Planning a Workplace Event
Hosting professional events is an important part of developing lasting workplace relationships which, in turn, are crucial for the growth of your company. Corporate events provide excellent opportunities to bond, not just with your colleagues, but also your partners and clients.
Whether you are planning a picnic for 200 employees or a training session for 20, it is important that every aspect of the event is organized impeccably and in a way that maximizes the company’s ROI (Return on Investment).
Hence, in this blog, Tommy Shek will discuss a few ingredients for the perfect workplace event.
Planning a Workplace Event:
Understanding the Purpose of the Event:
As is the case with so many workplace initiatives, having a clear idea about the objectives is often the first key to success.
Start by understanding the reason that you want to host the event and what you want to get out of it. According to Tommy Shek, identifying the expectations and goals will then allow you to determine the type of event that will resonate best with your audience.
Tommy Shek recommends seeing it less as a corporate event and more as an opportunity to deliver a brand experience.
Choosing the Ideal Venue:
The venue is one of the biggest determinants of the success of any event, corporate or otherwise. When picking a venue, consider factors like the size of your audience, the amount of parking space, the availability of lifts or escalators, the scale of your event and, of course, your budget.
In general, the venue needs to be sufficiently spacious and airy, and should be accessible from multiple major locations throughout the city. Besides, you need to triple-check if every amenity is in working order – why endure unpleasant experiences that could have been avoided? If possible, Tommy Shek suggests personally visiting each shortlisted location before finalizing one. If you think that the space is suitable and versatile enough to host future corporate events, you could also consider getting into a multi-year contract.
Carefully Deciding the Menu:
The menu is just as crucial as the venue, if not more. It is important to avoid monotony and provide sufficient variety for all the attendees. A good way to start picking the menu is by sending out emails, asking if any of the invitees have any food allergies or other concerns (nut allergies or lactose intolerance, for instance).
If possible, try to pair the food items with suitable beverages. For instance, red wine goes well with seafood, and beer might be a good choice for appetizers or something more upscale. Of course, all of this will depend upon the kind of event you are hosting as well as on your budget.
Final Word:
If you still do not know where to start with the planning, look back to a past corporate event that was a major success, and seek inspiration from it. Having said that, we are quite confident that the above guide by Tommy Shek will prove to be a useful reference point and help you plan a memorable workplace event.