15 Corporate Event Planning Tips to Turn Your Event from Snooze fest to WOW

We have all been a part of at least one Meetings, Incentive Tours, Conferences, and Exhibitions, in the past six months or so. Ever wondered just how much planning goes behind the scenes to turn any dream corporate event into reality? Not only reality, but making sure you get to check all the boxes in objectives achieved through the event. Well, you have landed on the right page, because our crash course on “Expert Corporate Planning Tips” will push you up on the ladder to success, no matter if you are a corporate event guru yourself, or a newbie who has just been assigned the very first task of organizing a corporate event.

From mulling over the budget allocation to finding the right venue for your corporate event, O-Events detailed corporate event planning tips will help you steer in the right direction. So if you have your steaming hot cuppa of joe on your table, your spreadsheet wide open, and your thinking cap on, let’s get started on devising a masterplan for your upcoming Meetings, Incentive Tours, Conferences, and Exhibitions, or, as we like to call it, MICE events in short.

Tip 1: Know your Audience:

First of all, before you start planning, get to know your audience like you know the lyrics to your favorite song. If you are the one entrusted with orchestrating a glitch-free MICE i.e., Meetings, Incentive Tours, Conferences, and Events, for your company, then start by understanding the clear objective of hosting the event first. Who are you organizing this event for—employees, C-level executives, business partners, or more?

Tip 2: Set clear goals:

As with any business, setting clear goals is key. What is the desired outcome expected from it? What exactly do you want to achieve from this event – team bonding, enhanced employee engagement, rewarding the overachievers? Once you have clarity on these, you are already on your path to hosting a successful event for your organization.

Tip 3: Budget like a boss:

Ah, the dreaded budget. It’s like the Gandalf of event planning—you won’t pass it up! You may or may not have much of a say in the budget allocated to you for the event, but with a little creativity and strategic thinking, you can manage that budget further than you ever thought possible. Just remember to allocate money wisely and always plan for those unexpected expenses.

Tip 4: Location, location, location:

Choosing the right location can make or break any event, and who knows that better than us? Consider factors such as accessibility, prime location, and ambiance. And don’t forget to talk like a pro, not that you will need to negotiate with O-Events because we always guarantee best prices on MICE Venue bookings with us; you’d be surprised how much wiggle room there can be when it comes to venue costs.

Related: Corporate Events: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Planning an Ultimate One

Tip 5: Food and Wine:

Let’s be real, one of the highlights of any event is the food (and drinks, of course). Whether it’s a corporate luncheon, team get-togethers, or a casual meal, it comes with the job description to make sure you have happy bellies and happy attendees once the event ends!

Tip 6: Don’t forget the Tech Talk:

This one is a no-brainer because you have so many tools at your disposal to make corporate event planning as easy as ABC rather than starting everything from scratch. From corporate event planning to evites and digital RSVPs to keeping stakeholders posted on ongoing events on social media, should be a glitch-free and streamlined process that you won’t have to check manually every now and then.

Tip 7: Expect the unexpected:

Ever heard of Murphy’s Law? Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong, as hilariously depicted in so many wedding movies like Bride Wars, Shotgun Wedding, and whatnot. But in the world of corporate events, with so much riding on their success, the margin of error is zero. That’s why you need O-Events on your team, because we make sure everything is delivered to you as promised by your chosen MICE event venue. But be prepared for other emergencies; whether it’s a sudden downpour or a keynote speaker missing his flight, staying calm under pressure and making a backup plan will save the day.

Tip 8: Engage the participants:

Gone are the days of casual attendees sitting quietly at presentations. Get creative with live polls, Q&A sessions, gamification, and other interactive elements that keep your audience, well, from falling asleep mid-presentation, engaged, and entertained from start to finish.

Related: 15+ Office Team Building Activities That Will Put You at #1 for Employee Engagement

Tip 9: Personalize the experience:

personalize the attendees’ experience and treat them like VIPs. Welcome them with a custom name badge, swag bags filled with goodies, and the added thought of caring about their comfort and happiness.

Tip 10: Sustainability matters:

In today’s environmentally conscious world, sustainability is more than just a buzzword; it’s a must for every organization to lead their employees by example. You can choose recycled papers for event pamphlets, electronic displays, goodies like coco shell-soy candles, and upcycled products curated from institutes helping specially-abled people.

Tip 11: Teamwork makes the dream work:

You don’t have to do everything alone; seek the help of a trusted team to lighten the load and bring your vision to life. Whether it’s your trusted O-Events team or collaborating with vendors and sponsors, teamwork truly makes the dream work.

Tip 12: Embrace the power of networking:

Corporate meetings aren’t just about presentations and segments; they’re also key opportunities to network and build valuable connections. Create designated networking sites, facilitate icebreaker activities, and encourage mingling to help attendees make meaningful connections.

Tip 13: Stay Flexible & Adapt: ​

No matter how carefully you plan, the date will change. Stay flexible and be ready to adjust on the fly to every curveball that comes your way. A calm and hospitable mind will help you handle any unexpected challenges with grace and tact.

Tip 14: Post-event Plan-of-Action:

Once the dust has settled and the confetti has settled, take some time to reflect on what went well and what can be improved next time. Feedback from clients and attendees is like gold; use it to make your next event even better.

Tip 15: Celebrate successes:

Finally, don’t forget to celebrate your successes, big and small Whether it’s coming up with a goal, getting a great review from a customer, or just living a day of action, which is tricky, take a moment to pat yourself on the back and take credit for a job well done.

And that’s a wrap on our corporate event planning tips! If it all sounds like a lot of work, all you need to do is ask for help from O-Events, just like we mentioned in our tips. O-Events doesn’t mind going the extra mile to help businesses host a successful corporate event. From corporate venue selection in your choice of city to arranging accommodation for the participants traveling far and wide from the country, we make sure everything meets your expectations or even goes beyond that.