Does this sound familiar? You’re tasked with planning your organization’s upcoming event, given a strict budget and expected to produce an event that’s both unique and spectacular. We certainly understand your dilemma – we’ve been in the event planning business for more than 25 years and work with clients all the time who are in the same predicament. That’s why we’ve put together this short list of corporate event planning tips that can help you maximize the “wow factor” at your event, while being mindful of your budget limitations.
4 CORPORATE EVENT PLANNING TIPS
1. Be Flexible About Venues and Venue Dates. If you’re not tied to a specific venue and/or date for your event, being flexible can sometimes help you to obtain better rates. For instance, if you’d like to book the large dining room in that hot new restaurant downtown for your holiday party, you can probably get a much better deal on an off-peak evening or holiday date. Location flexibility is key. The broader the geographic scope, the more choices you have. Need a little help from us? Our free location marketing service can help you select from 1,500 locations.
2. Consider a Buffet-Style Dinner or Finger Foods. When you plan a sit-down meal at your event, a large portion of the costs go toward the wait and service staff. When you choose a buffet-style meal instead, staffing needs are reduced, which brings down your costs. If your event doesn’t require a plated meal or that guests sit at a table, you can also save by choosing cocktail-style finger food such as hors d’oeuvres and themed stations. Mingling is encouraged while food costs are reduced when your menu is designed and limited to foods that can be eaten standing up. We recommend that you always consider the type of atmosphere you’d like to create when making this type of decision. Corporate event planners can help decide which format will work best.
3. Use an Event Planner. We’re not just saying this because we’d like to work with you, even though we would love to. We’re saying it because a corporate event planner can typically get discounts on supplies, vendors and even venues that you won’t otherwise be able to get. At Save the Date®, we’ve built up many valuable partnerships over the years that can be used to your advantage to get you the best deals for everything your corporate event requires.
4. Get Creative. A little creativity can go a long way when it comes to stretching your event budget, especially with décor and activities. Simple, cost-effective items including branded items such as giveaways or edible items, for example, can create an atmosphere of elegance for a corporate dinner, while adding some games or music can add fun and pizzazz to a hip, holiday party.
SAVE THE DATE® OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE CORPORATE EVENT PLANNING SOLUTIONS
At Save the Date®, we understand that planning corporate events can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time or if your upcoming event is different, bigger or more important than what you’re used to planning. We would love to speak to you today to find out more about your event to determine which solutions to recommend. There’s no obligation; just call us at 212-333-3283.
