Are you planning to host a corporate event soon? Whether you’re a seasoned event planner or a first-time organizer, corporate events are crucial in creating engagement among employees or clients. Corporate events are any social activity or function hosted and funded by a company or business entity. They can range from mini-events with only select employees to large-scale events with over 10,000 attendees.
To create a successful corporate event, you need to go beyond gathering all your employees in a conference room and setting an agenda. You must focus on meeting your event’s goals while fostering interaction through high-level engagement.
To get started, it’s best to assess your options based on the event’s size. Corporate events can be divided into four categories: micro or simple events, small events, mid-size events, and large-scale events.
Micro or Simple Events are more intimate and usually involve around 100 delegates and participants. Examples include a meeting or a training session. Planning a micro event is relatively straightforward and can be done in as fast as two weeks. You need to book a room or a venue, secure presentation facilities, hire a catering company for refreshments, and facilitate the registration process.
Small Events can have up to 250 delegates and can be a seminar, training day, or a department-wide conference. Corporate seminars refer to business partners or employees gathering to discuss a particular topic. Seminars also require internal speakers or guests outside the company but in the same industry. On the other hand, corporate training involves a higher level of engagement between workers. Finally, department-wide conferences focus only on a select team within a company. A designated team of planners or organizers will make sure that all the essentials are present.
Mid-Size Events are heavily reliant on technology and tend to draw out over a few days or up to a week or two. You’ll often find higher-ups and delegates from around the world attending this event. With more than 1,000 delegates involved, mid-size events require far more resources than micro-events. Professional event planning is a must for any mid-size event. Key event organizers and stakeholders must consider a host of factors, including the creation of a branded website, development of pre-event communications, event mobile app, hotel accommodation for guests, transport options to and from the venue, pre-and post-event reception, and post-event entertainment.
Large-Scale Events are usually more complex, last several days, and may include other offsite activities such as company dinners, partnership programs, or awards ceremonies. They may also be performed with other activities like product launches or trade shows. If you plan on organizing a large-scale event, you need to use enterprise tools at your disposal. This event type relies heavily on technology, like event management software, for instance. Planners can decide on going completely virtual or hybrid, featuring up to 10,000 attendees or more.
Takeaway
Corporate events can be a powerful tool for businesses to engage with their employees or clients, celebrate milestones, or communicate new strategies. However, planning and executing a successful corporate event can be a complex process that requires attention to detail, a creative mindset, and a thorough understanding of the different types of events and their unique requirements.
By carefully assessing the event’s size and purpose, event planners can choose the most appropriate type of event and plan accordingly. Whether it’s a micro-event or a large-scale event, following the tips and tricks outlined in this guide will help ensure a smooth and successful event.
For micro-events, planners can focus on securing the essentials, such as booking a venue, securing presentation facilities, hiring a catering company for refreshments, and facilitating the registration process. For small events, planners can consider the level of engagement required for the attendees, whether it’s a seminar, training day, or department-wide conference.
Mid-size events require more extensive planning, including the creation of a branded website, development of pre-event communications, event mobile app, hotel accommodation for guests, transport options, pre-and post-event reception, and post-event entertainment. Large-scale events can be more complex, last several days, and may include offsite activities such as company dinners, partnership programs, or awards ceremonies.
In conclusion, corporate event planning requires careful consideration of the event’s purpose and size. By understanding the unique requirements of each type of event, planners can create an experience that meets its goals while fostering interaction among attendees. Whether it’s a micro-event or a large-scale event, following the tips and tricks outlined in this guide will help ensure a successful and memorable corporate event. So, start planning your next corporate event with confidence, and create an experience that will leave a lasting impression on your attendees.
