Advantages of Online Registration Software for Event Planners

Technological advancements have helped event planners to streamline processes and develop strategies to increase their revenues. In the past few years, an increasing number of event organizers have opted for comprehensive online registration and event management software solutions to achieve success. These end-to-end event management solutions are perfect for all kinds of event planners with varied requirements.

Some of the key benefits of feature rich online registration and event management solutions include the following:

Ease of Registration for Attendees

By using a comprehensive event management solution, you can make it easier for your prospective attendees to sign up. Since your attendees get complete access to these solutions 24?7, it becomes convenient for them to register at any time and from anywhere in the world.

Secure Payments

One of the major challenges for an event planner is to deal with payment processing. To address this problem, most online registration solutions provide secure payment facilities that support multiple payment gateways. As a result, registrants have multiple payment options to choose from. In addition, organizers can prevent payment frauds and customize pricing options to draw more attendees.

Boost Event Attendance

Smart online registration solutions for effective event management come with several key features that boost attendance. Prospective attendees can easily sign up for group registration. In addition, they can register for multiple events at a click of the mouse. This feature makes it easier for the event organizers to boost attendance for multiple events.

Customizable Registration Pages

The event registration solutions provide the option of customizing registration pages to match the look and feel of corporate websites. Event planners can add their brand logos and use specific themes to create their own registration pages. This feature helps them to create professional looking registration pages in just a few minutes.

Custom Reporting

To help event managers evaluate the success of their events, most event registration solutions provide the option for custom reporting. This enables them to access various reports from anywhere at any time. Using these reports, managers assess the success of their events. This in turn, helps them to strategize for their upcoming events.

Sophisticated solutions for event management and online registration are transforming the way organizers are planning their events. These solutions are enabling them to target more attendees in the most effective manner. Experts are therefore hopeful that in the coming years the demand for these solutions will increase significantly and more organizations will choose these solutions.

Communication is a Key Element of Great Service For Event Production Companies

You can find many event planning companies these days. Just do a quick Google search and you'll see hundreds pop up. This article identifies some ways that potential clients can choose the really good event companies from the fly by nights. As a potential customer, after reading this article, you should be able to better identify a company that is right for you. If you are an event planner, read on, you just might pick up some tips.

The first and most important element of any great company is communication. From advertising to finalizing a contract with a client, the event company is projecting its image and forming the client's expectations and developing a sense of trust. At the beginning it is important that the customer know what type of services are provided and what services are not. The company website is helpful in this regard. The website should include at a minimum, the following information: area of coverage, contact information, accompany description, a gallery with pictures of equipment and services provided. Even better on the site is customer testimonials. All of these elements should be designed to give the client an accurate picture of what the company can provide.

Once an Event company has been chosen, it is even more important that the customer understand exactly what they are getting. This may seem simple but I've seen a few cases where this has led to disaster. At one company that I consulted for, a casino party with blackjack tables, a craps table and a roulette table was rented out for a Saturday evening party. The client thought that the blackjack tables would be the standup type but, low and behold, sit-down tables were delivered. The client had no room and no chairs for the sit-down tables. The problem was resolved but, needless to say, the client never used that company again. The point is, if there is any room for doubt, tell the customer what you are doing. They may sometimes get tired of hearing all of the detail, but the company is doing them a great service by avoiding potential pitfalls.

Providing a factual, honest portrait of the company and giving the client all the information required to not have an unwelcome surprise are two important elements of great communication by an event planning company. Mastering these will go a long way towards insuring the success of the clients' event and will help build a long time relationship with that client.

Incentive Travel During a Recession - What Are the Benefits?

Whenever there is an economic downturn, many companies automatically cut non-cash incentives such as incentive travel. This is short sighted. When times are tough, it's challenging for your team to make their numbers. For this reason, it's even MORE important than EVER to design and implement strategies to motivate your team and reward top performers.

Incentive Travel Pays for itself

Incentive travel is particularly effective because it pays for itself. Incentives are given at the end of the year AFTER successful results have been produced. It just takes some careful planning to ensure that you get the most mileage out of non-cash incentives. At the beginning of your fiscal year:

• set your target, the minimal level of corporate financial performance both in terms of profits and earnings per share


• identify the level of sales that each member of your business development team needs to reach for your organization to achieve its targets

Individuals should qualify for specific incentives based on 2 criteria:

• the company's level of performance


• the individual's level of performance

Why companies Cut Incentive Travel

So if incentive trips pay for themselves, why do companies tend to eliminate them when the going gets tough? The answer to that question is complex but part of what may be going on right now is the AIG effect.

Sometimes it's as if some organizations forget that incentive trips and luxury corporate events are rewards for EXCEPTIONAL performance, not entitlements to be bestowed even when there is failure of epic proportions There has been justifiable negative publicity because some of the companies that received bailout money in 2008 have STILL organized luxury junkets and lavish corporate events. We've all read the headlines:

-AIG executives receive spa treatments after Bailout -AIG Executives Help Themselves To $86000 Hunting Trip -Reps blast Bank of America over Super Bowl fan fest -Wells Fargo defends, then cancels Vegas junket -B of A's Super Bowl Bash -Bailout firms 'just don't get it'

For the life of me, I don't understand how Morgan Stanley could have been planning an incentive to Monte Carlo when 7,000 employees were laid of last year and more lay-offs are planned for 2009. Clearly, some organizations have displayed poor judgment. Now, due to the risk of negative publicity, even organizations that are doing well are hesitant to spend ANY money for incentives. This is throwing the baby out with the bath water.

If You've Earned it, why Cut it?

When your company and the members of your team have beat the odds and produced outstanding results, they deserve to be rewarded. However, make the rewards proportional to individual and company performance. One size does not fit all and it should not have to. You can set up a simple matrix to determine the non-cash incentives to which each member of your team will be entitled.

For example, if some members of your team have gone above and beyond the call and your company is still struggling, by all means reward them. However, this is not the time for gambling junkets or stays at lavish resorts. Keep it simple. Maybe a dinner at a really nice restaurant for the team members and their spouses will have to suffice for this year. If the company has met its targets, it's perfectly appropriate to have an awards banquet for your team in your home town and give top performers and their spouses an overnight stay at a local hotel and spa treatments.

Companies that are doing well should not be afraid to pull out all the stops. Have your awards banquet for your team and make it truly memorable. Go ahead and reward employees who have gone the extra mile and produced exceptional results. Overseas incentive travel is perfectly appropriate for team members who have exceeded their targets. Also, don't be afraid to show appreciation to your best clients with a customer appreciation event or short get-away. This will encourage everyone to do even more next year. The key is to ensure that your organization is also doing its share in terms of giving back to the community and contributing to local charities. Your PR department should get the word out about your company's outstanding performance and the success strategies that you and your team used to produce results. Heaven knows, we could all use some encouraging news when times are tough.

Incentive Travel: A Triple Win

Incentive travel and events such as awards galas can be viewed as a triple win. The company wins because a motivated team produces higher results. The individual sales professionals win as they reap the rewards of their efforts and receive recognition from their peers. The economy also wins. Even if you simply have an awards banquet gala in your hometown, your investment will produce a ripple effect and provide work for:

• event planners


• restaurants, caterers or banquet halls


• waiters, waitresses, hosts, and hostesses


• transportation companies if you use busses or limousines


• the drivers


• the printers who produce the invitations, signage and programmes


• grocery stores that supply the food


• retail stores that sell the clothes that members of your team will wear to the banquet


• hairdressing parlors and barber shoppes


• entertainers


• musicians


• AV companies

In addition to producing work for those professions and sectors, overseas incentive travel will also produce work for:

• airlines


• airline crew, staff and suppliers


• travel agents


• pharmacies


• luggage stores and manufacturers


• the stores at the airports


• customs and immigration officers


• hotels and resorts


• companies that manufacture and supply linen, cutlery, etc.


• dry cleaners


• uniform supply companies


• florists


• landscaping companies


• tour operators


• local attractions

So, Should you Eliminate your Incentive Travel Budget?

If your company is facing challenging times, postpone the parties and luxury junkets. This is just not the time. Instead, take a portion of the money you would have spent for an incentive and invest in consultants and business facilitators with a proven track record that can help you get your company back on track. When company performance improves, there will be plenty of time to celebrate.

If your company is doing well, don't be afraid to splurge a bit. Don't feel obligated to cancel incentive travel because times are tough. You'll actually be helping the economy. After all, you and your team have worked hard and you've earned it.

Elements of a Celebrity Gala - A Night of Glitz and Glam

The elements of a celebrity gala, when executed with the necessary precision and taste, results in the not-to-be-missed internationally televised events we all know and love. These star studded affairs are attended only by the creme de la creme and therefore, only the best will do. As soon as some events are completed, the last remnants mopped away, not much time is allowed to exhale and relax. It will already be time for planning next years event, and this time root out the little hiccups that may have taken place.

In recent times, a red carpet has been used by VIPs and celebrities at these sort of events, but traditionally they were only rolled out for heads of state on ceremonial and formal occasions. This finishing touch goes hand in hand with the event's theme, decor and catering plan. Teams of decorators, event planners, caterers and stylists are called upon to plan every detail of the elements of a celebrity gala.

The gourmet finger foods and plated options selected to be dined on will have to meet countless specifications and preferences. Although we all would question how much of it gets eaten based on the figure hugging ensembles that are flaunted in front of the cameras. Top chefs are able to showcase their flair by using unique ingredients and infusing the themes colors into the evenings sustenance. The finest wines, cognacs, bourbons and whiskeys are also sourced to ensure a fun time for all.

The less glamorous details of a public event of this magnitude are easily and professionally managed by companies who specialize in restroom trailers. These restroom trailers provide elegant and fashionable amenities which will not compromise the classiest of affairs. They can also be hired with professionally attired restroom attendants. Another group of important staff would be the most reliable security company in order to check that everyone there does in fact have a much sought after ticket or invitation.

One of the more fun elements of a celebrity gala is of course the entertainment. Live music is among the more popular selections, as well as a well-known and highly respected guest speaker. Another popular way to spice things up is to include a quiz or game which gets the party goers involved and interacting with each other. You are guaranteed a satisfied group of socialites should you provide them with an interesting and entertaining evening after all the planning they themselves have put into achieving their perfect look.

Should I Rent Or Buy Audio Visual Equipment?

When should you consider renting audio visual equipment versus purchasing it? If you're not using the technology every day it may benefit your bottom line to rent. Here are four tips that may have you reconsidering renting vs. purchasing.

First, how often are you giving presentations?

If it is every day or several times a day, it may make sense to purchase the technology. However, if it is once a month or less, or your presentation schedule is very sporadic, it probably makes better sense renting audio visual equipment. Many of the interactive technology tool rentals can be negotiated on a daily or weekly rate.

Second, what is your back-up plan?

What happens should the projector bulb burns out or the Powerpoint presentation equipment fails? If your organization does not have a need for multiple projectors or laptops and does not have the on site technology or audio visual staff to support you, I would strongly urge renting the equipment and ensure back-ups are in the contract with no additional charge to you if the equipment fails.

Third, what is the total cost of ownership (TCO)?

This must be considered when buying a substantial piece of hardware or software. How much is that next lamp bulb going to cost? When is it likely to be replaced? What happens when the equipment is damaged prematurely and needs replacing right away? What about keeping up with technology improvements such as 3D Projectors, 4G iPad or Tablet PC? If you engage in interactive technology tool rentals for an event, those long term maintenance, and repair costs are not yours to worry about.

Fourth, where are you going to store and transport the equipment?

Storing projectors, screens, wireless audio response systems, all take space and must be stored in a secure setting to prevent theft. If you work in a large corporation, who is going to set up, tear down, store and inventory the equipment? When traveling to different offices and customer locations, audio visual equipment will add considerable weight and bulk to your traveling entourage. If you are flying to a location, you may need to carry on some of the equipment for fear that it may break during transport or be stolen.

Audio visual rentals, on the other hand, are brought directly to you at the event location by the event rental services organization. The rentals are handled with care and packaged in the highest quality containers which ensure the absolute minimum of potential damage to their moving parts.

Having the capability to make quality presentations is definitely standard operations for many businesses. So before investing in audio visual technology, make sure you answer the questions noted above.

Benefits of Hiring an Event Company to Plan Your Company Picnic

I work as an assistant director and I love my job. It might not be the biggest company but definitely very satisfying. We do not have too many people like the other companies but I can assure you that we have more unity than them. There are small things that your company does which will make a big difference to your firm. The company should organize small events for their employees which will help them to bond with each other and give them a better idea of the employees. If people interact more with each other in a happy environment they are definitely going to have fun at work as well.

Having a company picnic every now and then is something that every employer must consider. If you want a productive company picnic it is possible to hire an event company that plans and organizes team building activities for Company Picnics. A nice relaxing Company Picnic in the Bay Area with a lot of lazing in the summer heat will surely increase your employees' productivity. Team building activities can help make work at office more efficient and also better the communication between co-workers.

A company picnic should involve the employees' family so that everyone gets to have a deeper understanding of his or her colleague. Since there will be a lot of people it is better to leave the planning and organizing to an event company rather than have a select team from your employees handle it. If you do plan to have a team from your own work place handle the whole picnic, you should realize the fact that they will surely have no time to enjoy the picnic.

You may think that hiring the services of an event planning company to plan and provide services for the picnic may be an expensive affair, but if you really look at the pros and cons you will find that the pros will surely outweigh the cons.

Here are a few advantages of hiring a bbq picnic planner as opposed to planning it your self:
• Selecting the perfect venue for a bbq picnic is something that takes a lot of time and effort. A picnic event company will choose the perfect place according to your requirements. They will make sure that the park allows amplified music, inflatables, and that the place will comfortably accommodate all of the people attending the picnic.
• An event company can provide catering services for the picnic and you won't have to worry about the menu or transporting the food. You can also ask for a BBQ catering service where you can get some tasty barbecued treats cooked right at the picnic venue.
• If you are worrying about transportation, the event company will make sure that is taken care of at the lowest prices available.
• Entertainment is something that needs to be present at a company picnic Bay Area and you can surely find a number of event companies offering different types of entertainment. You could get professional performers at low costs and even have face painting for the kids. If your company is inviting the families of the employees you will need to find some entertainment to keep the kids occupied. Choosing the right team building activities can be a daunting task and this is why it is better to leave it to the event company to choose the activities for that day.

Apart from all this an event company will provide basic necessities such as recyclable plates, napkins, utensils, d矇cor, ice and a final clean up in the end. These small but necessary items can be quite a pain to carry when going for a picnic and there are chances that you might forget something.

If you hire an event company for planning your company picnic Bay Area make sure the planner runs the schedule of the day twice over so you know what's going to happen. Go online and read a few reviews to choose a reputed event company which will ensure that all of your employees and their families have a great time.

How to Host the Best Annual Corporate Event

A corporate event is a seemingly social gathering (like a party or luncheon) but is actually business oriented. A business may host a corporate event to raise the public's awareness of their company, to spotlight a specific aspect of their business or to boost employee morale. Events vary in size from small gatherings to very large venues.

To ensure that you plan the best annual corporate event keep in mind that the event is a direct representation of your company. The event should encompass some key elements that represent your company such as professionalism, creativity, and reliability. Attendees should leave the event with a favorable impression of your company so be sure to keep the event fun and lively.

Planning the best annual event should begin roughly six months prior. One of the first steps is to set a budget. How much money do you have available to spend and on what do you spend it?

Of course, you'll have to book a place to host the event. When considering locations ask yourself the following questions: will it be an indoor or outdoor occasion, how many people are estimated to attend, what is the cost for the facilities?

After you've chosen a location, the next step is to plan the menu. Food of some sort should always be served. Different options to consider are sit-down dinners, buffets, and appetizers. Look at your budget and evaluate which option you feel best suits the occasion and the people attending. Should drinks be served? Should there be an open bar or should only wine and beer be served? Again, consider your budget and the type of function you are hosting.

The third and most important step in planning the best corporate event is choosing the right entertainment. The entertainment you pick could make or break the event.

Make certain the entertainer matches the needs of your company. Identify what type of entertainment meshes with your group. Would the attendees enjoy live chamber music or a rock group? Or would they prefer a comedy routine and some laughs? The possibilities are endless so choose the entertainment carefully and wisely. Do research and pick a professional after consideration.

Try to hire unique entertainment that is geared specifically for your audience. For example, if you are hosting a medical convention choose a comedian who can adapt his material towards the medical field.

Make great entertainment a priority. Don't budget all your money for food, drinks and decorations. After all, the entertainment will make the biggest impression so don't skimp. Hire a professional who suits the needs for your particular function. Hosting the best annual corporate event takes time, planning and hard work. If you start early and make great entertainment a priority your event will be a success.