corporate event

6 Tips For Corporate Event Planning Post COVID-19

We all want to get back to the lives we were living before the COVID-19 pandemic entered the picture, and while restrictions have largely been lifted and we’re getting closer to a sense of normalcy, planning an event with a large group of people certainly feels different than it did pre-COVID. There are more things to be mindful of if you want to throw a successful and safe event, and we want to use today’s blog to share some of those tips for throwing a successful corporate event in the wake of COVID-19. Below, we share some tips for planning a corporate event in a post-pandemic world.

Event Planning After The Pandemic

We understand that the pandemic can be a polarizing issue for many, but all we want to do with this blog is offer some suggestions for throwing a successful corporate event in a world still dealing with the fallout from COVID-19. With that in mind, here are some things to consider when planning your next corporate event.

  1. Hygiene Option Availability – It’s a good idea to make it easy for your guests to have some hygiene options at their disposal at the event. Hand sanitizer stations and a bowl of disposal masks can make it easier for people to help cut down on the spread of germs if they so choose. You don’t need to force them upon people, but having them available won’t hurt either. Just make it easy for people to have sanitation options available to them.
  2. Indoor/Outdoor Options – At Entourage Events Groups, a number of our venues have indoor and outdoor options so that you can host your group in the perfect setting. Consider taking your next corporate event outside, as outdoor transmission is less likely to occur than in an indoor setting. We can also adjust on the fly so that if the weather doesn’t comply, we can shift the gathering indoors with ease.
  3. Food And Beverage Choices – Many corporate events involve a meal or a cocktail hour with appetizers, and you’ll want to be mindful of how you handle the food situation if COVID-19 is still a potential issue. Plated options tend to work better than a buffet where everyone heads to a singular point to collect their food, and working with a team that has ample staff can help to cut down on lines at the bar so that people aren’t clustered in small spaces.
  4. Go Paperless – Not only can going paperless help the environment, but it can also cut down on the transfer of germs as people share and touch the same documents. Make your menu a scannable QR code that people can access using their phone and handle ticket sales or RSVPs online to reduce germ transmission.
  5. Be Ready To Adapt At The Last Minute – This may be easier said than done, but start thinking about how COVID-19 could impact your event and have a backup plan in place. If your CEO’s flight got canceled or your keynote speaker had to back out because someone in their family tested positive, have a backup plan in place so that you’re not scrambling at the last minute. You can’t prepare for everything, but try to understand how your event could be vulnerable to a COVID-19 disturbance and at least run through some backup plans in your head in case you need to switch things up in a hurry.
  6. Streamline The Process – Finally, to help cut down on your interaction and reliance on multiple companies in order to pull off your event, streamline the process by going with an event’s team like Entourage Events Group. We can help secure the venue, decorate the area, run audio and visual production, create and prepare a menu and staff the event so that you don’t need to rely on 4-5 different companies to pull off your event. Streamlining the process reduces your risk of running into a COVID-19 related headache with a caterer or decorator, because we can do it all!

Nobody likes planning an event with COVID-19 on the mind, but it’s a reality in the world we live in. The team at Entourage Events Group can help you pull off a safe and successful event if you let us. For more information, or to schedule a tour of one of our venues, give our team a call today at (612) 564-3777.

5 Tips for Going Green with Your Next Corporate Event

Sustainability has been a hot button topic in recent years, and companies are always looking for new ways to “go green” and help build a better world for future generations. Your company may have some green initiatives this year, and those goals may also extend to any corporate events you arrange this year. In today’s blog, we share some tips for going green and promoting sustainability at your next corporate event.

Tips For Going Green with Your Corporate Event

Having an environmentally friendly event is great for our planet, but it can also help to improve attendance or fundraising efforts because people may be more likely to participate with a company that wants to make a better world for tomorrow. So if you want to help the planet and have a more successful event, consider these five tips for making your next corporate event greener.

  1. Paperless Invites – Paper invites can be expensive and time consuming, and they also come at the expense of trees. In today’s day and age, digital invites are much greener and make it a lot easier for your guests to quickly RSVP. If you have to have things printed on paper, consider a green option or try to cut down on paper consumption by printing on both sides. Digital invites are better for the environment and can make it easy to track attendance with ease.
  2. Choosing Your Caterer – When you’re considering your catering options, consider asking the caterer about their sustainability efforts. At Entourage Events Group, we can create a menu suited to your wishes, and a number of our options involve local organic ingredients and are from sustainable vendors. We can also help with the setup for your meal to help keep it as sustainable as possible. Whether that involves compostable utensils and dishes, paper straws or simply donating leftovers to a local shelter, we’ll work with you to ensure your meal is sustainably driven.
  3. Your Decorations – We can also use a similar approach when helping to design and decorate your event. Another division of Entourage Events Group is focused on design and decor, and we have a number of green options for your next event. We love getting creative with design options and avoiding traditional paper signage that just end up in the trash bin after the event. We can use furniture, lighting and other sustainable decor to create a one-of-a-kind event that is eco-conscious while still meeting the demands of your theme.
  4. Your Venue – At Entourage Events Group, we have a number of picturesque venues to choose from, and many of them come with some eco-conscious amenities. We have some energy-efficient venues that are close to public transportation options to help make it easier for attendees to show up without everyone driving on their own. We also work to reduce waste wherever we can and recycle at every opportunity. To learn more about how our venues can help meet your sustainability goals, reach out at set up a tour today.
  5. Work Hard To Get An Accurate Headcount – In order to cut down on waste, it’s important to get an accurate headcount on how many guests you’ll have at your event. We understand that you always want to have enough food for everyone who attends, but grossly overestimating how much food and supplies you’ll need contributes to unnecessary waste. We have helped organize events of all different sizes and can help guide you to the right amount of food and beverages you might need to help reduce waste. We just need you to come with an accurate number of attendees, which again speaks to the importance of using digital invites to record and track attendance changes.

So if you want to help build a better tomorrow while also throwing a wonderful corporate event, consider syncing up with the team at Entourage Events Group. To learn more about our green initiatives or how we can help your event make sustainability a theme, give our team a call today at (612) 564-3777.

5 Tips for Marketing Your Next Corporate Event

Whether you’re planning on hosting a charity ball or fundraising gala, one thing you’re counting on is stellar attendance. The more people you can get who believe in your event or your vision, the better. But how can you sell the idea to others that your event is this month’s can’t miss event? In today’s blog, we share some tips for how you can market your next corporate event to increase turnout and hit your event goals.

Selling Others On Your Corporate Event

Below, we share some tips for effectively marketing your next event so that guests are excited about attending.

  1. Have Them Yearning To See Your Venue – When was the last time you were excited to attend an event because it was located at a hotel convention center? The event itself may have had some appeal, but the location likely left something to be desired. However, if you choose an appealing venue or a place with stunning spectacular views, people are going to want to attend just to see the space. A place like The Riverside or the Minneapolis Events Center can be transformed into a dazzling space that your guests will be excited about seeing in person. Let your venue be part of your event marketing strategy!
  2. Market The Menu! – If nothing else, let your guests know that they can enjoy indulgent appetizers, decadent desserts or tasteful five-course meal. Everyone loves looking forward to a great meal, and the team at Entourage Events can help to provide that. We have professional chefs who can create a menu that is perfect for whatever event you’re planning. Where there is food, people will gather, so let your guests know that you plan to feed them at your event, and let Entourage Events Group handle the cooking!
  3. Advance Notice – Make sure that you give your guests enough of a heads up so that they don’t already have plans on the night of your event. While we do have access to a number of great venues, availability tends to fill up fast, so arraigning an event on short notice isn’t something we do all that often. With that in mind, if you have a specific date that you absolutely want to have your event, we suggest that you book as far in advance as possible. This way you’ll be able to get the date you want, and your guests will be able to keep their schedule clear so they can attend your event.
  4. Spread The Word On Social – Make sure that you work to spread the word on social media. Design flyers or invites and share them on company or neighborhood social channels. The right type of event and invite can go viral in a matter of minutes, so while word of mouth is always helpful, word of your event can spread like wildfire if it catches the eye of the right people on social media.
  5. Raffles, Giveaways, Door Prizes – Everyone loves the idea of winning something, so find ways to entice people to come to your event with the opportunity of winning big! For charity events or fundraisers, 50-50 raffles and silent auctions work perfectly, as guests can take home prizes and contribute to a good cause. See if local businesses or charity partners would be willing to donate prizes that will have people wanting to show up to your event to see if they can get lucky.

We know that we can help your event hit your attendance goals, so let us be an asset in planning your next corporate event. For more information, or to learn more about booking your next corporate event, reach out to the team at Entourage Events Group today at (612) 564-3777.

4 Common Types of Corporate Events

At Entourage Events Group, we have a number of locations that are perfect for your next big event, be it a wedding or corporate event. And while most weddings have a similar theme and tempo to the day, corporate events can be for a wide variety of occasions and groups, so we’re always excited to help someone throw their first gala, tradeshow or appreciation event. So while corporate events oftentimes have more variation in theme and style, we wanted to use today’s blog to take a closer look at some of the more common types of corporate events we help host in the event you’re looking for a venue to host your next event.

Common Reasons For A Corporate Celebration

Here’s a look at some of the most common types of corporate events we help plan and execute at our breathtaking venues.

  1. Appreciation Events – Large organizations oftentimes like to honor and recognize the hard work and achievements of their employees, and many do this by organizing an appreciation event for their team. We have venues to host small, medium and very large companies, so we’re confident that we can find the right venue for your group. A branch of our events team is dedicated to AV production, so whether you want to have a corporate slideshow running during the event or give a speech that can be heard throughout the room, we can help ensure your employee appreciation event goes off without a hitch.
  2. Holiday Parties – Similarly, a number of corporate groups like to throw a holiday or end of the year party for their employees. What’s great about a holiday party is that you can really have fun with the theme of the event. Whether you’re going with a Winter Wonderland or a Roaring Twenties New Year’s Eve celebration, we can help bring your event to life. Our decor specialists have an eye for design and can work with your team to showcase your theme and make your event unforgettable. To learn more about our design and decor options, head on over to this page.
  3. Fundraisers – Corporate fundraisers are also extremely popular in the Twin Cities. Fundraisers can be a great way to entertain a large group and raise funds for your next project or to help give back to your community. One way to ensure that you have a great turnout for your fundraiser is by feeding your guests, and once again our team can help with this important aspect of your event. We have a team of dedicated culinary artists that can help you develop the perfect menu options, and then we’ll take care of the cooking and catering on the big day. We’ll provide the generous helpings so that your guests will be a little more generous with their donations at your next fundraiser!
  4. Corporate Conferences – If your company has branches all over the world, it can be hard to get everyone together in one space, but you can help make this dream a reality with a corporate conference or convention. Many of our venues are located only a few miles from the airport near iconic hotels and scenic views, so your employees will be able to come to the Twin Cities and enjoy the conference with ease. Whether you’re a smaller company looking to get everyone on the same page as you install a new software system, or you’re a major company like ESPN planning a big event before the Super Bowl, we know that we have the venues and the production team to ensure your next corporate convention is a success.

These are just a few of the types of corporate events we help organize, but we’ve also helped produce galas, trade shows, launch parties and concerts, so no matter what type of event you’re planning, we know we can make sure that it’s just perfect. For more information, or for help with your next corporate event, reach out to the team at Entourage Events Group by calling (612) 564-3777 or clicking here.

5 Benefits of Hiring a Production Team For Your Next Corporate Event

Many companies want to host the perfect fundraising gala or employee appreciation night, but throwing an event of that magnitude doesn’t come easy, especially if your staff have limited experience organizing an event. If you want your next event to be bigger and better than anything you’ve held in the past, don’t leave the organization up to chance. Trust it to a team of professionals whose sole mission is to help clients throw the perfect event. Still on the fence about outsourcing the event planning? Below, we explain everything you’ll get if you let us help throw your next corporate event.

Is Hiring An Event Production Team Worth It?

Some people are hesitant to hire an outside company to help facilitate the event planning because they think they can handle it themselves, or because they assume they can get by without the expense of hiring an outside team. What they don’t realize is how much value an event planning company can bring to their event. A perfectly executed event can drum up more business or lead to more fundraising donations than if your event runs into some issues along the way.

  1. Bringing Your Vision To Life – You probably have a vision for how the night will look, but how can you go about bringing that vision to life? We specialize in helping decorate and theme our venues to your vision. From the layout of the tables and furniture to the lighting, staging and sound system, we’ll help to plan your event and ensure that we can bring all of your ideas to life exactly like you imagined it.
  2. Stay Within Your Budget – You probably have a budget in mind for your event, but you’re probably not familiar with reasonable costs for certain services. We’ve helped plan countless events and know the ballpark prices of a wealth of services and add-ons, so we can help you get a better idea of how to best allocate your budget. We also thrive working within the confines of a budget, so if you let us know your budget, we’ll sit down with you and show you how we can help pull off the perfect event without breaking the bank.
  3. On-Site Visits – The best way to really bring your event vision to life is to travel to the site and talk about the details where you can visualize the space and really plan how you’d like to utilize different areas. We meet our clients on site and talk with them about how we’ve utilized different spaces in the past, how they envision their setup, and how we can accommodate their wishes. It’s so much easier to execute an event when you’re meeting with a planning team on site prior to your event.
  4. Additional Services – EDG Productions is a branch of Entourage Events Group, which specializes in full-service event planning. We have venue spaces, world-class catering options, lighting, decor, staging, bar and beverage options and audio/visual technology to bring your event to life. We can help feed your guests or provide you with a podium and sound system to address attendees all at once to deliver a message. There’s so much more that goes into event planning than simply having a large enough space to accommodate everyone, and we have the means to provide those services that take an event to the next level.
  5. Streamline Everything – When you go with a full service event planning company, you have one point of contact for all your services. You’re not trying to track down a DJ from one company, two different caterers and a staging company all at once to ensure everything comes together as planned. One thing we offer to all our clients is a final meeting with all partners and vendors to ensure everything is on track to go exactly as planned. This way everyone is on the same page and expectations are understood prior to the event.

In all honesty, this is just the tip of the iceberg of what you’ll receive if you turn to EDG Productions and Entourage Events Group for your next corporate event. If you want even more proof that we can help you throw a one-of-a-kind event, just take a look at our previous work because we think it speaks for itself.

If you would like to learn more about how we can help you organize your next corporate event, fill out this short contact form and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours. Let us show you how we can make your next event the best yet. You can also give our team a call at (612) 564-3777 for more information.

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Entourage Events Group Logo

Are you interested in having your wedding or event in our event venues? Or have us cater or design your event? Either way, let’s chat!

(612) 564-3777
info@thentourage.com

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