, using your service, donating to your cause, selling materials to you, working for your organization, investing in your venture, supporting your presence in their community, and making regulations that affect your business.

Many organizations have their 'inside sales' people meet clients at events, such as conventions, trade shows, etc., because they understand the value of face to face contact to establish, build and reinvigorate a relationship. Social media is beneficial, e-mail is effective, phone conversations are indispensable but looking into someone's eyes when you are in the same room, enjoying a shared experience is worth, as my dad used to say, all the tea in China. It's worth a lot.

Despite what you see on 'reality television,' people generally are polite when they meet in person, which opens the door to build a relationship that includes shared experiences, common interests, and personal responses. Events also can lead to rebuilding a tattered or neglected relationship. So get into the room together.

Events come in all sizes, shapes and colors

Just one of the things that Harley Davidson did in celebration of its 100th anniversary was its Open Road Tour - a nine-city traveling festival billed as "The World's Largest Rolling Birthday party," giving people a chance to interact with the Harley-Davidson brand.

The culminating event of Honda's 25th anniversary of making motorcycles in Marysville, Ohio, was a three-day dinner, attended by a record 16,742 visitors, who helped kick off Honda's 25th year of building motor vehicles in Ohio.

The Kellogg Foundation sponsored a series of six program-related seminars designed to advance the impact of philanthropy.

Peet's Coffee and Tea, celebrating it's 40th company anniversary, invited customers to visit their neighborhood stores for in-store tastings, home brewing workshops, lectures, and complimentary beans and beverages.

Who to invite, what to say

Most important, when you are planning your corporate anniversary event, know what messages you want and need to deliver and to whom. And consider incorporating a major listening component into the event.

Red Hat, which bills itself as "The world's most trusted provider of Linux and open source technology," following its 10thanniversary, undertook a world-wide tour to meet people interested in Red Hat and to spread the message of open source, as well as to hear from customers all over the globe.

Invite to your company anniversary events those persons who mean the most to the future success of your endeavors. Listen to what they have to say. Tell them about your plans, and tell them how you figure in each other's lives going forward.

Don't go it alone

How do you determine the specific marketing objectives for your anniversary events? How do you develop marketing objectives embraced by all? How do you convince your employees that these events are important to their future? How do you irresistibly convince your sales force to follow up on the leads that are generated by your events? Find a marketing partner.

What strategies are you going to use to guarantee significant ROI on your events? How do you determine the best ways to promote your events? How do you shape your events from start to finish for maximum impact? Find a marketing partner.

Don't go it alone. This is just too important to fold into the assignments of an already overworked staff. Get assistance in determining the best events to use for your audiences and help in both developing and executing those events. This will pay you enormous dividends.

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.

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

4 Unusual Ideas For Corporate Events

The idea of corporate events is one that has spread like wildfire across the capitalist west. There are various reasons for having them, but in essence, whether they are for clients or workers, corporate events are basically a mixture of business and pleasure. This mixture has proven to be very successful in terms of promoting togetherness in the workplace and building on the personal relationships required to make business run smoothly. In this article we'll look at some less common ideas for business conferences.

1. If your staff are on the active side, then you might want to consider a day of Zorbing. This involves getting in a giant inflated rubber ball and rolling down a hill in it. It certainly gives people an adrenaline surge, as there is a often more than a little fear associated with tumbling down. In a sense, there is a certain degree of 'letting go' involved in being able to get in one of these things. If you do it as a group, you are likely have a very memorable experience that could help unite you as a team. It could also be a good way to gel with clients.

2. Paintballing corporate events. While this is also a fairly unusual event, it is also really for the more active members of a team - and some less active or female workers might not be interested. This activity involves using paintball guns and firing them at an opposing team in order to achieve a pre-defined objective - e.g. to take a flag or a base. It arguably helps build a sense of team work and for the right client, can help do business too.

3. A Spa Day. Among corporate events, these are very popular as they tend to appeal to a broad range of people; young or old, male or female. The emphasis is of course on relaxation, and business is arguably done much more easily in this atmosphere. Relationships with clients are forged more quickly, and working relationships become stronger - based on something more real, perhaps.

4. You might even consider something such as a magic workshop. This is also something less common and something that could well appeal to a broad range of people. There is value in something learned communally - it brings people together and is often fun. Less commonly used for client-focussed corporate events, they are nevertheless one to consider.

These are just some of the less common corporate events available - there are plenty of companies who are adept at helping you select just the right event for your situation.

10 Tips for Booking Entertainment for a Corporate Event

Finding entertainment for a corporate convention, holiday party or conference can seem like a overwhelming task. There are literally thousands of excellent, good, and down right horrible corporate entertainers available. This list will give you some advice on how to narrow down your search and find entertainment that will help make your event a success!

#10 - PLAN EARLY. The most popular corporate entertainers book up very quickly for popular dates. During the corporate holiday party season (Nov-Jan), entertainers can begin to book up over a year in advance. Avoid disappointment and start looking for entertainment as soon as you know the date of your corporate event.

#9 - KNOW WHAT YOU WANT (AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT YOUR AUDIENCE WANTS). You can make your search for an entertainer easier if you have an idea of the type of entertainment that would work well for your group. Popular corporate entertainment includes:

COMEDY - Comedy acts can be a great way to get your group laughing together. Comedy acts don't have to be just stand-up comedians. Many corporate comedy acts blend magic, juggling, or other variety performances into their comedy show. This variety helps insure that there is something for everyone in the performance.

No matter what type of comedy act your choose, be sure that the comedy is going to be appropriate for your group. Many comedians have different ideas on what "clean comedy" is, so be sure to ask for a demo video to preview the show (see #1 below!)

MUSIC - Many headline singers and bands are available for corporate events.

MAGIC - There are many different styles of corporate magicians and corporate magic shows. Some magicians offer strolling magic (going table to table at your event), some perform large illusion show with special effects and a cast of dancers, others specialize in comedy magic that gets your audience laughing in involved. Whatever styles of corporate entertainment you are looking for, be sure to find a magician who specializes in only that style. There are magicians you will tell you that they do everything - illusions, comedy, strolling, but that is because they are not proficient at any specific style, so all their shows are usually only mediocre. For the best possible show, hire a professional corporate magician who specializes in one style of magic. These performers will be the best in their field in illusion, comedy, or sleight-of-hand because that is all they do.

HYPNOSIS - Hypnotists can be great for the right group. Hypnotist shows are very interactive and require a very outgoing and uninhibited group to really be successful.

#8 - BOOK DIRECTLY WITH THE ENTERTAINER TO SAVE MONEY AND HEADACHES. If you book your corporate entertainment directly through the entertainer, you will save money on entertainment. Most corporate entertainment agencies add an additional 15-35% to an entertainer's fee. By booking a corporate entertainer direct, you also have the convenience of being able to talk with the entertainer (or their office staff) about any questions or concerns. Most corporate entertainment agencies will not let you talk with the entertainer until the day of the show. By booking direct, you can be guaranteed that there are no miscommunications about the performance. You can find direct contact information for entertainers by doing an internet search for "corporate entertainers", "california comedian", etc.

#7 - PLAN A REALISTIC BUDGET. The old adage, "you get what you pay for", applies to entertainment as well. The entertainment is not a place to save a few dollars. You would never cut corners on the food you would feed your guests, and should never cut corners on the entertainment. Bad entertainment can ruin an event just as quickly as bad food. You are not going to be able to get a GOOD quality corporate entertainer to do a show for $400. Fees for a TOP QUALITY, professional corporate entertainer will range from $1500 - $100,000 + depending on the size of the show and the performer's experience and reputation.

#6 - KNOW THE PERFORMER'S EXPERIENCE. You want a corporate entertainer who primarily entertainers for corporate audiences. Don't be afraid to ask questions... Is the performer a full-time entertainer? Have they performed at events like yours in the past? Do they have letters of recommendation and reviews from past clients for you to read?

#5 - IF YOU HAVE A SPECIAL REQUEST....ASK! Many entertainers are happy to customize part of their performance for your event. If you have a special request in mind, be sure to discuss this with the performer at the time of booking.

#4 - DISCUSS SET-UP REQUIREMENTS BEFORE BOOKING. Set-up need for entertainers vary greatly. Some can perform in the corner of a room with just a microphone, some need a minimum stage area and special sound and lighting equipment. Be sure that your venue will be able to meet your entertainer's set-up needs prior to booking.

#3 - LEAVE YOUR GUESTS WANTING MORE. 90 minutes of entertainment may sound like a great idea when you are planning your corporate event, but most audiences do not want to sit through a 90 minute show. A longer show does NOT equal better show. Even the TOP comedians and entertainers in the WORLD (Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, etc) only perform 60-75 minute shows. Professional entertainers and corporate event planners agree that a good length for most corporate live entertainment is 35-50 minutes. It is always better to leave your audience excited and wanting more...rather than having them get tired and start looking at the watch.

#2- KNOW WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE FEE. There are travel expenses associated with hiring national entertainers for your corporate party. Many entertainers include the travel expenses into their performance fee and for some travel will be an additional expense. Be sure to know what is included in the fee you are quoted to avoid any unexpected (and potentially expensive!) surprises.

#1 - MOST IMPORTANTLY - ALWAYS ASK TO SEE A DEMO VIDEO. A demo video is the only way you can truly judge whether a corporate entertainer will be right for your company party. The demo video should be short highlights of the segments of an entertainer's show. The video should be filmed in front of a live audience so you can see how a real audience reacts to the show. If an entertainer's video is nothing but split-second clips and flashy graphics set to music, then they are probably trying to cover for an inadequate performance - or worse, it could mean that they have NEVER even performed in front of a real audience.

Catering Services: A Great Business Opportunity

If you are good with food, managing people, and presentation then maybe you should give catering services a try. Having your own catering service company is a very good business and you don't need to be a genius to make it happen. It is a very simple concept but you will really need to put your time and efforts into it. Planning a catering service business will require a good business plan and you will need to put your figures in paper. You will need to make a good financial plan as well and calculate your basic cost, expenses and profit. If it is feasible, then you should definitely go for it.

One of the things you will need to consider before pushing through with the catering service business is your investment. If you plan to start small by just providing food, then an average investment will be enough. But if you are planning to be able to provide chairs and tables, waiters and decorations, you will need quite a big amount to invest. Your business plan should be able to show how you will get back your investment and continue earning.

A catering service company will need lots of manpower. You will need to hire several cooks, waiters, delivery boys and drivers. You cannot cook all the food yourself and you need help to be more efficient. Some events needs lots of waiters and you will definitely need to invest on them. You will also need people to carry all your supplies and equipments to and off the truck and a driver for the delivery truck. However, your employees are mostly contractual and the only permanent employees are your chefs. You will also need to take into account the cost of providing them food.

These are just some things to think about in creating your own catering company. Now we shall look into reasons why it is believed that a catering company is always a good business opportunity. Every day, there are many events going on may it be small or big. And with every event, food should always be present and that's what makes catering companies in demand.

If you serve good food, your company will be popular in no time. Event organizer, companies and guest will talk about your food and can always make referrals to other people looking for a good catering company. This is one of the ways you will get noticed and become a trusted brand in the catering industry. Thus, it is always important that you will be able to provide quality food and service whether you are just a beginning company or a pioneer.

People will always pay for good food especially the organizers of the event. They don't want to feed their guests with average food especially if they are important clients or very special guests. You have invited them to your event and you should make sure that they feel most comfortable and satisfied. And you should always keep these in mind when you are starting your catering service company.

The Three Levels of Planning

There are three levels of strategic planning: Corporate, business, and functional. Strategy may be planned at each level, but the plans for every level of an organization should align to insure maximum unity of effort. Without alignment, departments and functions will be working at cross-purposes, and the overall corporate strategy will be less effective. Here is how strategist view each of the three levels of strategic planning:

Corporate level: Planning at this level should provide overall strategic direction for an organization, sometimes referred to as the "grand strategy." This is a concise statement of the general direction which senior leadership intends to undertake to accomplish their stated mission or vision. Corporate level strategy is usually decided by the CEO and the Board of Directors although other senior leaders will often contribute to the strategy formulation. Strategic options at the corporate level will likely require a commitment of a significant portion of the firm's resources over an extended period, and the results will have a significant impact on the future health of the organization. Strategic planning at this level will usually include a robust analysis and identification of several strategic options based on the assumed future operating environment. In a multi-business firm, careful consideration will be given to the overall core competencies of the firm and where the boundaries lie between corporate and business level responsibilities.

Business level: Each business within an organization will develop a strategy to support the overall business within its specific industry. Business level strategy is reflects the current position of the firm within its industry, and identifies how the available resources can be applied to improve the position of the firm in relation to its competitors. There are a variety of ways that businesses will compete, but more often than not it is based on the USP (unique selling proposition) of the firm which distinguishes the company and its products from other competitors. If there are no differences between one firm's products or services from other competitors, then the product or service becomes a commodity. Competition among firms that offer commodities is usually rooted in price competition, and the low-cost providers usually take over. On the other hand, businesses that distinguish themselves can compete on their unique selling proposition. If they can successfully demonstrate why they are different and how that difference can provide a better level of service or quality product, then the business can command a higher margin for the premium service or product. This is the "value" added by the firm, and the business strategy should focus on how the firm adds value.

Functional level: Functional level describes support functions of a business: Finance, Marketing, Manufacturing, and Human Resources are a few examples of the functional level. Strategies at this level should be defined to support the overall business and corporate level strategies. If the functional level leaders can describe their activities and goals in relation to the business or corporate levels, then everyone in the organization will be aligned and as such contribute to the overall goals and objectives for the organization. So for example, functional leaders for IT or HR must ask if the strategies for their functions match and support the overall strategic direction of the businesses they support or of the overall firm itself.

The best strategic planners understand how important it is for a firm to have alignment among the corporate, business, and functional levels of strategy. The overall corporate level strategies will not be effective if the supporting business and functional level strategies are inconsistent with the overall strategic intent of the senior leaders. Thus, it is not only important to pick the right strategy for the corporate level, but also equally important to make sure that the business and functional level strategies support the overall grand strategy for the organization.

Event Planning - Is Event Planning Industry Likely To Flourish?

Today the event planning industry has extremely outgrown and people can find many different posts in this area. This is one of a modern concept because only some couple of years ago, people was not aware of it. If someone had to arrange a party or corporate business meeting back then, they had to arrange everything themselves. Beginning from deciding the place to the food items on the menu, they had to take every decision. Some people might enjoy organizing their parties on their own, however it is a very difficult and lengthy process and you are not certain whether you can please your guests for not. Moreover, now people have become so busy with their difficult professional and family lives that it has become impossible for them to arrange any type of event.

This is the part where an event planner plays its role. They can make your event come alive and last forever. Event planners are professional people who know very well how to make an event successful because they take their jobs very seriously. Once you will handle the task of arranging any type of occasion, you will become highly relieved because they will transform your event into what you only dreamt.

This is the reason why everyone appreciates event planners so much. They have all the required resources that can make the arrangements quicker, they have all the latest information on what decorations are in right now and what are out and whatever budget you will provide to them, they will make the best out of it. Ordinary people do not have all this information, if they even try to find all this about event planning it will take a lot of time and they will never be satisfied.

Now there are different institutions that are offering courses and certifications related to event planning. People who have interest in this business, when acquire these programs then they become more skillful and hard working. Their roots become strong and they perform their tasks like nobody else.

Therefore, the event planning industry is definitely flourishing. We can see many famous event planning businesses that are making profit in millions and there are many more that are that are expanding. So if you have also decided to pursue career in this path or start up your own event planning business, then it is a very wise decision and by working hard you will gain a lot of benefits.

Assessing The Suitability Of Banquet Chairs For Various Events

Comfort provided by seats or chairs play a large role in making any social event or occasion successful. Thus, the quality of the chair, including its design, size and the material used to make it, should always be considered.

It is common to find banquet chairs used as seats in many events. Organizers of events are seen to have preference over banquet chairs over other types of chairs in the events they set up. Aside from the fact that these chairs are known to be more comfortable than most, they can also be used in various events or occasions. It is also easier and simpler to maintain them and care for them. Of course, that would depend largely on the material they are made of. Overall, the chairs are a favorite because they have versatility in design and material used. They are easy to transport and you can easily store them by stacking them. Their transportability and portability also increase if they happen to be of the foldable design.

Events will definitely have a lot more substance if banquet chairs are used. The theme of the occasion should coincide with the design, shape and color of the chairs themselves, which is why a lot of planning should be made when making a choice of the chairs. Granted that all the features and attributes mentioned give the chairs a good image, but nothing lacks flaws. There are bound to be some drawbacks or problems, both major and minor, in these banquet chairs.

The first drawback you are most likely to encounter is the cost. If you run a catering business, or an events organization business, you will need a good number of chairs, and in a stock of different sizes and design. The cost of buying such a volume of chairs is not cheap, yet your budget will depend on the type of chair materials you will buy. An event would look really professional if metal banquet chairs are used, even if they are quite on the bulky or heavy side. You can also choose to buy plastic chairs, but they can prove to be more expensive than the metal chairs. They have the advantage of being lighter, though.

The positive side of it is they will be long-lasting business assets, which is if you handle and maintain them properly. When you have to host a big event, you will not bother will issues of hiring extra chairs if you have a good number in stock. You do not have to worry during the slower or off-peak seasons, too, because you can hire out the banquet chairs to those who need them.

As you focus on cost, you will touch on comfort and durability of the chairs. Comfort should most definitely be considered. After all, these are metal chairs we're talking about. It is no wonder, then, that cushions are often placed on these metal chairs. Your budget would increase considerably if you have to take into account the cushion covers that will have to be used. Compared to metal chairs, the plastic ones would prove to be easier and more comfortable to set up. They are rather expensive, though, and that's something you shouldn't forget. If you manage to find banquet chairs that are made of both metal and plastic, you already have comfort and durability covered. Metal tends to rust, plastic does not, and plastic will add that element of comfort in the chairs instead of have the expensive option of cushioned metal banquet chairs.

Storage will be the other issue of concern. You cannot expect the chairs to never require repairs. They become old, they get scratched and damaged from repeated stacking and storing. That is a flaw with the chairs that many need to come to terms with. You may put all preventive care and maintenance measures but still it would happen. But that doesn't mean that you should be careless in the storage and transport of these banquet chairs.

Planning For A Corporate Event

While planning a corporate event, the first thing you should keep in mind is to be clear about the purpose of the event. A good idea is to include a written statement of the purpose of the event as a signature or a footer on the emails regarding the event. They are mostly organized to discuss the vital objectives of the organization. You should take utmost care the organize the event, otherwise it may give bad impressions to the attendees. Below mentioned are some of the steps which will help you a lot to organize a successful corporate which for sure will leave a very good impression on the guest attending the party:

• Location: The location of the event plays a crucial role in its success. So you have to decide in advance about the location. Nowadays there are many restaurants available which gives the facility or organizing them. A large number of people prefer nowadays these restaurants instead of hosting them in their own place. It saves them from lots of complications and also saves a good amount of time, effort and money. Get as much as information you can about the various restaurants which offer this facility and then opt for a company which you think is best suited according to your needs and the budget.

• List of the guests: The next important thing is to create a list of the guests whom you want to invite to the event. So you should give it some thought and then start writing the names of who are important for the event and start contacting them. Call them and give them information about the party and ask whether they are available on that particular day. Fix the date of the event on a day when most of the invitees will be able to present.

• Don't feel bothered to ask for help: You should not hesitate to ask your co-workers for suggestions during the preparations and your corporate event planning. It is mainly because some of them may actually have experience in these matters, and can perhaps give you very useful tips and advice about how to organize such a party/event. They may even roll up their sleeves and get involved. With their help you will be able to successfully organize your event, and may even get some praise from your seniors.

• Menu: Food and the drinks are very important thing during a party, no matter for what the party is being hosted. If the food and the drinks are not good, then other things does not actually matter. So you should get information about the taste and the preference of the people who all going to grace the occasional and prepare the menu according to it.

Taking care of the above mentioned procedures will help you a lot to organize a successful corporate event for which you will get pecked on your back for sure.

Succession Planning and Succession Planning Template Significance in Family Businesses

Perhaps the most powerful illustration of succession's importance inside the family firm is the staggering number of family businesses that plan to hand over control to the next generation in the short-term. For instance, in the US alone, 40% of family business CEO's are planning to transfer power to the next generation within the next 5 years. When viewed in combination with the factors surrounding succession, this statistic truly represents the importance of the succession process not only within the firm, but also on a macroeconomic level-family-owned businesses have served as the backbone of society since the times of the ancient Greeks.

To add complication, many researchers have noted that the succession process can be traumatic, possibly clouding the vision or purpose of the firm and its members. For instance, because owner-managers in small businesses have fewer organizational constraints to curb their power, their decisions can have proportionately higher consequences for the firm. Also, from a psychological perspective, owner-managers' ideological zeal has a great effect on shaping an organizations purpose and direction. In this way, one can understand that the absence of this passion post-succession can have a very detrimental impact on a firm. Finally, on a more obvious level, succession is one of the only events that firm is bound to face at some point during its lifecycle. Another way to indirectly discern the subject's importance is by examining the amount of academic research dedicated to succession. During the twenty-year period between 1970 and 1990, the number of academic articles on the topic jumped by 250% and today, one third of all family business literature deals with succession subject matter.

While it may seem obvious that family businesses should prepare for a succession event, it's not always the case. In fact, until recently, most family businesses did not have any succession plans in place. As one can understand, planning for the transfer of power is extremely important. Although this is a long process that involves developing talent across the workforce, a good way to kick off the succession planning process is to review the key functional areas in one's company and create a basic succession plan for those areas. Using a succession planning template can greatly aid in this endeavor. Not only does it enable frank communication about succession plan, a succession planning template helps to visualize what can be an overwhelming subject. All in all, it is essential that family businesses address the issue of succession in all areas of the business and utilize templates that make understanding the process easier for all parties.

Essential Tools for a Breakout Room

When it comes to a large conference or meeting, the breakout rooms are essential to the success of the overall conference.

When considering conference equipment rentals one thing that is often overlooked are the needs in the breakout room. When evaluating a venue, it is best to consider the following checklist to ensure that the presentation services audio visual company can meet your needs.

Let's start with the "Low Tech" items. Each breakout room should have the capability to be equipped with the following items. If you are relatively new to conference services, you might be surprised to learn how often these low tech items are not available at all or are in short supply.

• Easels for signage and/or flip charts


• Flip chart paper, enough units for each breakout room, if needed


• Markers, with a variety of colors. Make sure they work and have plenty of ink!


• Masking tape if the speaker wants to brainstorm with the audience


• Podium, either tabletop or stand alone


• White Boards with Dry Markers, again with a variety of colors that work

"Hi Tech" breakout rooms should have the capability to include:

• PC or Mac Computer Workstations or Laptops


• USB Slide Advancer with Laser Pointer


• Digital Signage


• Plasma TV


• Projector and Screen Rental


• Wireless Internet


• SMART Board Interactive Whiteboard


• USB Drives, given to attendees with the presentation loaded onto it

When considering a venue, obtain a listing and quantity of what conference equipment rentals listed above they have and which ones they do not. Find out if there are other meetings or conferences at that venue. Which conference equipment rentals are already committed to another organization?

Determine your speakers needs, find out what audio visual equipment they are bringing themselves, and look hard at your budget. Some speakers are very low tech and some are extremely high tech. Some bring nothing and others bring everything.

Top Ten Corporate Hospitality Events for 2011

Corporate Hospitality is an ideal way to entertain guests and if you are thinking of entertaining at one of the major sporting events throughout the UK this year, why not read on to see our list of top 10 events to entertain guests at...

1. British Grand Prix Corporate Hospitality - The F1 British Grand Prix makes a welcome return to Silverstone this year for what promises to be another exhilarating event in the motor racing calendar. Enjoy the glamour and excitement with our official Silverstone Trackside hospitality, as Sebastian Vettel returns to the track as World Champion.

2. England Cricket Corporate Hospitality - With an array of modern facilities offering first class official cricket hospitality for one day internationals and Twenty20 internationals and of course the test series throughout the season, you can be guaranteed a fantastic day for you and your clients. The most popular venues are Lord's, The Oval and Trent Bridge.

3. FA Premier League Corporate Hospitality - Football is without a doubt, the most popular sport in the UK. The competition is fierce and the atmosphere is electric. This combination is perfect for hosting a corporate event or providing client entertainment that will leave a lasting impression.

4. The Grand National - The Grand National is one of the most famous and prestigious horse races in the world and ranks as one of the highlights of the entire sporting year. The race captures the imagination of millions, and consistently produces thrilling finishes as horse and rider try to conquer the mighty Aintree fences.

5. The Open Championships Corporate Hospitality - The Open Championship will return to Kent and Royal St George's Golf Club in July 2011, the only venue in southern England for golf's most prestigious major championship. It is a wonderful venue from a visitor's point of view due to the layout of the course and the many natural vantage points affording great views of the action.

6. The AEGON Championships Corporate Hospitality - June in London is a time when attention turns to tennis. The most prestigious men's grass court tournament in the UK begins and has been a highlight of the summer sporting season for over three decades.

7. RBS 6 Nations - The Six Nations Tournament remains one of the finest International Rugby competitions in the world. For the first time ever, the Six Nations will kick off on a Friday night when England play Wales on Friday 4th February 2011. Martin Johnson's men will then take on Italy, France and Scotland at home, before ending the tournament away to Ireland, who returns to Lansdowne Road at the new Aviva Stadium.

8. Royal Ascot Corporate Hospitality - The five days of Royal Ascot are not only the centerpiece of the British social calendar, but also host to the world's greatest race meeting. Attracting enormous international appeal and is attended every year by almost 300,000 people with race goers coming from over 100 different countries.

9. Wimbledon Corporate Hospitality - Wimbledon is without a doubt the definitive tennis experience and the main 'Grand Slam' event. For two highly anticipated weeks in the summer, close to a half million spectators will travel to Wimbledon to attend Wimbledon 2011. The Wimbledon Tennis Championships offer a superb setting for corporate hospitality with a unique atmosphere combined with the spectacle of the competition, it transcends all expectations.

10. Cheltenham Racecourse Corporate Hospitality - The Cheltenham National Hunt Festival is widely regarded as one of the greatest jump meetings in the world. Featuring the famous Gold Cup, the four day festival offers an excellent opportunity for entertaining your clients with Corporate Hospitality at one of the Countries most prestigious events.

Evening Entertainment Ideas For Corporate Events and Dinners - Pre-Dinner Fun

You don't need to go for run-of-the-mill ideas for some pre (or evening during-) dinner fun.

Remember, there are tons of specialist corporate dinner entertainment event organisers who understand the importance of impressing your guests and paying close attention to detail in getting the night just perfect.

Professionals such as this should be able to furnish you with tons of ideas to impress the guests before dinner and the options available may surprise you. They shouldn't all cost an arm and a leg either. You could create your own unique evening at home - for free (get a few friends to help out by dressing up and acting the part or by giving a polished performance at the mic!)

Of course, you'll want to make it worth their while, so ensure that your guests deliver perfect feedback to your evening.

Maybe you are planning a slick corporate event for your company or perhaps you are planning something smaller for work - like a team-building night. In both cases you might want to turn to the professional events organisers to take the strain and produce something lavish.

Do the research. Make sure your event entertainment is perfect for your guests and trust in an events organisation that is offering a fabulous night out where they will remember the night - and remember you!

You may be splashing out on your team or rewarding valued clients for some hard work. Either way it has to be perfect. To start you off, here are a few ideas that you can play with to get you on top with your planning.

Murder Mystery Night

One of the oldest and still very popular forms of dinner evening entertainment ideas. A Murder Mystery evenings can be performed by professional actors and provide an excellent way of getting all your guests involved the evenings fun.

Cocktail Flaring

Pre dinner drinks have never been so much fun! You could teach your guests how to make cocktails they never knew existed and then get them to drink up before learning how to throw and spin bottles in the air! This is a great team building activity.

Wine Tasting Game

A light hearted approach to wine tasting that takes away the snobbery and could provide your guests with an introduction to wines in a fun environment.

Crazy Waiters

If it's a surprise that you want for your guests on the evening then some crazy waiters will surely do that! Send-in undercover waiters and waitresses to blend into the normal hotels staff and cause all sorts of crazy havoc!

Complete Room Theming And Entertainment

Themed evenings

If you are going to throw a big themed party and want your guests to be talking about it for months afterwards then why not theme the whole event with a fantastic theming option..

Entertainers

Add an element of surprise and live special entertainment to your awards dinner or theme evening by including human statues, stilt walkers and other great entertainment acts.

Goal Achievement Through an Events Organizer

Not enough emphasis is placed on the importance connected to the various events a corporation will sponsor during the course of a year. Company events are typically generated as an indication of appreciation to numerous company factors in order to precise gratitude and encourage for the work in years to come. Whereas corporate events are purposed to be a positive expertise, a poorly organized company event can prove to provide negative effects. This realization places an importance to finding corporate event success, a issue that can be achieved when an organization makes the choice to utilize the professional services of an organizer.

When it comes to designing a corporate event, many organizations have a very limited perspective of the opportunities related to company events. An associate turned organizer may offer you with a median location, a provider of tables and chairs and maybe some average DJ. What this amateur organizer can not provide you with is quality entertainment, a perfect corporate event location, the experience of a professional events organizer and the contacts needed to create a company event remodel from average to extraordinary. All this becomes attainable once you stop attempting to save lots of a buck and instead have a look at the many blessings that may be developed from utilizing a professional organizer.

There is a lot of advancement that can be seen in the world of an events organizer and with an experienced individual you'll exploit several of these advancements. The times of filling a room with individuals and paying attention to keynote speakers during a generic atmosphere are a thing of the past. Technology represents the first advancement that an events organizer has access to that the amateur would be unable to access. Ranging from lightweight to sound to video presentation, the experience of the events organizer will supply you with the best technology for your specific venue.

Outside of technology, even science has helped to advance the grasp of the events organizer. Studies in lighting, colors and even in smells have helped in identifying harmful effects and clarified the best useful elements to help support the success of your event. With a skilled events organizer you'll be able to learn of all these advancements and find out how science and technology will assist an organization in achieving its events goals. Utilizing an experienced events organizer is like utilizing a business tool to improve your odds of success and attaining your desired results.

Easily Planned Corporate Entertainment Events

It has become a very popular activity worldwide for companies to hold corporate events for their employees to cover many requirements. Primarily these events can be a big thank you to staff for the work they have done for the company. They also work as morale boosters when everyone is busy and there has not been time available for any relaxation. When the management team decide to hold a corporate event they will usually nominate one person to organise the function. If this happens to be you there are quite a few things you will need to remember.

You may feel that a questionnaire to the staff asking either for suggestions or by making a list of suitable events and then asking for a response for the most popular. There should be a deadline for this questionnaire to be returned and then it would be logical to go with the most popular idea.

Having made the decision on what type of event you will then need to search out venues. Have a few to choose from to enable you to compare facilities, prices, space available and exactly what the venue can offer. As you will need plenty of room for everyone any venues that seem a little small should be eliminated.

The better organised the event the better it will run, you will need to keep control of all aspects of the function to ensure you know exactly what is happening. Use of a spreadsheet could prove invaluable to keep track of the jobs you have done and those that remain outstanding.

As much notice as possible should be given to staff of the date of the event with timings everyone will need to make their own arrangements be it for child care or transport to and from the event. Perhaps an email or even a printed invitation should go to all those invited and a response would be expected to allow you to keep efficient records of numbers that will be attending.

It may be more suitable for you to delegate some of the jobs that need to be done, this may make it easier for you but it will still be your overall responsibility so you will need to keep track of how the various helpers are progressing with their part of the organisation.

Do try to make sure that you enjoy yourself as well, include some parts of the event that may be quieter than others so it will give you time to relax and to take advantage of the activities of the day as well as the rest of the employees.

Corporate Christmas Party Themes

This year for your corporate Christmas party why not try something a little different and host a themed event? A fun and exciting way to end the great year, your staff and clients are sure to feel appreciated.

Below are some ideas you may wish to try;

1. Grease inspired Corporate Picnic

A Corporate picnic is a traditional Christmas Party event, but you can change it up by turning it into a carnival. Remember the end of year break - up party in the movie Grease, let this inspire your theme. You could have carnival rides such as the Ferris wheel, house of mirrors, carousels, roller coasters, teacups, dodgem cars and more.

A great event for the whole family, this grease inspired carnival is sure to be a hit.

Just don't forget the fairy floss and candy popcorn!

2. Circus

The big top has come to town. With clowns, jugglers, acrobats, trapeze, and lion tamer you could make you event a circus extravaganza.

A great family day and another good one to do as a corporate picnic.

3. Winter Wonderland

Add cool, seasonal style to your holiday soiree.

It can be simple and chic. Keep your scheme silver and white.

A snow man set in front of a backdrop of an enchanted every green forest and winter castle can add to the magic of your winter wonderland. Remember Santa Claus does come from the north pole!

4. Santa's Workshop

Creating an event with hired elves and Santa can set the scene for Santa's workshop. Explore your imagination as this event can be as elaborate as you like it. You could have stations for all the different types of toys. Of course you'll be able to sit on Santa's knee to tell him want you want for Christmas. Maybe you'll be lucky and get an early Christmas present from Santa.

A favourite for young and old alike. Santa's workshop would make a create theme for your next Christmas Party event.

5. Beach Party

A tropical atmosphere of surf, sun and sand is sure to get the Beach Christmas party started. Complete with beach games like beach volleyball, soccer or cricket, there will be something to do for everyone. Hire a couple of Jet boats and make a huge splash on the day.

Catering for this event could be a simple as a BBQ or a fruit buffet.

6. Horse Riding day

Get out of the office and do something physical. A horse riding trek is the perfect start to your corporate Christmas Party. Start the day early with the ride and then for lunch take your staff to a beach side restaurant where you can appreciate beautiful surrounding. After lunch enjoy a social drink under the mistletoe.

7. Corporate Christmas Games

Games a great outlet and fun way to end the year with a bang. A treasure hunt will keep them entertained for hours.

You could also create some internal competition with a staff football, touch football or volleyball game.

8. Casino Night

With the simple roll of the dice or turn of the card, you could have the ultimate Christmas Party to remember.

Play a game of black jack or Texas Hold'em as you slowly sip you martini - shaken not stirred.

So whether you decide to go with Vegas vibe or Monte Carlo chic, lady luck is sure to be on your side.

So don't restrict your corporate Christmas party event to the office or a restaurant, be creative and let your staff know that you appreciate them by throwing them a great Christmas Party.

Merry Christmas!

Banquet Halls Are Great for All Parties

Banquet halls are places for rent, and you can find them in any city in this country. Some of them are large, and some are small. The thing they all have in common is that they are ideal for parties and celebrations. You can rent a place like this for any type of event, but there are certain things to consider when you choose one. You can host all types of events at places like this including wedding receptions, birthday parties, corporate events and anniversary parties.

Size

You will want to make sure that you choose one that is the appropriate size for your event. Large banquet halls will cost more money to rent, and there is no point in renting a large one if you are planning a small party. On the other hand, you will not want to rent one that is really small if you are expecting hundreds of guests. This is one of the best questions to ask when you begin looking for one to rent. You can visit them or call them to find out the sizes and how many people will fit.

Catering

The catering offered is another thing you really need to look into before renting a hall. If you are planning on having all of the guests bring food to the party, you will need to make sure that this is even allowed. There are many halls that do not allow this. They have on-site catering services, and they require that you use these services if you rent the room. This could turn into a big mistake if you fail to check on this before renting it.

Elegance

If you are planning a very elegant event, you will want to choose a place that offers an elegant atmosphere. There are banquet halls that are more informal, and there are many that are very formal. Some are in between. You will need to choose the type of atmosphere you are looking for when you choose one for your event. If it is for a child's birthday party, elegance is probably not the top thing you are looking for. You might prefer finding a place that offers a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. For a wedding reception, a formal place is usually what is desired.

Outdoor Venues

If you would like to have your gathering someplace different from the normal type of venue, you might want to look into outdoor banquet halls. Although an outdoor hall might not really be a hall, it will be a place that offers accommodations for parties. This is a great option during months where the weather is nice. There are places such as flower gardens or butterfly gardens that offer these types of services.

Environmental

Some people are extremely concerned with the environment. A person like this would probably look into the environmental philosophies of the hall. They would look for a place that promotes "green" business ethics and practices, and a business that is involved in reducing waste and recycling.

What to Look For Before Hiring a Comedian For a Corporate Event

If you're planning on hiring a comedian for your next corporate event or party there are a lot of things that you need to consider to ensure that the show will be a success. You can't just blindly thumb through the phone book and pick the first comedian that you see advertised, you have to do a good deal of research to ensure that the comedian that you hire will put on a show that will be funny to your particular audience. A poor performance by the entertainment of the event can make the entire event a flop, but choosing someone who tries to entertain the audience with humor that may offend some of your employees could result in a much worse scenario than just a bad party - that's why you need to make sure that the comedian you hire puts on the kind of show that your employees will respond to.

Here are some of the many things to consider before hiring a comedian, or any form of entertainment, for your next corporate event:

Who is in the Audience?

Your co-workers and employees are the reason that you are throwing your corporate event, without them you wouldn't be having anything to celebrate - you most likely wouldn't have a business at all, so it's crucial that you examine your audience as a whole and make sure that nothing in the hired artist's performance will offend anyone sitting in the audience.

Some basics to stay away from are: profanity, religion, race and sex. All of these can be very touchy topics that shouldn't be brought up in the workplace, so they shouldn't be brought up in an event help for the people in the workplace either. You can't, and shouldn't, know everything about all of your employees private lives - any one of these topics focused on in any manner could create a really uncomfortable situation for one or several of your valued employees. It's safe to assume that if a topic shouldn't be addressed at the workplace, than it shouldn't be addressed by the entertainment at a corporate event either.

The Track Record of the Performer

Just as you don't want to hire a comedian that will touch on subjects that could offend some of your employees, you also don't want to hire a comedian with no experience in this type of atmosphere. Working the stage at a corporate event and working the stage at an open microphone night at a seedy bar are two completely different things - that's not to say that a comedian who performs at clubs and bars can't successfully perform at a corporate event, but you want someone with proof of success in these types of events.

The comedian you are considering should be able to provide any number of references of parties and events that they have performed at. It won't take you more than a few minutes to check some of those corporate references to see exactly how the comedian that you are considering performed. A good reference from another or several other, corporate events will give you a good idea whether the comedian you are considering can perform well in the event that you are holding.

You want your corporate event to be a smashing success, something that all of your employees truly enjoy and will talk about favorably for the foreseeable future. You want everyone to laugh and have a good time without any chance of anyone feeling uncomfortable or being offended. The way to ensure this is to do your research and hire a comedian who is funny and clean and who has a good track record with several other corporate event performances under his or her belt.

Role of Game-Based Training in the Corporate World

According to industry experts, games are reshaping the core formulae of business ethics. Games are no longer just a kid's domain of play but are increasingly being used in corporate organizations to train their employees. Indeed in USA alone, a good number of people like playing video games more than watching movies. Games have the tremendous potential to create a highly skilled and problem solving workforce more than ever before.

John and Mitchell Wade in their book "Got Game: How the Gamer Generation is Reshaping Business Forever" has given an in-depth analysis on the growing significance of gaming in the working field. After conducting hundreds of surveys and interviews, Beck and Wade have concluded that gamers appear to be more committed and team-oriented than most of their predecessors.

Appreciating the importance of gaming, many companies are now developing a series of e-learning games to better train their employees. The main aim is to make the trainees learn by going through the usage of various kinds of fun-filled, highly interactive games. For example, you have created a game to train the sales team of your company. Let's see how through applying such games you can best educate and motivate the sales professionals to achieve outstanding results.

Gaining Attention

Games act as a strong medium of drawing the attention of the workers towards a specific project. However, you have to really work hard in making the games highly compelling and enjoyable for the workers to really find it interesting to even considering trying it out at all.

Using an Example

Create a hypothetical situation such as selling a product to a client. For example, divide the trainees into two groups - one will represent the sales team while the others can play the role of the clients. You will tell the sales professionals to convince the group acting as clients to buy their products. It will be fun to watch how the sales team persuades the clients to finally purchase the products.

Encouraging Employees to Create New Games

Always make it a point to engage your employees to come up with their own versions of gaming. Of course, the games developed must have a connection with the business goal that is, to increase sales and ROI.

Games are much more learner-centric. They provide a greater opportunity of interactivity and team work through the exchange of thoughts and ideas while solving a puzzle or doing role play. Interactive games also lead to development of one's personality and self-confidence. A game helps you to exploit the next achievable state of expertise. It often lets you reach certain states or goals that may improve your far sightedness in dealing with different business situations in the real world.