With every decision you make in the coming days, weeks or months, ask yourself: will this help my corporate event meet expectations and be successful?

Corporate event planning is always limited by two factors: the amount of time you have to plan your event and the size of your event planning budget. So, when planning a corporate event, you should be prepared to make sacrifices—either to speed things up or to cut costs. But, that doesn’t mean you need to settle for a lackluster affair. Follow these event planning tips to give your guests a memorable experience they’ll be talking about for months!

1. Identify what is most important to you
2. Give your guests compelling reasons to attend
3. Gather feedback to help improve future events

Let’s take a closer look at each of these corporate event planning tips and why they can help you be successful regardless of your budget or the time you have to prep.

1. Identify What is Most Important to the Success of Your Corporate Event

Before you do anything else, put serious thought into why you’re planning a corporate event in the first place. What are the most important goals you want to achieve? What do key stakeholders in your organization expect as an outcome?

The only way to find out is to schedule time with the C-Suite and get everyone to align on what matters most. Once you reach a consensus, put it in writing and distribute it to everyone involved. This document is now your compass for deciding where to invest your time, your money and how to manage your corporate event.

With every decision you make in the coming days, weeks or months, ask yourself: will this help my corporate event meet expectations and be successful? If the answer is “no” and you need to make cuts for one reason or another, you’ll have a great place to start.

2. Give Your Guests Compelling Reasons to Attend

Regardless of the end goal of your event, remember that it’s just as much about your guests as it is about you. Yes, you have certain objectives you hope to accomplish or important messages you want to communicate. But, your guests are giving up their time and (in some cases) money to attend, so make sure you give them what they want:

• Compelling, thought-provoking speakers
• Opportunities for professional development
• Time for networking with colleagues and other professionals
• Fun and entertainment: all work, no play = no way

Bottom line? Spend as much time thinking about the value of the event to your guests as you do to your organization.

3. Gather Feedback to Improve Your Next Corporate Event

One of the best ways to save money on your next event is to find out from guests what worked and what didn’t. Was that expensive guest speaker a hit or a dud? Was the venue comfortable and inviting? Did the food and refreshments keep people satisfied? And, of course, don’t forget to ask your guests for input about what you can do differently next time. Who knows, maybe you’ll discover you can host your next corporate event for less without sacrificing quality.

Bonus Tip: Choose a Reputable Hospitality Staffing Solution

Don’t let all your hard work and preparation get overshadowed by an unprofessional hospitality staff. Quality hospitality staffing will all but guarantee your guests have a great time at your corporate event. At Labor Systems Job Center, our flexible hospitality staffing solutions can help ensure your corporate event goes off without a hitch. For more information or to submit a request for a service quote, fill out our form today.