The market for corporate events is on track to reach nearly $511 billion by 2030. This represents a staggering 17.3% increase over the course of a decade.
Corporate events are a huge driving force for businesses because they drive revenue and help companies find new customers, network with other businesses, and learn more about what’s going on in their industries.
With some proper event planning, you’ll nail all of the details with yours. These tips will help you when you’re looking to put together a corporate event that will get results.
Start Planning Early
The biggest mistake that companies make with planning a business event is failing to give themselves enough time. You realistically need to allow yourself a good year to a year-and-a-half to properly plan a corporate event.
Taking this amount of time allows you to map out every detail and address any obstacles that come your way in the process. The longer you wait, the more competitive it’ll get for your venue spaces, vendors, and hotels – not to mention you don’t give your attendees enough time to save the date.
Murphy’s Law is in effect when planning an event, so give yourself enough time to make contingencies.
Plan the Venue and Date
Next, a successful corporate event needs an ideal date. Start by choosing the ideal time of the year, and figure out which city is best. From there, you can choose a date or dates. For some, this might be a one-day occasion, while others might choose to block out an entire weekend.
Once you figure out these details, start looking into hotels, convention centers, and other venues that can help you out. You can find more meeting venues when you start planning early and get on their calendar list as early as possible.
Hire an Event Coordinator
Yet another mistake that people make when planning a corporate event is trying to do everything themselves. While it’s admirable to put together an event committee that can leave its mark, you also run the risk of overburdening yourself or overlooking things when you don’t have professional help.
An event coordinator is a pro that is skilled at putting these together and making sure that no stone is left unturned. They will meet with you regularly and help you stick the landing with every important detail.
Make Sure the Catering Is Top-Notch
People get hungry at corporate events, so make sure that you have the best-catered food available. Quality lunches, dinners, and cocktail hours will give everyone the fuel that they need to keep their energy, and also provide plenty of networking opportunities.
If you’re booking your event at a hotel or convention center, they might have in-house caterers that you can hire. Figure out whether you’re obligated to go with their caterers or if you have the option to hire your own.
Take the time to go through their menu and sample the food to know what you’re providing your attendees. They can also let you know about their alcoholic beverage arrangements, so you can figure out whether you want to get an open bar or allow people to purchase their own beverages.
Choose Logistics That Are Easy on Your Attendees
The logistics always make a big difference when you’re planning any sort of corporate event. Set it up so that people don’t have to move around too much once they get to the event city. This is why hosting corporate events in hotels is such a popular option.
People can attend sessions and speaking engagements for the event in the same location where they sleep at night. It cuts down on travel time and expenses and decreases the likelihood of people getting lost or missing any part of the event.
Always go with a comfortable and cozy hotel that is top-notch, while also giving your guests options of some hotels in the surrounding area.
Book Speakers and Entertainment
The speakers and entertainment that you bring into your event will make a difference in how it is received. Having an amazing keynote speaker alone can sell plenty of tickets to your event.
Like venues, these speakers also get booked quickly, so reach out to them and learn their rates and availability as early as possible. The right speaker can set the tone for your event so that people are engaged and motivated.
A standup comedian is a great option if you want to break the ice and entertain people. Find out their rates and figure out how much you’re able to budget.
Put Together a Budget and Stick to It
In addition to your entertainment, make sure that you have a solid budget for every other part of your event. Go over every line item so that you know what it will cost and where you can find deals.
Factor in the dates that your deposits are due as well so that you can stick to your timeline and keep your ducks in a row. Meet regularly with your planning committee to make sure you’re sticking to every aspect of your budget and making contingencies whenever necessary.
Your committee should also go over your goals and objectives so that you come away from the event accomplishing everything that you set out to.
Plan an Elite Corporate Event
These tips are useful when you’re putting together a corporate event that can be a smashing success for your company. The right corporate event requires all hands on deck, so take the time to put together all the important details.
Begin with these points and use them when you’re looking to take your business to new heights.
