| It's like the old dream where you're delivering a | | | | 2. When you interview a corporate event planner, |
| speech to a packed house - and suddenly realize that | | | | pay as much attention to the questions that they |
| you're standing there with your trousers around your | | | | ask as to the answers that they give. A professional |
| ankles. You've planned the perfect company dinner - | | | | will ask questions designed to gauge exactly what |
| and the caterer got the date wrong. Your keynote | | | | YOU want to accomplish with your event so that |
| speaker didn't show up because his travel tickets | | | | they can translate your vision into the spectacular |
| were never confirmed. And the napkins at the tables | | | | event that you have in mind. |
| don't match the tableskirts. Are your guests going to | | | | 3. Ask the right questions to get the information you |
| think 'Oh, their corporate event planners let them | | | | need to know. How often do they handle events |
| down? Of course not! When you plan a large scale | | | | similar to yours? What other corporate events has |
| corporate event, your company's reputation is on the | | | | the firm planned lately? Do they have experience |
| line. Why would you leave that in unskilled hands? | | | | with the type of event that you want to run? How |
| The most successful corporate events are those | | | | will they approach your goals for this event? |
| that are well-planned and flawlessly executed. If your | | | | 4. Always ask for references. A professional event |
| company is hosting a customer appreciation event, a | | | | planner will be happy to provide you with the names |
| team building day or any other type of corporate | | | | of other clients that you can contact. Just as |
| event, it pays to hire the best corporate event | | | | importantly, they can provide a list of vendors with |
| planner you can find to take care of all the details. | | | | whom they've worked and have relationships. As in |
| But how do you choose the best event planners? | | | | any other business, successful event planning is |
| Here's a checklist of criteria to help you narrow down | | | | based on who you know as much as it is on what |
| your choices to those corporate event organisers | | | | you know. An expert corporate event planner will |
| that will deliver an event that your customers and | | | | have worked extensively with vendors and services |
| employees will enjoy. | | | | in your area. They'll know which companies are |
| 1. If you're new to planning corporate events, ask | | | | reliable and which to avoid. |
| around among your business colleagues for | | | | No matter what the event you're planning, it makes |
| recommendations. If you attend a grand opening or | | | | sense to turn to a knowledgeable professional for |
| company dinner that impresses you as well-planned | | | | help with the details. A professional corporate event |
| and well-organized, make a note of whether an | | | | planner can make running your event painless - so |
| event planner was used, and which one it was. | | | | that you can relax and enjoy the evening as much as |
| Excellence has a way of being noted, and word of | | | | your guests. |
| mouth is the best recommendation you can find. | | | | |