Wednesday 24 April 2013

Incentive Travel Dos and Don’ts


Incentive travel is one of the most tried, tested and trusted motivational techniques. Offering the team a chance to visit popular destinations can help to put them in the right frame of mind that will get them to achieve your targets. Few motivational tools come close to the effects brought about by incentive travel. If you want to increase retention of employees who are permanently at their productive best, if you want to increase your profits and create a more enjoyable work environment, incentive travel sure is the way to go.
However, there is a lot more to incentive travel, especially from the organizer’s view point, than booking the travel tickets and the accommodation at the destination. You need to make sure that the destination you select offers a full range of activities and facilities that interest at least a majority of your team members. You may also want to consider the surrounding area to see if there plenty of great restaurants, shops and additional activities for after-hours entertainment. With so much to keep in mind, it is a good idea to get in touch with a reputable event planning company so as to avail the best deals and also for help in planning out unique itineraries.
A professional team of those experienced in the field of event management can make sure that your travel schedule is planned centering on the objectives of the organization, keep the cost within the budget stipulated and ensure that the elements of entertainment and fun are a regular feature of your trip. If you make the right choice from among the various event planning companies you can be assured of a well-developed package and all the support required to make this an enjoyable and memorable trip for all the participants who worked hard to earn it. Moreover this incentive travel is bound to give a boost to the efforts of the company if it is seeking to move ahead of the competition.
Here is a list of Dos & Don’ts that will serve to make your trip even more worthwhile for everyone involved:
·         Do try and provide wholesome experiences that will engage all their senses.
·         Don’t hesitate in asking your corporate event planners to select adventurous activities that push the envelope a bit – your clients are not around to watch.
·         Do inform your team what activities are planned so that they can pack the right clothing.
·         Don’t make plans for every minute of the trip. Allow people time to take a nap or a walk, whatever they prefer.
·         Do arrange for free shipping of gifts, especially if they are heavy and/or huge.
·         Don’t overlook the minutest detail regarding this trip. It is not just about value for money or working within a budget that matter. It is about making it all worthwhile for those who participate in the trip with diligence and hard work.
For best results, consider using an event management company that is experienced and has the resources it takes to make your trip a success, like Plan Ahead Events.

Monday 1 April 2013

What To Ask When Planning Corporate Events



A successful corporate event gives you an ideal opportunity for managers and employees to network with each other or with current and prospective customers in a carefully tailored environment. Engaging a specialist – a corporate event planner – for this activity will leave you to deal with the more specialized demands of your role in the organization. You should make full use of the experience and the exposure that the event planner has. An event organizer can save your company quite an amount by bringing his/her consultancy skills, contact lists of trusted vendors, and industry discounts to the table.
When you first think of holding a corporate event there are two questions you need to have answered:
  1. What are your (or your client’s aims) in organizing this event?
  2. Who are your target audience?
Only after you have arrived at decisive answers to these questions should you go ahead to plan your event. During the planning stages also you need to brainstorm with your corporate event planner or ask yourself the following questions to make sure you are on the right track:
  1. Is this the best kind of event for our organizational needs?
    With the numerous types of events available, it is important to choose the right kind that will connect you to your target audience in the best way.
  2. Are you planning to use the latest technology to market your event?
    An
    Event marketing companies will be aware of the latest marketing tools and methods available. Make sure these will be put to the best use within the limits of your budget.
  3. What technology will be available at the venue?
    With technology playing a vital role in everyone’s life these days, it is a good idea to provide internet access and iPad chargers at the venue. Rather, choose a venue that allows you to put the latest technology to good use.
  4. Can we get a discounted package deal from the venue?
    Most resorts and hotels offer package deals including the lodging, catering and infrastructural needs for your seminar or conference. Most
    event management companies have mutually beneficial deals with these places. Make the best use of this fact.
  5. What kind of entertainment or gaming can be included in the event?
    Selling your products or services, getting your team to gel well together, etc. are your aims. What is in it for your audience? The fun or entertainment element is crucial to the success of your event.
Getting the answers to these questions should help your event planner and you to put together an event that achieves the required results for your organization. For best results, approach a reputed and experienced event management company, like Plan Ahead Events, who have a proven track record of extremely successful events to be your partner.