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What Is Actually Termed By Event Management?

Event management is the application of project management to the creation and development of large scale events such as festivals, conferences, ceremonies, formal parties, concerts, or conventions.  It involves studying the brand, identifying the target audience, devising the event concept, and coordinating the technical aspects before actually launching the event.

The process of planning and coordinating the event is usually referred to as event planning and which can include budgeting, scheduling, site selection, acquiring necessary permits, coordinating transportation and parking, arranging for speakers or entertainers, arranging decor, event security, catering,coordinating with third party vendors, and emergency plans.

The events industry now includes events of all sizes from the olympics  down to business breakfast meetings. Many industries, charitable organizations,

and interest groups hold events in order to market themselves, build business relationships, raise money, or celebrate achievement.

In short one can also club it into as You can't properly define Event Management without defining 'Event' and 'Management' respectively separately first. It is then after this, that you can join both different definitions together to make up one and that is the definition of Event Management. For example:

Event: An event is something that happens at a given place and time for a reason with someone or something involved.

Management: Management could be defined as the act of applying necessary skills in all business and all human resourceful activities to accomplish desired goals and objectives

So, my definition of event management after joining the two is:

"the process of creatively applying necessary professional skills in organizing a focused event for a target audience to achieved a desired objective."

What Is Event Planning In General Terms?

What is Event Planning? Four unique perspectives from event planning 

Here’s a very basic, but thought provoking question that we're asked all the time - What is Event Planning? We polled our industry experts to get their perspectives and opinions. Here are four of the most interesting and candid responses we got:
The "Industry definition"

Event planning is the process of managing a project such as a meeting, convention, tradeshow,  ceremony,team building activity, party, or convention. Event planning includes budgeting, establishing timelines, selecting and reserving the event sites, acquiring permits, planning food, coordinating transportation, developing a theme, arranging for activities, selecting speakers and keynotes, arranging for equipment and facilities, managing risk, and developing contingency plans.

The "Official definition" (US Dept of Labor)

Event Planning consists of coordinating every detail of meetings and conventions, from the speakers and meeting location to arranging for printed materials and audio-visual equipment.
Event planning begins with determining the objective that the sponsoring organization wants to achieve. Planners choose speakers, entertainment, and content, and arrange the program to present the organization's information in the most effective way. Meeting planners are responsible for selecting meeting sites, prospective attendees and how to get them to the meeting.

 

An optimist’s view

Event planning is the energizing art of choreographing people and activities in order to create a show that creates memories of a lifetime. Designing and producing an event, whether it‘s a meeting, corporate event, fund-raiser, tradeshow or any other event, is in many ways comparable to directing a live stage performance. An added bonus, for those who love to travel, it provides an amazing opportunity  to travel to luxurious hotels, interesting new places and meet speakers and attendees from around the world. All of this, while enjoying a high level of autonomy and independence!

A pessimist’s opinion

Event Planning is the stressful work of planning meetings or events, and can be a very demanding career choice. Planners must multi-task on several things at one time, face numerous deadlines, and orchestrate the activities of many diverse groups of people. Meeting planners may need to travel extensively to attend meetings and to visit prospective meeting sites. Work hours can be long and irregular, and working more than 40 hours per week is fairly common, especially during the time leading up to an event and wrapping up after the event. Finally, be prepared for some physical activity - long hours of standing and walking, carrying of boxes of materials, and is just the beginning!

How Well Do Conferences Play Their Part Of Promotion?

Event management of conferences

Conferences are among the most important events that professional event managers organize. The term “conferences” can apply to a variety of gatherings from a group of researchers who meet to discuss scientific results to a group of sales people who are training.

Conference planning can be the responsibility of a corporate employee or a professional meeting planner.

Everything about the planning of conferences. From important steps in the planning process to conference types and their requirements.

Conference Management and Planning
Conference management and planning includes several key components:

Location
Conferences are held around the world in small and large cities. The venues range from meeting rooms  in small hotels to large convention halls.

Cost
During the tough economic times, many companies are scaling back their conferences and some are even cancelling them altogether. The money crunch is sending many companies to smaller cities that offer cheaper rates. Some universities are hosting academic conferences on their own campuses rather than hosting them at conference halls. Smaller colleges are taking advantage of the facilities at the larger universities in their area to save on cost.

Proximity to most of the possible attendees
A gathering of researchers from southern schools in the United States is not likely to be held in London. This just drives up the cost for the attendees and the planners.

The accommodations needed
Even if a school has an excellent conference hall, if there are not enough hotels in town for all of the attendees, it does no make sense to hold it there. While many attendees would be willing to drive from several miles to attend, many would not.

The conference room at the venue
This may seem like a small detail to anyone who has never been involved in conference planning, but the conference room is very important. If you are going to make a presentation on a large screen, having the screen and a way to project those images available in the room is huge selling point in conference management. Many will pay extra just for the convenience of not having to lug their own screen and projector.  The acoustics and the seating arrangements also factor in to the room set up. ´
Types of Conferences

There are as many types of conferences as there are venues. While all of the conference types share some similarities, there are some differences: Here are some examples:

Academic conferences
These can be held for two main reasons. University scientists hold them to announce research results. There is also a “call for papers” where newly published information is presented to a group. Many conference planning companies specialize in these types of gatherings for colleges and universities. These companies help in publishing the research or paper, as well. Many of these conferences are held on the campus of a large university.

Medical conferences
Thanks to science, new advances in medicine are announced all the time. Medical conferences are a way for doctors and other medical professionals to keep up with these advances and to earn the needed continuing education credits to keep their license. Often professional organizations such as the American Medical Association host annual conferences to give doctors the opportunity to earn these credits.

Business conferences
These can be several types. (1) Annual meetings. Many companies hold this type of meeting for shareholders to announce the company’s accomplishments of the past year and to highlight the future. (2) If a company has many divisions around the world, often the management teams will get together to talk about the business’ direction and to share best practices. This may be the only time they are in the same town. Often these conferences are held in the same town as the company’s headquarters.

Training conferences
Large organizations, such as United Way, will hold these types of conferences several times a year. This gives everyone the opportunity to learn new information and share best practices with their colleagues. Often training conferences will be presented by a marketing company and will be open to anyone from any company. These types of conferences require a classroom type of setting and easy access to restaurants if lunch and dinner is not included in the session.

Internet conferences
These virtual gatherings have grown in popularity as travel costs have increased while company budgets have not. Even though they may seem as simple as just getting online, these conferences require planning---particularly if the participants are in different time zones.

Conference management may seem easy to an outsider: find a place, find a caterer and set up the room. But it is much more than that. Conference planning involves every little detail down to making sure there are enough water glasses on each table to making sure the sound system works. These tasks are usually distributed to several people and vendors but are usually over seen by a conference manager, who carries a huge responsibility. Any small mistake can put a damper on the entire event.

Few Tips To Organise A Theme Party

As today...parties are getting conman.....Today theme parties are trending just like a new fashion in a row.

Theme Parties as events 

Event Management of Theme Parties that are popular for people of all ages. When someone invites you to a party, you always ask “What’s the theme?” No one has ‘plain Jane’ events anymore where the guest are just expected to put on their Sunday best, eat appetizers and dance to boring music. Event planners caught on to the trend and now plan corporate and nonprofit parties with themes. Before getting into what it takes to have a successful theme party, let’s examine some of the hottest trends:
Topics of Theme Parties

Casino Night
The increased popularity of poker has made Casino Night one of, if not the, most popular theme for all sorts of events. Charities use them as fundraisers. Participants purchase tokens that can be ‘cashed in’ for prizes.

Mardi Gras
These parties can be held any time of the year—not just at Mardi Gras time. What makes these parties so popular are the decorations — colorful beads and costumes set a festive mood.

Pick a decade
Just a few years ago, the 50s were the most popular party them. Who could request poodle skirts, leather jackets and “Rocking Around the Clock?” But as the population has aged, the 50s have been surpassed by the 70s and 80s. Disco balls and bell bottoms are fun accessories. And the 80s brought colorful shorts and big hair—on both the men and the women!

Halloween
Pop superstar Michael Jackson can take much of the credit for bringing spooky back into style. More than 25 years after the release of “Thriller,” many parties and events are based on that popular music video. Beyond the thrill the popularity of horror and slasher films give party goers a chance to be spooky. But costume parties don’t have to be scary. Princesses, knights, cowboys and all sorts of strange animals have made their way to Halloween parties.

What goes into creating a successful theme party?
Be careful which theme you choose
An organization that largely caters to seniors may not want to choose a Halloween theme. However partygoers may jump at the chance to try their hands at the casino tables. All generations will enjoy a trip back in time but all generations may not enjoy a Mardi Gras party. Consider the guest list when deciding which theme will be great for the perfect party. If possible, take a formal or informal survey of potential guests.

You must decorate
What is a Halloween party without a few spider webs and spooky ghost hanging around? And can you honestly have a 70s party without a disco ball (or several) hanging from the ceiling? If you are on a budget, finding great decorations can be challenging. Don’t limit yourself to the party store down the street. The Internet has a wealth of online stores that have great decorations at the price. Don’t take on the task of decorating all alone. Form a committee and make decorating the “party before the party.”

Stay with the theme from the beginning
Find invitations that are suited for what will happen the night of the party. Serve foods that coincide with the theme. This is easy if you are doing a Halloween theme because there are many ideas in magazines and books. If you are having trouble figuring out ‘theme foods’ keep it simple. Have a cake (or several depending on the crowd) that reflects the theme. You don’t even have to make it—order it from a local bakery. Finally, be creative and create your own theme. If the members of your organization love a television show, create a theme party around that show. Have the guests come dressed as their favorite characters. Your themes are only limited by your imagination.

Tips Of How One Can Plan A Seminar?

Event Management of Seminars

 

Event management of seminars and educational events. Who says learning ends outside the classroom? A popular source of academic, professional or technical instruction, seminars present information to diverse audiences. These tutorials may be private or public, series or single, commercial or informative, lectures or dialogue-based. They are less formal than academic lectures, allowing audience members to interject opinions or discuss results.

In today’s information-saturated marketplace, successful businessperson are expected to learn new information quickly. 50-year-long careers are antiquated relics; mobile young professionals, equipped with powerful research skills and inter-career interests, swell the employment ranks. Seminars are a prime venue for dispersing important expertise in a condensed form. As such, event managers need to have a handle on how to plan a seminar.

Planning of Seminars
Like all successful enterprises, planning for a seminar should begin several months in advance by developing a theme. Is this seminar groundbreaking, philosophical, or technically oriented? Who is the target audience? Select the niche market carefully.

When choosing a venue, do not select the nearest academic hall. Different seminar styles require different facility requirements. The higher the social caliber of the seminar, (e.g. the more VIP personalities) the more prestigious the venue must be. Additionally, the size of the location is dependent upon the estimated attendance figures.

Should the seminar be free? Incidentally, paid seminars typically attract more people than free seminars. Pundits believe that paid seminars present a visage of academic integrity, educational value, increases expectations, and elicit pre-paid customers to be there.

An engaging keynote speaker is vital. After all, seminars are 60% information and 40% entertainment. A prosaic or ignorant speaker will kill and ruin a seminar. Seek respected, renowned speakers early on, and use their reputation as a marketing tool.

Solicit sponsors. Seminars are an effective method for corporations to “get their name out there.” An automaker’s seminar has already assembled a niche market, so local auto dealerships and repairs shops have a sure-fire guarantee of stellar brand positioning.

Develop an audience profile, then market, market, market! Use a descriptive title. Well-attended seminars are marketed 3-4 weeks in advance. Send e-mails , post flyers, write press releases, and use word-of-mouth. Eliminate direct mail – it normally doesn’t work for seminars. Persuade audiences that they should want, or even need, to attend.

Secure audiovisual equipment and practice the presentation. Expect issues, so develop a contingency plan.

Set up a basic registration desk, toss out a few refreshments, and enjoy the show. You worked for it.

What Is The Importance Of A Checklist?

A checklist is a type of informational job aid used to reduce failure by compensating for potential limits of human memory and attention. 

It helps to ensure consistency and completeness in carrying out a task. A basic example is the "to do list." A more advanced checklist would be a schedule, which lays out tasks to be done according to time of day or other factors. A primary task in checklist is documentation of the task and auditing against the documentation.

Checklists are used in graphical user interfaces.

The below picture shows the need of checklist

Format

Checklists are often presented as lists with small check-boxes down the left hand side of the page. A small tick or check-mark is drawn in the box after the item has been completed.

Other formats are also sometimes used. Aviation checklists generally consist of a system and an action divided by a dashed line, and lack a checkbox as they are often read aloud and are usually intended to be reused.

Concern

Excessive dependence of checklists may hinder performance when dealing with a time-critical situation, for example a medical emergency or an in-flight emergency. Checklists should not be used as a replacement for common sense. Intensive training including rote-learning of checklists can help integrate use of checklists with more adaptive and flexible problem solving techniques.

One can also refer to the another picture below for the sample of checklist for event planning

if you are a fresher and want to have an idea of how to make an apt checklist then the most appropriate checklist is as following :

Why Are Product Launch Events important?

Event Management of Product Launches

Event management of product launches is essential components of the marketing mix of large companies. When Nintendo launches its latest game console or Pepsi announces a new type of soft drink, the companies hold product launches. These launches give the public and the media a chance to hear everything about the product before any negative reviews are given.

The task of putting together these product launch events could fall to a company employee who organizes meetings or an outside company. Product launch events have several purposes:

Why are Product Launch Events important?
To introduce the product to investors and other partners. Often new products are launched at the annual 
shareholder meetings. This gives the shareholders a chance to see and perhaps even test the product before it is introduced to the general public. However, if the product is huge the company may want to create a huge event and the shareholder may find out the same time as the media and the company’s customers.

To introduce the product to the old and new customers. Sometimes this is not a formal event. For example, a company announcing a new soft drink may set up a booth at a major sporting event or large fair. These events require just as much planning as setting up a major event at convention hall. Space has to be reserved, displays have to be set up and staff has to be hired.

To introduce the product to the media. Depending on the size of the company and the product, this could be in the form of a press conference. But many companies choose to have one big event and invite the media as well. Planning a product launch where the media is invited is a bit of extra work. You must make sure there is room for photographers—both still photographers and videographers. And they must have an excellent view so that they can capture the action. You should make sure to prepare a “press kit“ that will contain the information about the product and the company.
How to plan a Product Launch?
Whoever has the task handling the market introdcution of a new product, has a huge responsiblity. Some of the things to consider are:

Venue
Most product launch events happen in big cities or in cities where the company is located. Sometimes these launches are held at big convention halls so that there is room for the shareholders and the media. However, some product launches are held in the board rooms of the corporate offices. The venue depends on how big the company is, how big the product is and how much money the company wants to invest in the market introduction.

Timing
When Nintendo and Sony launch a new video game console, the companies will usually release it in different places at different times. Sometimes a product will be a big hit in Europe or Asia before it is released in North America and vice versa. Usually the introduction of a new product, such as new toy or game console, coincides with the holiday season. New soft drinks may be launched during a big sporting event like the Super Bowl or the World Series. Millions of people watch these events and announcing the new product and airing commercials during these events will create a buzz.

Food
If the president of the company wants food at the event, the planner has a lot of decisions to make. Will it be finger foods or a full-course meal. What time of day with the new product launch event be held? What kind of food will be best for the attendees? How much food should be ordered? Will wait staff be needed?

The small details
These may not seem like a big deal, but they could make or break an event. Can you imagine Microsoft launching a new product and half the attendees having to stand because there are not enough chairs? Most product launches include an information packet that is given to the guests. These packages need to be ready to go and there need to be enough for everyone. The convention or meeting planner is responsible for making sure the small details are handled.

Product launches are some of the most exciting events for any meeting planner. Could you imagine putting together the product launch event for the Nintendo Wii? But these events are also the most stressful. The key, as it is for any event, is in proper planning.

How Trade Fairs Are The New Way For Promotion?

Trade Fairs as events 

 Event management of trade fairs where companies can exhibit their latest products and services. Definition, “fairs:” cotton candy, funnel cakes, hotdogs, and roller coasters. Actually, not all fairs possess such frivolity and festivity; trade and career fairs are decidedly less entertaining, albeit more useful. Headed by a knowledgeable event manager, a trade or career fair is a special opportunity through which buyers and sellers can meet.

Trade fairs are occasions in which corporations of a certain industry gather to display their latest products and innovations. Career fairs, a close cousin, occur when companies conglomerate to solicit potential employees. In today’s competitive economy, both events are essential. Trade fairs are engaging, living advertisements, while career fairs are necessary to recruit college graduates and other superior employees from the rank-and-file lines of unemployment.

When initiating the planning stages of a fair, first determine a theme. Is the trade show focused on florists or dentists? Will the career fair seek out engineers or marketers? Do not waste time marketing irrelevant prospects; select the target audience and focus accordingly.

Before solidifying times and dates for a fair, be sure that no similar show is occurring nearby or has occurred recently. Additionally, check the success of past trade shows in the area. If they failed to elicit much interest, reconsider the location.

When an event manager selects a venue, he or she must anticipate expected crowd size and vendor participation. Locations should be easily accessible to the public with nearby parking lots. Add carpet, lighting, furniture, and perhaps some audiovisual equipment to enhance the atmosphere.

Now, to solicit vendors. Aye, there’s the rub. Vendors are the brick and mortar of a show. Prospects come for a vendor’s goods; second-rate sellers will elicit second-tier buyers, which create a second-tier event. After carefully listing a collection of targeted companies, send each company an e-mail, call their business executives and marketing branches and eagerly promote the event. Offer each company floor area and a space in the event directory, along with other incentives.

After inviting vendors, market to prospective customers or employees. Avoid direct mail. Use worth-of-mouth, press releases, media coverage, newspaper advertisements, and industry-inside channels to disseminate invitations.

A few personnel logistics should be attended to during the actual event. A small crowd control force should patrol the area; a receptionist should welcome customers and offer pertinent information; and a set-up/tear-down crew (paid professionals) should take care of general equipment installation.

Definition, “fairs:” a place for a buyer and seller to meet. A place for an event manager to smile and say, “success.”

Follow These Tips To Organise A Fabulous Event

Here are some tips for you all out there to keep in mind while planing for any event.

Read Ahead and Explore...

Tip#1 – Plan and coordinate

Planning and coordination lays the foundation for a successful event. You need to consider what, who, why, where and when aspects of the event. While planning, set realistic expectations but also list down experimental aims. To start with,

• Make a good team with differently skilled members for making agendas and preparing schedules
• Understand your client’s expectation and identify the target audience
• Analyze the cost and prepare a budget
• Prepare an invitation and list down the programs in the event
• Prepare a deadline for each activity
• Collaborate consistently to ensure timely actions

Tip#2 Start the action

This is the time when you will have to divide your enthusiasm in too many ideas. This is a critical stage of the event where you confirm key things like the date, venue and the speaker. During this stage,

• Get approval for the budget
• Start social media marketing campaign on sites like Twitter, Facebook, etc.
• Market the event by informing media, preparing brochure, sending mails, etc.
• Keep your attendees engaged during the event (by posting event updates on social media)
• Collaborate with the team to ensure that the plans are on track
• Plan travel and transportation arrangements
• Seek special permits from the local governing bodies

Tip#3 Stay active 24-36 hours before the event

If you utilize this time effectively, your event will be a success. Measure the execution of your plans, collaborate with all the stakeholders, sponsors, speakers, guests and your team members. Get final approvals from the vendor of catering, fireworks, decoration, etc. Before 24-36 hours,

• Create the list of guests who responded with RSVP
• Make a list of table accessories like pen, notepad, brochure, bottle of water, etc.
• Ensure all activities are running on time including transportation arrangements
• Remind VIPs about the event, and have volunteers to guide them to the event
• Confirm venue arrangements like lights, decorations, volunteers, security, etc.
• Prepare a minute-by-minute plan for the event

Tip#4 How to manage the final day?

After all the hard work, you are anxiously waiting for the event to start. This is the time to ensure that all things are there and working as planned. Don’t assume; take control of things. On the day of the event,

• Arrive at the event’s location with volunteers and team members hours before the event time
• Check whether all the electronic equipment are working properly (microphones, lights, speakers, etc.)
• Setup a beautiful reception and helpdesk
• Allocate space for sponsors to place their banners
• Ensure that the host/anchor has details of the VIPs to avoid any blunder
• Hire a dedicated photographer to capture special moments, sponsor banners and key people
• Confirm stock of food, water, flowers, etc.

Tip#5 Learn from the event

The event is over, you received appreciation for your efforts, but you thing there is a lot of scope for improvement. Thus after the event, you should collect meaningful information from the participants. Send feedback forms, gather feedback, understand participants’ reactions, gauge expectations and measure the impact of your event. This will help you get valuable insights for nourishing your managerial skills and shaping the future events based on the received feedback.

In conclusion I would say,

Event management is one such profession where failure has no hiding place. No matter what confidence or managerial arsenal you bring on board for the event, loopholes in any of the above mentioned stages will land you in an embarrassing situation. To avoid blunders, you can take assistance from event management and registration softwares. So consider these tips and avoid any uncertainties during the event.

How To Organise A Sustainable Event?

Sustainable event management (also known as event greening) is the process used to produce an event with particular concern for environmental, economic and social issues. Sustainability in event management incorporates socially and environmentally responsible decision making into the planning, organisation and implementation of, and participation in, an event. It involves including sustainable development principles and practices in all levels of event organisation, and aims to ensure that an event is hosted responsibly. It represents the total package of interventions at an event, and needs to be done in an integrated manner. Event greening should start at the inception of the project, and should involve all the key role players, such as clients, organisers, venues, sub-contractors and suppliers.

FROM WHERE DOES IT COMES ?

The first time that environmental concerns were raised by the public was at the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics in France, which led to the first ‘green Games’ in Lillehammer, Norway, in 1994. The Lillehammer Olympic Organizing Committee received the UNEP Global 500 Award for setting environmental standards which were absent from previous Olympic games.

The Centennial Olympic Congress, Congress of Unity, held in Paris in 1994, recognised the importance of the environment and sustainable development, which led to the inclusion of a paragraph in Rule 2 of the Olympic Charter. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has acknowledged its particular responsibility in terms of promoting sustainable development, and regards the environment as the third dimension of Olympism, alongside sport and culture. This led to its decision in 1995 to create an IOC Sport and Environment Commission.

Environmental Guidelines for the Summer Olympics were developed to guide Olympic hosts to ensure that facilities are constructed in a more environmentally friendly manner. The Guidelines were successfully used in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. As a result, the organizers of the Sydney Games were honoured with the Global 500 Award in 2001 for organizing the greenest games ever. Since then, other major sports events have also considered their environmental impact.

A major aspect of UNEP’s work is with the IOC. A cooperative agreement was signed in 1994 with IOC and an Agenda 21 for Sport and Environment developed. Since 2002, UNEP has participated in a task force of the UN Secretary-General on the use of sport for the implementation of the United Nations Development Goals. UNEP also supports the IOC in organizing world conferences and regional seminars on sport and the environment.

During the 2006 FIFA World CupTM in Germany, Green Goal was launched, which was also implemented in South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World CupTM. The Host City Cape Town Green Goal programme had been awarded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Sport and Environment Award. Nominated by FIFA, the award recognised the efforts of the Host City Cape Town to mitigate negative environmental impacts of the FIFA World Cup and to maximise a positive environmental and social legacy.

Event greening is however not only limited to sports events, and other examples include the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), Johannesburg 2002, and UNFCCC 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) held in Copenhagen in 2010.

Monitoring and evaluation

Monitoring and evaluation is an essential component of event greening, and should be used to make continuous improvement. A detailed plan needs to be in place to ensure that information is gathered on all aspects of the event – before, during, and also after the event. This ensures that information is available to understand the effects of greening interventions (e.g. to what extent was water used, and how did water-saving measures reduce water use), as well as the potential improvements to future event-greening initiatives.

With large events it is best to ensure an independent report, which complies with international standards, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).The GRI Event Organizers Supplement provides organizations in the sector with a tailored version of GRI’s Reporting Guidelines. It includes the original Guidelines, which set out the Reporting Principles, Disclosures on Management Approach and Performance Indicators for economic, environmental and social issues. The Event Organizers Supplement’s capture the issues that matter most for event organizers to be reported on:

• Site selection
• Transport of attendees
• Recruiting and training of the event workforce, participants and volunteers
• Sourcing of materials, supplies and services
• Managing impacts on communities, natural environments, and local and global economies.
• Planning and managing potential legacies
• Accessibility of an event

The British Standard (BS 8901) has been developed specifically for the events industry with a purpose of helping the industry to operate in a more sustainable manner. The standard defines the requirements for a sustainability event management system to ensure an enduring and balanced approach to economic activity, environmental responsibility and social progress relating to events.

It requires organizations to identify and understand the effects that their activities have on the environment, on society and on the economy both within the organization and the wider economy; and put measures in place to minimize the negative effects. These standards will however be replaced by the International Standard (ISO 20121) for Sustainability Management Systems.

What Are The Different Types Of Event?

There are almost countless types of events,some are demanded frequently by customers, others seldom

• Conferences are popular and important business events. Everything about the event management of academic, medical and business conferences
•  Seminars educational events for the training of managers and employees. Most seminars are not comparable with boring lectures. Interactivity is core!
• Meetings are common business events in large companies, perfect to discuss operational and financial strategy.
• Business Dinners a long-standing corporate tradition to conclude fiscal years, celebrate new milestones or to get in contact with key customers
•  Golf Events golf tournaments or retreats. Those events aim to acquire new customers, to increase customer loyalty or to motivate employees
•  Press Conferences perfect business events to promote new products, launch marketing campains or to inform the shareholders and public about financial issues
•  Networking Events are personal marketing galas. Such events are great opportunities for contact establishment and personal marketing
•  Incentive Travel are perfect to reward and to motivate employees or to increase customer loyalty and retention. Everything about incentive travel:
• Team Building Events a key to develop and motivate teams in companies and divisions. Everything about the planning of professional team building events
•  Trade Shows exhibitions where companies can present and demonstrate their latest products. A professional presentation is crucial.
• Opening Ceremonies are held to start conventions, annual meetings and other events that last for two or more days. Find everything about opening events
•  Product Launches are critical for the successful market introduction of some products. A perfect product presentation might also increase the media coverage
•  Theme Parties events that devote to a special topic. Popular events are casino nights or Halloween parties. Ideas and planning tips
•  VIP Events are used to increase customer loyalty. Professional planners organizing VIP events that ultimately increase your revenues
•  Trade Fairs are a great opportunity to present your latest products to customers and business partners.
• Shareholder Meetings are yearly and obligatory events to inform a corporation’s shareholders about company issues and to elect the Board of Directors
• Award Ceremonies are great events to honor and motivate key staff or to acquire and retain customers. Event planners are able to organize events to remember
• Incentive Events motivate employees or close the ties to customers. Event managers are planning events that help to enhance customer loyalty
• Board Meetings focus on strategic goals and visions. The event venue and the planning process should reflect the prestigious nature of these meetings
• Executive Retreats escapes from stressful work schedules and the day-to-day business. Learn how they should stimulate free thinking and creativity
• Weddings should be the most important days in the life of brides, grooms and their families. Professional event managers help to plan the events
•  Birthdays require seldom a professional event manager, but there are exceptions. Find out how event managers can help you to make your party a success
• Wedding Anniversaries celebrate milestones in a couple’s life together. Ideas and hints that help you to plan those events or find professional even managers
• Family Events are great opportunities to assemble whole families. We offer hints and ideas to plan perfect family events like birthdays, weddings, etc.

New ISO 20121 Standard For Sustainable Events Management

ISO has just published a new standard to support the organizers of events of all types – sporting, business, cultural, political – in integrating sustainability with their activities.

ISO 20121:2012, Event sustainability management systems – Requirements with guidance for use, is suitable for ensuring that events, ranging from local celebrations to “mega events” such as the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, leave behind a positive legacy. The standard is relevant to all members of the event industry supply chain including organizers, event managers, stand builders, caterers and logistics suppliers.

Conferences, concerts, sporting events, exhibitions and festivals can offer a wide range of public, local community and economic benefits. However staging an event can also generate negative economic, environmental and social impacts, such as material waste, energy consumption and strains on local communities.

ISO 20121 provides the framework for identifying the potentially negative social, economic and environmental impacts of events by removing or reducing them, and capitalizing on more positive impacts through improved planning and processes.

Among the stakeholders who have provided input to the development of the standard are members of the sustainability team for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The Head of Sustainability, David Stubbs, comments: “London 2012 is proud to have been the catalyst for ISO 20121. This is a piece of legacy with the potential to transform how events around the world consider their economic, environmental and social impacts.”

The standard takes the management systems approach familiar to thousands of organizations worldwide through the success of standards such as ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management).

ISO 20121 has been created by the event industry for the event industry. More than 30 countries and liaison bodies participated in the work.

Fiona Pelham, Chair of the ISO team of experts who developed ISO 20121, comments: “The development process has been led by members of the event industry from around the world who have experience of event management and sustainability leadership initiatives. Among its key benefits are:

• Best business practice
  It makes sense to take an organized, processed approach to managing economic, environmental and social impacts. In addition, what gets monitored and measured gets reduced, so there are likely to be lower overheads.
• Reputational advantage
  Using a recognized international framework will enable leaders in sustainability to demonstrate their actions in a credible and transparent way.”

ISO 20121:2012 was developed by ISO project committee, ISO/PC 250, Sustainability in event management. It is available from ISO member bodies .It may also be obtained directly from the ISO Central Secretariat, price CHF 146 through the ISO Store or by contacting the Marketing, Communication & Information department.

Know Well The 4Ps Of Marketing

Marketing businesses often use strategic models and tools to analyze marketing decisions. There are three main models that can be applied and used within a business to receive better results and reach business goals. This include

Marketing Mix Model (4P’s)

The 4P’s also known as Price, Product, Place and Promotion is a strategy that originated from the single P meaning Price. This strategy was designed as an easy way to turn marketing planning into practice. This strategy is used to find and meet the consumers needs and can be used for long term or short term purposes. The proportions of the marketing mix can be altered to meet different requirements for each product produced, similar to altering ingredients when baking a cake.

Real-life marketing

Real-life marketing primarily revolves around the application of a great deal of common-sense; dealing with a limited number of factors, in an environment of imperfect information and limited resources complicated by uncertainty and tight timescales. Use of classical marketing techniques, in these circumstances, is inevitably partial and uneven.

Thus, for example, many new products will emerge from irrational processes and the rational development process may be used (if at all) to screen out the worst non-runners. The design of the advertising, and the packaging, will be the output of the creative minds employed; which management will then screen, often by ‘gut-reaction’, to ensure that it is reasonable.

For most of their time, marketing managers use intuition and experience to analyze and handle the complex, and unique, situations being faced; without easy reference to theory. This will often be ‘flying by the seat of the pants’, or ‘gut-reaction’; where the overall strategy, coupled with the knowledge of the customer which has been absorbed almost by a process of osmosis, will determine the quality of the marketing employed. This, almost instinctive management, is what is sometimes called ‘coarse marketing’; to distinguish it from the refined, aesthetically pleasing, form favored by the theorists.

With perhaps very few notable exceptions, “Real life marketing” (if this is not a journalistic made-up term) being based on gut instinct as opposed to trained, vetted and backed by high investment data, may produce very inferior results vs the marketing discipline taught in the best business schools such as Harvard, Insead or Cambridge, but also Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Coca-Cola, or Amazon.

Strategic Marketing, because complex, suffers from being misunderstood. Many entrepreneurs and small companies think they can manage this without training. To the detriment of their business.

An organization’s strategy combines all of its marketing goals into one comprehensive plan. A good marketing strategy should be drawn from market research and focus on the product mix in order to achieve the maximum profit and sustain the business. The marketing strategy is the foundation of a marketing plan.

How 3Cs Works As A Marketing Strategy

Marketing businesses often use strategic models and tools to analyze marketing decisions. There are three main models that can be applied and used within a business to receive better results and reach business goals. This include:

The 3C’s

The 3C’s stand for: Customer, Corporation and Competitor, is a strategic model that uses these three key factors which lead to a sustainable competitive market. This strategy was developed by a Japanese strategy guru called Kenichi Ohmae.Each factor is key to the success of this strategy; The corporation factor mainly focuses on maximizing the strengths of the business from which the business can influence the relevant areas of the competition to achieve success within the industry. Customers are the basis to any business.

Without customers you have no business. The most important factors of customers and the wants, needs and requirements that the business needs to fulfill in order to attract buyers. The competition can be looked at in various different ways such as; purchasing, design, image and maintenance. The more unique steps a business takes the less competition a business will face in that field.

The Ansoff Matrix

The Ansoff Matrix model was invented by H. Igor Ansoff and is a model that focuses on four main areas, which are; Market penetration, Product development, Market development and Product/ Market Diversification. These are then split into a further two areas known as the ‘New’ and ‘Present’. From this strategy, businesses are able to determine the product and market growth. This is done by focusing on whether the market is a new market or an already existing market, and whether the products are new or already existing.

Market penetration covers products that are already on the market and are familiar to the consumers, this creates a low risk as the product is already on the established market. Product development is the introduction of a new product into an existing market. This can include modifications to an already existing market which can create a product that has more appeal in the market.

Market development, also known as market extension, is when an already existing product is introduced to a new market in order to identify and build a new clientele base. This can include new geographical markets, new distribution channels, and different pricing policies. The last area, Diversification, is the riskiest area for a business.

This is where a new product is sold to a new market at the same time. There are two type of Diversification; Related which means the business remains in the same industry that they are familiar with. The other is Unrelated which is when there are no previous relations or market experiences for the business.