How to Plan a Successful Corporate Event

Kate P Thomas - Planning a corporate event involves a few important considerations. From deciding on which party hire company to use to deciding on the type of entertainment you will have at the event, we've got a few tips on how to make your event a success.

The type of event

Firstly, you need to consider the type of event you want to have. Whether it is best to have it outdoor or indoor, casual or cocktail. This will depend on what the aim of the event is, and the guests that will be attending.

If there is going to be presentations, it is always a good idea to have lots of seating and tables so that people can eat their meal whilst the speaker is presenting.

If it is more of a meet and greet and networking event, a stand up cocktail event with finger food is a great idea as it will encourage people to move around and mingle.



Your budget

When organising a corporate event, you will have a set budget that you will need to stick to. It really does pay to shop around. Make sure you search online and receive quotes from a few different catering and event companies and compare them.

The catering and beverages

This will depend on the type of event you have. If it is an informal or networking event, finger food is sufficient. For presentations and formal occasions, a sit down meal is more appropriate.

For a breakfast, lunch or dinner event, a buffet is also a great option. Always consider providing vegetarian options and meeting other dietary requirements if necessary.

Catering equipment and event hire companies can also make suggestions for the menu based on previous events they have worked on.

Entertainment

The entertainment will depend on the type of event you are having and the purpose of it. A charity fundraiser relies on having great entertainment provided by comedians and musicians to get the attendance and donations they are aiming for. For a corporate event with clients, you may want to hold a host of presentations followed by an inspirational speaker. Or depending on your industry, a musician or comedian might be more appropriate.

Invitations and attendance

Once your event is starting to take shape, you will need to get the invitations sent out. There are a few things you can do to make sure the right people attend your event. Firstly, invitations should always be personalised. A call to follow up to make sure they received the invitation is a good way to make a client/guest feel important and valued.

Once you have received the RSVP list, another follow up call to all of the attendees to make sure they are still attending is another good tip to increase the amount of people who come.

Planning a corporate event doesn't have to be stressful. By following a few simple steps, you can organise your event with relative ease, and make sure all the right people attend. Making your event, a complete success.

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