Event Planning - How Do You Treat Your Clients?

How do you treat your clients and customers? Do you do it right? Do you meet their expectations, do it with a smile and how do you show your appreciation? We all work for companies that try, but some do it better than others. So, today we are going to talk about going above and beyond, not just partially, not most of the way, but all the way and beyond.

Appreciation in Style - Courthouse Retrieval System showed their appreciation in the manner they do business, first class. Their brochure states "Focus on Quality. We are committed to superior customer service and we value our customer feedback." and I believe what they say. While attending a convention at the National Association of Realtors in New Orleans, they invited several of their clients to an appreciation breakfast at Brennan's Restaurant and I was fortunate enough to be invited as part of the group.

For those of you including myself that had never had the fine opportunity to dine at Brennan's, they are a fine dinning restaurant, winning many awards and that's why Courthouse Retrieval Systems decided to plan their event with them.

Greeting and Smile - what I like most from anyone taking care of me, either personally or business wise is to be greeted with a smile and that was what we got. Every time I see Sara with CRS, I get a warm welcome with a smile and a hug. Needless to say, she is warm and everyone becomes a friend. So we were met at Brennan's with a smile and that smile was extended throughout the breakfast from each server that graciously took care of all her guests. Our special greeting from Brennan's started off with a mimosa.

Reputation and Expectations - Brennan's name itself tells the story. They provide such great service and quality, that you just know you will have the right experience and we did. So, what Courthouse Retrieval Systems was trying to do was show the same kind of service, smile and effort with a restaurant like Brennan's that has a reputation to supply the same expectations time and time again.

Excellence and Entree - while Brennan's has an extensive menu, we were offered a choice of three appetizers, four entrees and two desserts that were all exquisite. My choice was New Orleans Turtle Soup, but others chose Creole Onion Soup or Strawberries with Double Cream.

I normally try and eat healthy, but the day encompassed some extra walking because it was impossible to resist the gourmet options. So, my healthy entree was "Eggs Ellen - Grilled filet of fresh salmon topped with two poached eggs and Hollandaise sauce." Most of the others at my table selected "Eggs Hussarde - Poached eggs atop Holland rusks, Canadian bacon, and Marchand de Vin sauce. Topped with Hollandaise sauce." The entrees were prepared to perfection and the quality was superb.

Customer Satisfaction and Dessert - we were perfectly happy with the service, entree, quality and smiles, then we were offered the "Icing on the Cake." In this case, Brennan's had two choices, but we went with their signature dessert "Bananas Foster - Bananas sauteed in butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and topped with banana liqueur, then flamed in rum. Served over vanilla ice cream." The motto here is to take your customer satisfaction to a higher level.

Service with Style - to all of the above, add a service staff in tuxes, an elegant New Orleans surrounding, an intimate room seating about forty guests and a never ending supply of water and hot coffee. By the way, my idea of service implies "doing" before one asks, so we never had to ask for anything. They were always replenishing coffee and water, so glasses and cups were never empty.

Thank You - Remembrance - so, while we don't always treat our clients like this every day, we can always provide the service, excellence, attitude and smiles that make our customers return. Create the atmosphere and mentality to thank your customers for their business. They will return if you treat them right.