event planning

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 Ways To Have Your Corporate Event Stand Out From The Rest

Depending on what line of work you’re in, you may be pretty familiar with the corporate event scene. Even if you don’t attend a lot of corporate events, the ones you attend can be pretty forgetful if the organizers don’t do anything to make their event stand out. That’s why it’s so important to find ways to make your corporate event stand out if you’re throwing a fundraiser or organizing a company event. Below, we share five ways that you can ensure your corporate event is unforgettable.

1. Wow With The Venue

Hotel convention centers are designed to be both functional and forgettable, so while they can host a large group, they aren’t going to be memorable for your audience. Instead, choose a venue that dazzles your guests. Spaces like The Grand 1858 and The Riverside offer picturesque views and incredible interior design that will be sure to make a mark on your audience.

2. Have A Keynote Speaker

Depending on the goals of your event, oftentimes it’s very helpful to have a keynote speaker deliver a message to your audience. It could be the head of your foundation speaking about the goals of your charity event, or it could be the CEO congratulating the team for a year of hard work. Or you could book a motivational speaker or a local celebrity to come talk to your guests. These powerful words can help make your night memorable.

3. Add Some Music

To help set the mood and create easy conversation between guests, consider having some musical entertainment at your event. You can book a local band to play for a couple hours, or you can bring in a DJ to play music at your event. The team at Entourage Events Groups can also handle the music and sound arraignments if you want to have more control over the music options at your event.

4. Have Top Notch Food

As you might have noticed so far with these tips, you want to appeal to your audience with sensory experiences. You’ve wowed with impressive views and entertained their ears with music, now it’s time to take it to the next level by dazzling their taste buds. Cater the event with fabulous food and beverage options. You can look into local vendors, but again, sometimes it’s easiest to go with the in-house options. Our catering division can create incredible appetizers and desserts at any of our venues, which is one less thing you have to worry about on the day of the event.

5. Encourage Social Sharing

A final way to make your event memorable and to help it have a second life in the digital realm is to make it an event that lends itself to sharing on social media. Our design and decor team can create wonderful spaces within your venue that lend themselves to Instagram opportunities or group photo spots. Create a hashtag for your event and encourage your guests to take photos and share about the night on social media. Photos and videos will help you remember the event, and it can be an effective PR tool.

If you want to ensure that your corporate event stands out from the rest, sync up with the team at Entourage Events Group and let us help make your event one-of-a-kind. For more information or to request a quote, reach out to our team today at (612) 564-3777.

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