Category: Corporate Event Ideas

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Corporate Entertainment Corporate Event Ideas

What Is a Keynote Speaker?

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Many people are confused as to what exactly a keynote speaker is. While they share some similarities to motivational speakers, there are some noticeable differences between the two that shouldn’t go unnoticed. In this post, we’re going to take a closer look at keynote speakers and their role in the modern-day corporate world.

Basically, a keynote speaker can be described as an individual who researches the audience and topic days ahead of time to create a concise theme-driven presentation — usually lasting around 45 minutes to an hour.

So how can a keynote speaker empower your service team? Unlike traditional speakers, keynote speakers utilizes a more “down-to-earth” approach with their presentation. It’s not uncommon for them to have a presentation which uses a lot of comedy, interesting facts and off-the-wall antics to keep the audience watching. Instead of having to sit through a boring old traditional speech, your customer service team will be entertained throughout the entire keynote presentation.

If you want a speaker to have an effect on your customer service team, they have to keep their attention. A keynote speaker is trained in doing just that – keeping the attention of the audience. In their presentation, a keynote speaker will likely stress the importance of the customer service team in a fun and enjoyable manner that’s easy to watch and listen to. This is vital in having a impact on the audience.

No matter what field of your business your company operates in, chances are it will benefit from an empowered customer service team. In today’s fast-paced age of the internet and social media sites, any wrong-doing by a company is quickly voiced through cyberspace. When other people hear about these wrong-doings, they will in turn avoid your company. If you train your customer service team to perform their job better, you’ll find that positive reviews and praise are voiced instead of complaints.

As you can see, there’s little question as to whether or not a keynote speaker will help your business. Their fun and easy to listen to speeches will keep your customer service team entertained throughout the entire presentation. While they may seem like more a a fun getaway for your employees, you’ll find that a keynote presentation actually produces a more professional customer service team.

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Corporate Entertainment Corporate Event Ideas

How To Break The Ice at a Corporate Networking Event

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Corporate networking events offer the perfect opportunity for employees to develop invaluable professional relationships while meeting new people. Employees can make their rounds from group to group, telling who they are and what they do. This often leads to strong relationships that improve productivity and efficiency – two key components of any successful business.

The problem with corporate networking events today is that many attendees are stuck in the mindset of handing out their business card and performing little-to-no interaction with the other attendees. There’s certainly nothing wrong with giving someone your business card, but you should put forth the effort to build new relationships and make the most of your time at the event. So, how can you break the ice to start a conversation with someone whom you’ve never met?

Introduce Yourself

Arguably, one of the easiest ways to break the ice at a corporate networking event is to introduce yourself. Walk up to the person and say “Hi, my name is [insert your name] from [insert company or branch].” Most people will gladly respond by telling you their name, at which point you can begin to strike up a conversation. If the person recently performed a speech or presentation, you can direct the conversation towards this topic; otherwise, keep it simple and focused on the event.

Ask a Question

Of course, another foil-proof way to break the ice is to ask a question. If there’s a contact on the floor whom you’d like to meet, think of a question relevant to his or her profession. Being that this is a networking event, attendees are probably expecting to hear some questions. If the contact leads a different branch of the company, for instance, perhaps you could ask them about the nuances between their branch and the one in which you work.

Entertainment First

If you’re hosting a corporate networking event, you can break the ice for everyone by setting up some entertainment and/or activities before the actual business begins. Rewarding attendees with an entertainment act will create a more fun and relaxed environment, which subsequently makes it easier to network.

The Bottom Line…

When it comes to meeting new people at corporate networking events, don’t overthink it. You can run through dozens of scenarios in your head, trying to predict how the person will react, what will they say, etc. However, this will only lead to further anxiety. So the next time you want to break the ice, take a deep breath and personally introduce yourself to the contact.

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Corporate Entertainment Corporate Event Ideas

Corporate Event Trends To Look For In 2015

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The corporate event landscape continues to grow and evolve with each passing year.

iBeacon

If this is your first time hearing about iBeacon, let me give you a brief explanation on its function and how it’s used in corporate events. Developed by Apple, iBeacon is a revolutionary new wireless technology that uses Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) to provide location-based information.

Technical jargon aside, iBeacon allows vendors and organizers to send relevant information to event attendees via a smartphone app. For instance, event organizers could provide attendees with floormaps, messages related to keynote speakers, time schedules and more. The range of standard near-field communication (NFL) is just 20 cm, but iBeacon has a range of 50 meters. iBeacon is still relatively new, however, so its function is somewhat limited at this time.

Fun Venues

Long gone are the days of hosting corporate events in hotel conference rooms. Now, more and more companies are opting to host their events in fun and unique venues. Doing so promotes a more positive experience for attendees, as it’s a step away from the traditional style of events. Fun venues may consist of barns, lake-side parks, sports/concert venues, or event activity-based venues like murder mystery dinners.

Sponsorships

Sponsored corporate events are new by any means, but they’ve become increasingly popular over the past few years. As companies struggle to tighten their budgets, they often look for ways to recoup the costs of hosting a major event. One possible solution is to sell a sponsorship to a non-competing company, allowing the sponsor to display its name, logo and other branded material throughout the event. This is a quick and easy way for companies to offset the costs of hosting an event.

Attendee Engagement

Another corporate event trend that we’ll likely see more of in 2015 is higher attendee engagement. In other words, organizers are placing an emphasis on making attendees a part of the event. Rather than sitting for hours on end while listing to various keynote speakers, attendees can participate and pitch in.

High-Tech Events

It should come as no surprise to most seasoned corporate event attendees that more organizers are implementing technology in their events. Aside from the traditional WiFi, events may use advanced lighting setups, lasers, slideshow presentations. As previously stated, mobile technology like iBeacon is a hot new trend in corporate events as well.

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Corporate Event Ideas General

Tips To Make Your Opening General Session a Success

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Also known as Plenary Sessions, Opening General Sessions typically involve larger and more comprehensive corporate conventions, meetings and gatherings. They may last anywhere from a couple hours to several days, revolving around an itinerary of keynote speakers, presentations, entertainment, and various other activities. Because they are so large, however, many people struggle to successfully plan Opening General Sessions. With the right approach, however, you can plan a memorable Opening General Session that covers all your desired topics and activities.
Define Your Goal/Objective
The first step in planning an Opening General Session – or any major corporate event – is to define your goals and/or objectives. Ask yourself, “What do I hope to accomplish by hosting this event?” Some companies host them to motivate their employees, while others do it to introduce new products, services or training techniques. Once you’ve identified the goals/objectives for your Opening General Session, you can start putting the pieces together to achieve them.
Choosing a Venue For Your Opening General Session Venue
Since each and every event is different, there’s no magic formula for choosing an Opening General Session venue. With that said, there are a few things to keep in mind when scouting prospective venues, such as the following:

  • Location in relation to the attendees.
  • Size (you obviously want a venue that’s large enough to accommodate all of the attendees).
  • Does it offer free audio equipment?
  • Local catering services.
  • Price.
  • Availability.
  • Transportation services.

Welcome Speech
The welcome speech sets the tone for an Opening General Session. It allows you to break to ice while introducing or reintroducing yourself to the attendees. This can either hurt or help your Opening General Session depending on how it’s executed. A bad welcome speech can create a tense, unwelcoming environment that discourages employees from attending future events.

Keep your welcome speech short and to the point, using caution not to wonder off topic. Remember, it’s called a “welcome speech” for a reason: it serves as a basic introduction to the Opening General Session.
Make It Entertaining
One of the most common mistakes companies make when hosting Opening General Sessions is failing to keep it fun and entertaining. It’s easy for keynote speakers to lose the attendees’ attention when they aren’t engaged.

So, how can you make your event fun and enjoyable? Break up the normal routine with entertainment acts, and be sure to offer food & beverages. These simple things, along with the right venue, will lay the groundwork for a successful and enjoyable Opening General Session.

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Corporate Event Ideas

How To Stay Organized When Planning a Corporate Event

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Planning a major corporate event can be a stressful process. Among other things, you must locate a venue, plan a guest list, book the necessary hotel rooms, arrange transportation, hire entertainment, and purchase a catering service. When you find yourself micromanaging each and every task, you may overlook critical elements of the event.

Begin Planning Early

Don’t wait until the last minute to plan your corporate event. Procrastinating will only make planning more chaotic and stressful. By planning ahead, you’ll have more time to confirm appointments, verify guest lists, and get all of your ducks in order so to speak.

Now for the million-dollar question: when should I start planning my corporate event? There’s a really no easy answer to this question, as each and every event is different. Generally speaking, though, the earlier your begin, the better. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to start booking hotel rooms and flights, but you can still lay out a rough draft of the itinerary.

Evernote

Take advantage of your smartphone’s capabilities by downloading some productivity apps. Evernote is one of the most popular productivity apps, boasting a 4.6 star rating out of 1 million plus reviews on Google Play. This free app allows you to create notes, organize your notes and files with tags, share files with other users, create agendas, manage your business expenses, and arrange travel, all of which will prove helpful when planning a corporate event.

See belief for the official description of Evernote:

“Write notes of all types, from short lists to lengthy research, and access them on any device. Collect web articles, handwritten notes, and photos to keep all the details in one place. Find your work quickly with Evernote’s powerful search”

Google Search

Another app that will help you stay organized is Google Search. Contrary to what some people may believe, Google Search isn’t used strictly for “googling” keywords. The Mountain View company has revamped this app to perform a wide variety of tasks, such as reminding you of appointments, delivering directions to meet those appointments, display traffic reports related to your commute, and even provide updates on your favorite sports team.

Google Search comes pre-installed on all Android devices. If you’re an Apple user, you can download the iOS version by clicking here.

Day Planner

Even with all of the fancy smartphone apps now available, nothing beats a good old fashioned day planner. It will allow you to quickly jot down important dates, addresses, phone numbers, or any other information associated with your upcoming event.

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Corporate Event Ideas

Going Green With Your Corporate Event

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With environmental pollution on the rise and the threat of global climate change now a reality, more and more companies are taking a more conscious approach towards their event planning. This week, we’re going to reveal some ways in which companies can “go green” when planning their corporate events.

Energy-Efficient Lighting

Arguably, one of the easiest ways to go green at your next corporate event is to use energy-efficient lighting. Incandescent bulbs have long been the preferred choice in both residential and commercial settings. They feature a wire filament that’s heating with passing electrical current to generate light. Although effect, incandescent bulbs are not energy-efficient, and they tend to die out faster than other bulbs.

Compact-fluorescent lighting (CFL) is a better all-around choice that uses less energy and lasts longer than its incandescent counterpart. A 60-watt incandescent bulb has an average lifespan of just 1,100-1,300 hours, whereas a CFL bulb lasts for approximately 7,000-9,000 hours. In terms of energy, incandescent bulbs use about 3285 KWh per year, while CFLs use just 767 Kwh per year. Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs are another energy-efficient alternative to incandescent, although some fixtures may not support them.

Carpool

Another way to go green at your next corporate event is to carpool. If attendees are booked at the same hotel, perhaps you can arrange group-based transportation. Carpooling from the hotel to the venue will not only save you money, but it will also reduce the amount of carbon emissions and air pollution created.

Use Compostable Plates, Cups and Cutlery

According to the U.S. National Park Service, it takes approximately 50 years for a foam cup to decompose in the environment and 450 years for a plastic cup. Rather than using these cups, plates and cutlery made of these materials in your next corporate event, consider using compostible pieces. The ASTM International standards 6400 and 6868 define compostible as being any product that biodegrades in 180 days or less in a commercial composting facility.

Plant a Tree

Did you know that a single tree will absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Trees are essential a sponge, absorbing carbon dioxide while simultaneously releasing fresh oxygen back into the atmosphere; therefore, you should consider planting one at your next corporate event as a way to promote greater environmental responsibility. It’s a fun hands-on project that signifies your companies environmental conservations efforts.

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Corporate Event Ideas Corporate Venue Ideas

Planning a Corporate Event During The Fall Season

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Summer might be over, but you can still plan a fun-filled corporate party or event. The fall season is characterized with colorful leaves and cooler temperatures blanketing the landscape. This combination adds a dynamic new element to the corporate event atmosphere. With the right approach, though, you can host a memorable event that employees talk about for months to come.

Indoors or Outdoors?

One of the decisions you’ll have to make when planning a corporate event during the fall season is whether to have it indoors or outdoors. Assuming you don’t wait until the last week of fall, you should be able to host an outdoor event while still being able to enjoy mild temperatures. The early-to-mid fall weeks are usually still warm enough to enjoy outdoor parties and activities.

If you are concerned that an outdoor event will be too chilly, there a few precautions you can take to ensure attendees are warm and comfortable:

  • Schedule the event earlier during the day rather than the late evening-night hours.

  • Choose an outdoor area that’s exposed to the sun.

  • Set up portable heaters throughout the venue.

  • Rent an indoor facility in addition to the outdoor venue grounds as a “backup” in case the mercury drops.

  • Serve hot cocoa, coffee, tea, and other warm beverages.

Offer Comfort Food

Fall season is the perfect time of year to offer a variety of comfort foods at your corporate events and parties. Instead of offering attendees the usual sandwiches and finger foods, perhaps you can choose some more festive comfort-style dishes. Pecan pie, pumpkin pie, pumpkin mousse and sweet potato casserole are just a few ideas to consider.

Of course, you can always ask employees for recommendations/preference on food and beverages as well. Find out which foods and beverages employees prefer and which ones they dislike. You can also bring up the idea of comfort foods to see whether or not they are on board.

Fun Fall Activities For Corporate Events

Take advantage of the cooler fall season temperatures by hosting some fun activities in which employees can participate at your corporate event. As long as the weather and temperature permits, try hosting a kickball or softball game. Doing so will allow employees to step outside their comfort zone, while subsequently offering beneficial exercise.

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Corporate Entertainment Corporate Event Ideas

5 Ways To Boost Your Event’s Attendance Rate

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It’s downright frustrating when you spend countless hours planning a corporate event only to have a fraction of the company’s employees actually show up. The empty dance floor and untouched snack tray is a clear sign of failure. Thankfully, there are some simple ways to boost the attendance rate of your next corporate event.

#1) Set a Date In Advance

You can’t expect a high turnout unless employees are given ample time to prepare for it in advance. Once you’ve chosen a venue and a date for the event, announce it to your employees. Doing so will allow them to make transpiration arrangements, clear their personal schedule, find a babysitter, etc. when the big day rolls around. The more time you give them in advance, the higher your turnout will be.

#2) Spread The Word on Social Media

Facebook has a tool which allows users to create events and send invites to friends and guests of friends. While logged into your account, click the Events button on the left side of your homepage, followed by Create. Complete the required fields (event name, location, date and privacy settings) and select Invite Friends. Check the names of whom you wish to invite and click Save and then Create.

#3) Offer Gifts

One sure-fire way to boost the attendance rate of your corporate event is to give away something for free. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to host a Opera-style giveaway in which every audience member receives a new car and week-long vacation, but perhaps you can offer attendees some company-branded swag (t-shirts, backpacks, foldout chairs, etc).

#4) Make It Fun

Another simple way to boost your event’s attendance rate is to make it fun. Hiring another boring keynote speaker to perform a presentation will only discourage employees from attending future events. So, how can you make your corporate event “fun?” We could write an entire post on this subject alone (and we probably will in the future), but the key thing to remember is that you want a relaxed, laid back environment in which employees can let loose and enjoy themselves.

#5) Ask For Feedback

Lastly, ask your employees for feedback both before and after the event. Find out what types of food, beverages, entertainment and activities they prefer. Using this information, you can plan the perfect event that accommodates all of your employees. Planning an event without knowing what your employees like and dislike is a recipe for disaster.

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Corporate Entertainment Corporate Event Ideas Employee Motivation

How To Motivate Your Workforce With The Right Event

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Lack of motivation is a major (and costly) problem in today’s workplace. When employees go through their daily routine without truly applying themselves, it often results in lower productivity, diminished business-to-client relationships, higher employee turnover rates, and even higher rates of work-related injury/illness. Employers can prevent such problems while subsequently motivating their workforce, by hosting the right event.

Can a Corporate Event Really Motivate Employees?

Corporate events allow employees to let loose and enjoy themselves in an environment that’s outside their normal workplace. Far too many companies force their workers to remain cooped up inside the office 365 days a day. Showing up to work day after day can become monotonous, which ultimately triggers a lack of motivation. But a corporate event gives employees the opportunity to break away from this tiresome routine, reinvigorating them with a newfound desire to excel while on the job.

Many employers are under the assumption that money is the biggest motivator in the workplace (e.g. increased pay, bonus checks, stock options). However, several studies have shown that employees crave recognition and appreciation more than monetary gifts.

Choose a Venue Outside The Workplace

If you want to host an corporate event for the purpose of motivating employees, you should do so outside the workplace. Yes, it’s usually cheaper (and easier) to host an event inside the office; all it takes is a couple 2-liter bottles of soda and some snacks and you’re good to go! Unfortunately, this type of on-the-fly event doesn’t have the same beneficial effect on employees.

Does this mean you have to choose a venue located on the other side of town? Not necessarily, as something as simple as a mid-day picnic in the local park allows workers to enjoy time away from their normal work setting. Being in an unfamiliar environment impacts people on a very visceral level, and this is oftentimes enough to motivate workers to excel. The bottom line is that you want to choose a venue outside the workplace.

Tips To Motivate Employees at Your Corporate Event:

  • Choose corporate event speakers/entertainers wisely. You don’t want someone rambling on about dull topics for hours on end — this is a surefire way to send employees heading out the door.
  • Make it fun by thinking outside the box. Make your corporate event unique by including fun games and activities.
  • Gain feedback from your employees. Was the party a hit or a dud? By gathering feedback from your employees, you can make changes to improve your next corporate event.
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Corporate Event Ideas

Top 10 United States Meeting Destinations – Infographic

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