conferences

Corporate events take a lot of planning in order to go off without a hitch and have the intended effect on your audience. Done correctly, corporate events can increase productivity, bring in new clients or show your employees that you appreciate all their hard work. Done incorrectly, and your event can be the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons. We’ve helped plan, organize and run countless corporate events, so we know what it takes to make them a success. In today’s blog, we share five insider tips for making sure that your next corporate event is a smash hit.

1. Figure Out Your Why

Before you even get into how you’ll plan your event, you want to make sure everyone understands why you’re having the event in the first place. Are you rewarding employees for their hard work? Are you fundraising for a new project? Are you trying to onboard 15 new clients? Once you figure out why you’re considering organizing a corporate event, the how will become much easier. Make sure the planning committee establishes and understands the goals of the event before they start trying to plan anything.

2. Wow With Your Venue

The venue you choose sets the stage for the event, so don’t just book the first place that has a space on a specific date. Instead of throwing your event at a hotel conference room, let your event stand out by picking a unique and memorable venue. We’ve had so many satisfied clients reach out to us to let us know that so many of their guests raved about the venue, so don’t underestimate what a great space can do for your event. Places like The Grand 1858, The Riverside and The View are all unique and awe-inspiring venues for your next corporate event.

3. Feed Your Guests

We also strongly recommend feeding your guests at some point during the event. You can either do a full sit-down dinner or just serve appetizers, but meal options tend to increase attendance, give people a centralized activity and avoid irritability that can be caused by hunger! Not sure how to best cater your event? Outsource it to the professionals. We can cater your event at any one of our venues. Not only is this one less thing that you have to plan, but you can take solace in knowing that your caterer won’t back out on your last minute. We have catering options to accompany any size group or any dietary restrictions. Let our team dazzle with decadent food options.

4. Remember That Less Is More

You’re going to have a lot on your plate as you plan your corporate event, and oftentimes it’s easier to outsource to one company instead of trying to get a bunch of groups to come together. If you’re trying to have one company cater the event, another company decorate the venue, you’re hiring your own bartenders and you’re trying to bring in your own DJ, it’s going to get complicated and it’s easier for something to fall through the cracks. Instead, connect with a company like Entourage Events Group that can handle all those aspects for you. We’ll handle parking, catering, decorating, bartending, cleanup and the music, all you have to do is bring the guests. Working with one point of contact is so much easier and helps everything run much smoother, so consider outsourcing duties to an event planning company.

5. Develop A Budget And Stick To It

Finally, develop a budget and stick to it. You don’t want your event to become a budgetary nightmare, so work with your financial team and come up with an appropriate budget. Again, it can be so much easier to understand costs and total expenses if you work with an event planning company instead of trying to pay a different caterer, hire your own DJ and decorate the venue on your own. With our team, you’ll have clear, upfront prices and a singular point of contact in the event you have questions about any aspect of your event, which ensures there aren’t any surprises when the bill comes. Don’t get in trouble with the finance department because it was tough to stay on top of expenses. Work with an event planning group and keep your budget on track.

If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help you throw the perfect corporate event for your group, head on over to our contact page and let us know what you’re looking for. We’ll read your form and get back to you with individualized answers, and we can even schedule a tour of any of our venues. We look forward to hearing from you and helping ensure your next corporate event is a success!