By: Hillary Lane
It once was when a company
planned to host an event all they had to do was decide on the guest list, pick a hotel, choose the
menu, and it was done. Not any more. Today’s expectations are much different, as any experienced
conference planner and events coordinator will tell you. Whether it is a corporate event, or a
celebratory occasion, people’s expectations toward social and corporate event planning has changed
dramatically. For this reason, it may be beneficial to gain insight as to the possibilities to make
your event unique, or get the expertise from a professional event planner or coordinator to ensure
a memorable occasion.
When planning a corporate event, progressive companies today look for unique, versatile
venues with unusual themes and innovative facilities. If you’re looking for change from the
humdrum, consider something “out of the box” like the all new Ice Hotel in Quebec City which is
made purely of ice, the Sandra Ainsley Gallery where you surround your dinner guests in fabulous
art sculptures, or a large, 18-bunk cabin in the woods at the Fairmont Kenauk that you access by
snowmobile. Or you could host your next event aboard a VIA rail car, complete with murder mystery,
dance floor and personalized menus. Dogsledding, snow golfing, astronomy nights, snow tubing, rock
star clinics and mini-Olympics are all innovative, exciting activities for team-building events.
The possibilities of location are abundant; it’s a matter of choosing what best fits you and your
guests’ style.
Another main factor when planning a special corporate event is the cuisine. Meals served at
corporate events are moving more toward healthier considerations. Nutritional, low fat menus are
commonly requested, along with granola bars and yogurt for breakout snacks. And although chicken
has been popular for a long time, small cuts of premium beef are regaining popularity. Allowing
meeting attendees a choice between two main courses is also trendy these days, along with ethnic
food stations with props and staff attired accordingly.
Event party planning for spousal and family programs is also changing. Cooking classes with
an executive chef complete with wine sampling and take-home recipes are very popular for spouses
looking to be entertained. On the other hand, family programs such as the one recent Canadian event
featuring author Barbara Coloroso included her providing wonderful, useful advice on how to parent
today’s child. Children’s workshops can include an interactive “Build A Teddy Bear” segment.
The important thing to consider when planning your next corporate or special event is
creativity. Using movies, toys, books, sports, fashion, or TV shows as a highlight to your event or
even to build a theme around is very enticing. Once you’ve decided on the concept, surround
yourself with visual stimuli to support that winning idea. For example, the Ontario Science Centre
hosts a great team-building exercise called “One Small Step” which turns participants into
astronauts looking for the perfect lunar base on the moon. Imagine how creative your invitations,
internal promotions, guest speakers, menus and information packages could be with a great starting
step like that!
Corporate events can be so much more than just entertaining. They can motivate, educate,
celebrate and more. When planning an event, take into consideration your motive. From there, decide
if you want all fun and entertainment, celebratory, or whether you want something that will
motivate and inspire people to achieve a new goal or objective. Even in the latter, the theme for
corporate events should foster an environment that will make them feel comfortable to share ideas,
train and motivate staff, or resolve problems face-to face. In order to do that efficiently and
effectively, first seek to understand what motivates their employees and how they’re going to
achieve it.
With so many options available today, planning a successful corporate or special event is no
longer a simple task. Enlisting the services of a professional conference planner and events
coordinator can certainly make the process much easier and insure a successful outcome.
Article source: http://www.earticlesonline.com/Article/Corporate-and-Social-Event-Planning--Considerations-for-a-Memorable-Occasion/48887
