Event Planning - Repeat Business - Why Return to That Hotel

Repeat Business is what all companies strive for, especially hotels. They make money because you come back time after time and hand over your hard earned dollar bills. But, why return to the those hotels and restaurants? Does it have anything to do with the staff being service oriented? The answer is yes and we are going to discuss two staff positions that will specifically affect repeat business.

Those positions are Concierge and Convention Service Managers. You deal with the position, but it is the superior service of the person that you want and need. Let's discuss.

Concierge - recently I was in New Orleans at the Marriott Convention Center and our group needed help making reservations for dinner. Our favorite place was only open for special parties, so we had to go to plan "B" and find something else that would accommodate twenty to twenty five persons with only one day notice. We checked into the hotel and then went directly to the concierge. Her name was Rhoda Martinez.

She not only recommended a restaurant that could take care of us, but assisted us several times before our reservation to make constant changes to our numbers. Each time we talked she was courteous, pleasant, helpful and had great suggestions. She loves her job and the guests love her. So do we.

Rhonda even recommended a unique little local place for lunch that was ideal and will be remembered, so when thinking of reasons to return to her hotel, she gets an A+.

Convention Service Manager - I spent thirty years in hotels and most of that time was spent handling convention groups as Director of Convention Service. Clients would negotiate the sales contract with their sales manager and then it was my job to service them the rest of the way. That meant confirming contractual details, confirming space, pulling out all their needs and wants plus communicating their wishes to the hotel staff. Then my job was to make sure it all happened.

Two Goals - but, I had goals for each convention I handled. The first was to make sure all the attendees had a great convention, all the details were handled efficiently and with great service. Repeat business depends upon clients leaving the hotel with wonderful memories and saying to themselves "I want to return."

The second goal was as important, if not more important, than the first one. It was to make the convention planner so happy that they won't want to go anywhere else. So, to do this, I took extra care before the meeting to get all the details and prepared the convention resumes plus BEOs in detail. The hotel staff only had to follow my instructions and then I made sure everything was ready so the meeting planner only had to check the meeting rooms, but did not have to call and make changes.

We had great repeat business because the meeting planners knew I would make their job easy. Accomplishing one goal without the other did not bring back the business.

So, many of the hotels and restaurants you visit are nice and have great physical attributes. The meeting space and food might also be worth rebooking your convention, but you won't rebook if your attendees are not happy or if you had a hard time working the meeting. However, a great Concierge and Convention Service Manager will bring you back. We all like to be catered to. In the movie Field of Dreams there was a phrase that said "Build it and he will come." However, in the hotel and convention business, "If you make it easy on the planner, they will rebook." Repeat business absolutely depends on service.

3 Social Media Strategies That Creates a Buzz for Your Event

You can now create a brand presence on various social media sites by undertaking an event marketing campaign. Nowadays, a majority of the event organizers opt for this strategy to make their events popular. To do that you need to create a buzz on the web. That is the only way you can reach out to a multitude of audience within limited time spans. Irrespective of the size, the style of presenting the event on various social media spectrums, help in shaping people's perceptions about the same. It is not just a platform to convey a message about an upcoming event but it adds to the credibility, corporate identity and brand.

Always being an active internet user is crucial to the success of a social media based event marketing campaign.. Be it any possible way like posting on the Facebook wall or being on the Hang Out section of Google+, every bit helps. Besides, it is also important to be a constant participant in online interactions and make friends. When you interact with your friends or partners online, your network becomes visible to them which further open the door for you to connect with hundreds and thousands of likeminded users.

Let me now outline some of the key strategies that you can consider to create that special buzz for your event:

Tagging People in Photos

Tagging people in photos helps your prospective attendees as well as their individual social circles and friends to see your events page. While doing so, you must make sure that the photos posted are of good quality. Hire a professional photographer to get quality pictures of your event. Ensure that the sizes of the photos are not too large and should not take much time to upload.

Using the Share Button

Make sure you post your promotional blogs with their related links on various social media networking sites like Facebook and Twitter with a click on the share button. This helps your event gain visibility. An increasing number of users actually come to know about your event through this viral marketing tactic.

Using Twitter Shout outs

You can trade Twitter shout out with coworkers, employees, contacts, friends and groups whom you follow. Using a shout-out gives your event increased exposure and brings you more followers. You can also hash tag your Twitter shout outs. This allows more people to take a notice of your announcements and read your message.

The marketing and advertising industries are constantly evolving so an event marketing campaign undertaken via social media is sure keep your company brand name and reputation in conversation.

Corporate Events Caterers and How to Choose One

This first time that you are looking to hire corporate events caterers you can feel a little overwhelmed by the process of finding the best one at the best price. The following are some tips that can help you make your way through this endeavor.

A good place to begin is by asking people you know if they have any experience with corporate event caterers. Request that they give you both their positive and negative experiences so they can let you know some things to avoid. They should be able to give you the name of a company or two.

The next step is to take a look on the internet and see what information is out there for your particular location. For example, if you were looking for a caterer in the Washington D.C. area, you would start by doing a search for something like party rentals Washington DC. Then, take a look at some sites that rate these companies. It's always a good idea to read about what other consumers like you have experienced.

When you have pinned it down to a few companies, call them and get an estimate. You have to be aware of how many people you expect to feed and the kind of food you need. There are several ways to negotiate with the catering companies. One way is to let them know specifically how much money you have available and find out what you could receive for your money. Make sure they know you are considering different companies. Another way is to just let them know how many guests you invited and let them give you suggestions.

Another thing to be certain to remember is to request a discount for large orders. You might imagine that the discount will be given to you automatically on a bulk order like this, but you often do have to ask. In any case it will never be bad for you to request information about any deals or promotions that they have. This will help you save money, or perhaps get more out of the money that you will be spending.

The bottom line is that when you're planning for an event like this you should really be looking specifically into corporate events caterers who specialize in the type of order your placing. Try to find someone with a lot of positive reviews on different consumer sites and be sure to get everything in writing before hand.

Tips to Purchase an Event Management Software

How you can do meticulous event planning if your event is very large? How you can keep the tracks of the event logistics, flow of money pre-event, at-event and post-event. The answer is pretty simple. Event Management Software. You can depend upon this software to ensure your success in the event-planning field. There are wide varieties of softwares available in the market. Therefore it is important that you pick up the right software. Keep following things in mind while purchasing an event-software:

1) The software must have the facility to create online registration forms with customizable fields and forms templates.

2) The software must be able to process credit cards and debits cards online and that too in a secure manner using SSL socket layer.

3) The software must be able to send confirmation mails to the event participants once the payment is received. It must also be able to remind the participants of the approaching event dates.

4) The software must be able to show real time event registration reports which can be easily downloaded and printed out.

5) Make sure that your software really provides automation of all event processes. Many softwares claim to provide full automation but they fail at some point or the other when used esp. in capturing data.

6) The software must be easy to use and must provide a documentation and online support.

7) It must provide wide range of reports, like reports on registration, accommodations, travel arrangements, logistics, budget, clients, attendees etc which can be easily downloaded or shared.

Baptismal Party Planning - Checklist For Success

When throwing a baptismal party, it's important that you have all the details arranged prior to the date of the event, so that the entire day can be a meaningful experience. In order to do so, some pre-planning must take place. 

First, you must choose and order an appropriate outfit for the baby being baptized. Also, decide who you'd like to be the Godparents and ask them if they would accept this honor. Then it's time to work on the party. A few weeks to a month before the party, you can do the following:

• Create a guest list



• Mail invitations and request that everyone RSVP (You may want to ask people to bring their cameras and request copies of some of the pictures after the party.) 


• Decide if you'd like a formal or casual party, and begin picking out decorations and party favors accordingly


• Decide on a menu


• Order a cake

Once the RSVP's start arriving, you can begin to go more in-depth in the party planning. Keep in mind that some people will forget to RSVP and others may have last minute plan changes that won't permit them to attend. A week before the big day, you should:

• Shop for the ingredients for your menu, order all prepared food. Make sure you have enough food for everyone - it's always better to have a little extra than not enough.


• Choose activities for young guests to participate in and determine if you will have an area for the children to play


• Finish with decorations and baptism party favors so that everything is ready to be set up before the date arrives

If you do all of the above ahead of time, you will only have to spend the couple days before the party decorating and putting finishing touches on everything. Then, when the day of the baptism arrives, you can sit back and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Diva Entertains, Copyright 2009

Business Lessons Learned From Shark Tank

Small business owners call learn a lot from the ABC television show "Shark Tank".

The program centers on entrepreneurs who believe they have the next great idea or simply want to take their existing company to the next level.

In order to bring their dream to fruition they seek a substantial investment.

Most are looking to sell a small piece of their firm for a large capital infusion. Others are willing to part with a large percentage of company ownership.

Who gets what and how much is left in the hands of "The Sharks". These are millionaires and even billionaires who have achieved great success.

The Sharks built their own companies from scratch. Collectively they are well-versed in a variety of business sectors from clothing to high-tech to real estate to retail to TV infomercials.

Ideas with the greatest potential create a sort of feeding frenzy among the Sharks. They will bid against each other and offer different investment packages hoping to entice the entrepreneur into a partnership.

Those entrepreneurs who accurately and professionally can state their case, and have the products to back it up, can receive thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition they also get the knowledge and leadership their partner Shark can provide.

The entrepreneur who fails to make a persuasive argument is made to look foolish and is often sent home with no investment.

Several business lessons can be gleaned from swimming with these sharks.

1. Know your marketplace. Nearly all successful companies have learned to fixate on a target market. They understand the strengths and weaknesses of their products or service. They also have a good feel for their competition and know the parameters of maintaining a steady and solid growth pattern.

I have worked with dozens of small business owners over the years and can say that not all entrepreneurs share that vision. Many small firms launch a product or service hoping it resonates with a select group of buyers and then grows on its own.

Often a few items are sold and a plateau is reached. Many times the business owner can eke out a living but lacks the funds and insight to take the company past the launch stage or is always in survival mode.

Entrepreneurs who secure investments on Shark Tank understand their marketplace. They know the upside and limitations of their product. These business owners have found a niche and realize that with a little help and some cash they can double, triple or quadruple the size of their firm.

2. Know your message. This is marketing/PR 101 but many small business owners are unable to create a sales message that successfully connects with their customer base.

They fail to communicate the real benefits of their products in a few short sentences and are unable to differentiate their offerings from competitors. Fairly or not they become perceived as a "me too" company falling in-line with others who sell basically the same goods and services.

The Sharks reward those business owners who can passionately present their products in a brief concise manner, poignantly demonstrating how these products stand out in the crowded marketplace.

3. Remain flexible. Entrepreneurs often fall in love with their products and stay rigid in their thinking. They focus on one specific product and market, and continue hammering away at selected customers for months if not years. When the marketplace fails to respond they blame their advertising or the economy in general.

The Sharks will often envision a new use for a particular product. They tell the creator he or she may be missing out on an entire market niche. It is common for them to tell the business owner to make a few tweaks to the item and then rebrand it before bringing it to market. If the entrepreneur is willing to do so the Sharks are likely to invest in the new approach.

Business owners can learn a lot from watching Shark Tank. The keys are to watch the interaction between those seeking funding and the millionaires who are ready to invest. Then analyze your own company to ensure you have the right mix of products to be positioned for long-term growth.

Tips on Corporate Event Planning

Corporate event planning must be done well from start to finish to avoid any last minute issues. Here, you will learn easy and effective ways to effectively plan corporate events.
All businesses run on certain strategies and planning. If certain guidelines aren't followed, the company won't reach their goals and targets. Thus, let us discuss why corporate meeting planning is an important aspect to every business.

Meetings are very important in the corporate world, and are usually held to communicate and discuss significant points and objectives. If they are not planned properly, people may get a bad impression of the company. It is imperative that these meetings are organized in such a way that all possible bad situations are avoided.

Nowadays, companies hold business meetings and events for various reasons. They might want to hold a meeting to recap their success of the year, hold an annual holiday gathering, discuss important decisions, have a sales meeting, or many other reasons. Some companies even hold such events to launch new products, go over social networking and press releases, or for product promotion. With corporate meeting planning, you will be able to carry out any event flawlessly.

Corporate events may have a touch of humor and entertainment. A common misconception that people have is that because these events are official gathering, the event needs to be strict and formal. However, this is not the case. The corporate event planner should add fun and entertaining activities to break up the monotony of the normal, boring work day. Successful meetings are those that make the employees appreciative of the people they work with and also give the feeling that they are working for a good organization.

Professionals who manage every aspect of corporate meetings and events are known as corporate event planners. They have been trained as specialists in the meeting or event planning field and are equipped to carry out the supervision of this process. Corporate event planners discuss all of the client's necessities regarding the corporate meeting, and organize the details accordingly. They are responsible for suggesting the most appropriate venue for the event, managing the staff needed for the event, and ensuring quality and sufficient food for the guests. Professional corporate event planners are especially proficient in multitasking, including time management as a key factor. Other requirements for event planners are interpersonal, organizational and communication skills. A planner knows best on suggesting which clients that are the best option according to the budget. Every event planner also needs a clear understanding of how the venue has to be arranged.

Nowadays, it's easy to find a list of corporate event planners to help in executing a successful corporate event or meeting, even on a tighter budget.Corporate event planning must be done well from start to finish to avoid any last minute issues. Here, you will learn easy and effective ways to effectively plan corporate events.

All businesses run on certain strategies and planning. If certain guidelines aren't followed, the company won't reach their goals and targets. Thus, let us discuss why corporate meeting planning is an important aspect to every business.

Meetings are very important in the corporate world, and are usually held to communicate and discuss significant points and objectives. If they are not planned properly, people may get a bad impression of the company. It is imperative that these meetings are organized in such a way that all possible bad situations are avoided.

Nowadays, companies hold business meetings and events for various reasons. They might want to hold a meeting to recap their success of the year, hold an annual holiday gathering, discuss important decisions, have a sales meeting, or many other reasons. Some companies even hold such events to launch new products, go over social networking and press releases, or for product promotion. With corporate meeting planning, you will be able to carry out any event flawlessly.

Corporate events may have a touch of humor and entertainment. A common misconception that people have is that because these events are official gathering, the event needs to be strict and formal. However, this is not the case. The corporate event planner should add fun and entertaining activities to break up the monotony of the normal, boring work day. Successful meetings are those that make the employees appreciative of the people they work with and also give the feeling that they are working for a good organization.

Professionals who manage every aspect of corporate meetings and events are known as corporate event planners. They have been trained as specialists in the meeting or event planning field and are equipped to carry out the supervision of this process. Corporate event planners discuss all of the client's necessities regarding the corporate meeting, and organize the details accordingly. They are responsible for suggesting the most appropriate venue for the event, managing the staff needed for the event, and ensuring quality and sufficient food for the guests. Professional corporate event planners are especially proficient in multitasking, including time management as a key factor. Other requirements for event planners are interpersonal, organizational and communication skills. A planner knows best on suggesting which clients that are the best option according to the budget. Every event planner also needs a clear understanding of how the venue has to be arranged.

Nowadays, it's easy to find a list of corporate event planners to help in executing a successful corporate event or meeting, even on a tighter budget.