Successful Meetings - December 2007 - 29

> Pre-Event By Janette McKee Holiday parties and end-of-year events are increasingly recognized as a key tool in staff retention and an important and visceral internal communications exercise. So, from a marketing perspective it is important to decide on your objectives from the start. Objectives can range from feel good to financial, and once they’re set you’ll have a better idea of what you need to plan for, and how successful the event was after it’s done. Then you have some more practical considerations that need your attention: Know your numbers. It seems obvious, but knowing your exact budgetary parameters from the onset will assist you in the allocation of funds and getting the biggest “bang for your buck” when it comes to your dollar spend. If your Christmas party has been sacrificed to corporate cost-cutting, you and other staff members could contribute a small amount a week into a kitty. Or see if your department can team up with another and pool your resources. Once you know what you have to spend, break it down into smaller budgets —for food, venue, and so on. Don’t be disheartened if you come across something that you love but doesn’t fit into the budget, write a wish list—you might be able to afford it with surprise savings somewhere else, or even find a cheaper alternative along the way. Put yourself in their shoes. It is important to understand the psychology of an event so run through the night in your mind while you’re planning and remember—one person’s idea of a great night on the dance floor could be the next person’s head-thumping nightmare. A good way to gauge response is to ask employees what they thought of SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS DECEMBER 2007 Planner’s Workshop Top 10 Tips for End-of-the-Year Event Success previous years’ events. 3 Select your site wisely. Consider everything from traditional function venues such as restaurants, hotels and nightclubs to historic houses, vacant mansions, warehouses, parks, new car showrooms—virtually any public 1 SPAAAAA. AAAAAH. 2 COME SEE WHAT YOU’VE BEEN MISSING. W W W . T U R F VA L L E Y R E S O R T. CO M / T V R S PA 8 8 8 . T E E . T U R F 20 MILES FROM BALTIMORE, 40 MILES FROM WASHINGTON, DC

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - December 2007

Successful Meetings - December 2007
Contents
Editor's Note
Special Report
Research
Industry Trends
2008 Meeting Events
Planner Spotlight
Websites of the Month
Mouth for Sale
Technology Talk
Food & Beverage
Pre-Event
On Site
Pre-Event
Tools of the Trade
Goodbye, Booth Babes
Five Tips to Improve Your Golf Events
When Crime Pays
Office for Hire
More Miles for Your Money
Places & Spaces
South Florida
Biloxi / Mississippi Gulf Coast
Fort Worth
Monterey
Beijing
Gurus
Special Supplement: Hawaii Island-by-Island Guide

Successful Meetings - December 2007