Four crucial tips for business event organisers -- insider corporate event planning tips you must know

Here are four things all business event organisers must pay heed to. In fact, these issues are often neglected even by professionals who know effective corporate event planning tips and ideas. Your success in organising an important corporate conference, incentive meeting or business education seminar depends on getting these factors right.

#1: When you select a site, always compare like to like.
The site or venue is normally one of the biggest costs in planning and organising a corporate event. Site selection lays the foundation for your business conference events.

It is important to be sure you take everything into consideration when negotiating room blocks, conference venue rates, food & beverage and all the miscellaneous charges. The hotel sales manager can help you, but watch out for tricks like giving you a fabulous room rate while charging high rates on food & beverage and other charges. The organisers should always be aware of the big picture.

#2: Your business events' message needs to be crystal clear. Don't confuse it.
The only way to have a successful corporate meeting is when the organisers are clear about the objectives.

When planning the event -- the speakers, business topics, handout material, marketing material, activities, etc -- never deviate from this focus. For example, if the event is a strategic planning meeting for a core, top-level executive group, choose a venue that'll allow them to work undistracted by day-to-day business problems.

As the organiser and planner, this is your responsibility.

#3: Think of ways to reach people who cannot attend. If there's an important speech planned at some point during the event, consider hiring a webcast provider to stream it live online; this will allow people to watch from their home or office computers. Webcasting is a very commonly used service and has been put to use for anything from university lectures to classical music.

#4: You must share relevant information about the corporate event with all parties involved.
Everyone providing products or services for your event should be aware of the meeting's objective and plan.

Here's an excellent tip -- share the strategic plan for the business meeting with these partners. In addition, take the time to explain the event to them verbally. That way, they can orient themselves to your needs. Being secretive can be a real obstacle in corporate event planning.

#5. Always triple-check everything, from start of planning till the end of event.
This is perhaps the best tips for all business event organisers.

Event planning takes place over a period of several months for even a moderately complex occasion. So don't assume that the travel agent who promised four months ago that she'll organize a special trip into the mountains will remember her promise without being reminded.

Monitor at all times and stay on top of things.

Remember these essential corporate event planning tips and you'll be well on your way to creating successful business programs.

FranklinCovey - Check out their best-selling, superbly designed planning products. Give a real boost to your personal productivity.

Home
Business events
Organisers guide
Event essentials
Corporate event tips
Planning checklist