Hosting a company event offers so many potential benefits for your business. It brings your employees together, which creates new bonds, and gives them an opportunity to share ideas and experiences, as well as socialize! Company events can also improve the relationship between you and your employees. This increases loyalty and motivates your employees to be more productive, helping fuel the growth and development of your business.
A successful event is one that your guests will always remember and reminisce about in the years to come. Continue reading to learn about these tips for planning a successful event:
Plan, Plan, Plan!
Every attendee will notice if your event is poorly planned. And the experience will leave a bad taste in their mouth. But you might be so busy with your company’s core activities that you can’t find the time to plan the event. In this case, consider hiring a corporate event planner in Toronto. They can help you with the crucial details such as:
- Setting a proper date
- Identifying your guests’ needs and catering to them
- Choosing a venue that will comfortably accommodate all your guests
- Drafting a budget
- Outlining the goals of the event
- Choosing an appropriate theme
- Planning the menu
- Inviting guests
- Monitoring progress as the event nears
When these details are adequately addressed, your guests are sure to be satisfied and your event will be fondly remembered in the years to come.
Serve an Inclusive Menu
The food and beverages you offer are essential to making the event unforgettable. Therefore, you should pay attention to the menu being served. Does it cater to the needs of various diets? For example, nowadays, many people are vegetarian or vegan. You should ensure there are vegan options on the menu. Some people have food sensitivities to gluten or dairy so you should ensure there are menu items that are dairy-free and/or gluten-free. Many people (including me) follow the Keto diet so you will want to have items include animal protein and vegetables. Diabetic guests will require food that is low in sugar, fat, and calories.
How you serve your guests also matters a lot. The most guaranteed approach is to work with an experienced corporate catering service well-versed with the kind of event you want to organize. Having handled many other events before, they should be able to prepare the best meals for your guests. You also want to ensure the catering service is licensed and meets food safety standards.
It’s also critical to be inclusive regarding the beverages to be served. Providing a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will satisfy all your guests.
Choose Your Venue Wisely
Cramming your guests into a crowded room is unhealthy, especially these days (!) and uncomfortable. Consider a spacious hall that will accommodate all your guests and allow them to move freely and mingle.
Secondly, the location of your corporate event is essential. Choose one that’s easily accessible to all guests. Don’t choose venues that are too far or hard to find. It would be a bonus if the event venue is near some of the top instagrammable locations in Toronto to allow your guests to enjoy epic photo sessions.
Furthermore, while choosing your venue, remember to check on available parking. You don’t want your guests to have to park too far away from the venue.
Finally, choose a venue according to your budget. Don’t choose an expensive venue if your budget clearly doesn’t allow it. On the other hand, while it’s good to save on costs, don’t compromise on quality. Inferior venues reflect poorly on your corporate image.
Set the Mood
The spirit of your event doesn’t come by chance. Rather, it’s by design. You can set the mood of your event with the decor and its colour scheme, food and music. For example, choose bright colours that excite your guests and encourage them to take photos.
Also, select uplifting music that is energizing! Dull music or no music at all may dampen their spirits.
Another way to set the right mood is by lighting the venue appropriately. For instance, you can cleverly add lighting fixtures with lights that bear your organization’s colours.
Lastly, consider the layout of the venue. Arrange the seating in a way that allows your guests to interact.
Deliver an Exciting Speech
Nobody wants to listen to a boring speech – that’s a surefire way to lose your guests’ interest fast! While delivering your speech or acting as an emcee, ensure you engage your audience by including anecdotes or funny stories that’ll capture their attention. Be careful with jokes though as what you might find funny may not appeal to others. It’s best to gather a group of your staff several days before the event to listen to you deliver a dry run of your speech.
Also, remember to keep the speeches short and sweet. Intersperse speeches with brief breaks for entertainment. This keeps your audience alert throughout, enabling them to grasp all you need them to know.
It’s possible to pull off a memorable corporate event that perfectly resonates with your staff and other guests. If you follow the tips for planning a successful event listed above regarding venue choice, menu and speeches, your event should delight your guests. They will also have fond memories of the event and be eager to attend the next event you organize.
