Freeman

Event Services

Flawless event management.

Whether planning an in-person, virtual, or hybrid event, there is an exciting new world of opportunities available — but also new complexity.

Colorful exhibition space

Redefining Live™ with flawless event management

Whether planning an in-person, virtual, or hybrid event, there is an exciting new world of possibilities available.

Pull your event together effortlessly with expert assistance from the leading event management company.

We work behind the scenes to keep everything moving and on time for our customers. Our simplified, smart solutions make it easy for exhibitors to show up and show off — with no surprises. The result? Happy customers who keep coming back to your show!

From small exhibitions to mega international events, lean on the integrated, full-service solutions of our event management agency to bring your vision to life. Ensure that every detail of your trade show, exhibition, conference, or event is on track and unexpected hiccups are handled.

And with our SafeConnect promise, you can be confident that your in-person and hybrid events will not only be flawlessly executed, you can trust they will be safe.

If you want

  • A seamless attendee experience
  • Happy sponsors and exhibitors
  • Close relationships with vendors
  • Peace of mind that every detail is handled

We can help

  • Fill any resource gaps
  • Expertly manage all the moving pieces of your event
  • Improve exhibitor relations
  • Ensure the safety of attendees, exhibitors, and staff
  • Plan for the expected, the unexpected, and the opportunities

Need a partner?

Reach out and request a consultation.

Our event management services

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Overall program management

Anywhere and at any scale, bring an amazing show to life with the largest breadth of solutions in the industry.

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Content and speaker management

Curate, organize, and push out content that educates, entertains, and inspires audiences in-person and online, while making speaker prep simple.

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Contingency planning and crisis management

Plan for the unexpected and be ready to handle any scenario with ease, supported by the leading event management agency.

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Customer support

Focused on making the experience easier for exhibitors, our award-winning Customer Support Center offers help anyway you need it — phone, email, text, and on-site.

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Food and beverage

Determine scale and seamlessly negotiate and manage food and beverage for banquet, catered, or craft services.

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Whether it’s an individual piece of collateral or a large-scale digital display, your brand should always look its best. No request is too small. No off-the-wall idea too daunting.

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Production services

From lighting design to audio visual solutions and everything in between, tap powerful production services that create a truly memorable experience.

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Show site services

From installation and dismantle to electrical services, material handling, furnishings, and more we are the event management company that keeps your event running smoothly from beginning to end.

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Talent acquisition and management

Secure a killer keynote speaker or the hottest band to entertain your guests — and ensure that both the audience and the talent rave about the experience.

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Venue selection

Identify your venue short list — including virtual — and secure the optimal environment for event success, no matter the size or location.

Let’s get started

Related resources.

event planning company best

Best Practices

Checklists for business events in a post-covid world.

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Freeman future forecast

event planning company best

Future of live events playbook

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25 Best Corporate Event Management Companies in the World

Here is our list of the best event management companies in the world.

Event management companies are vendors that take the stress out of social or business event planning by designing, organizing, and promoting events. These companies coordinate events such as corporate meetings, conferences, and galas. Examples of services these companies provide include event design, budget planning, venue selection, guest registration management, and entertainment. Organizations turn to these companies because they take on the many working pieces and intricacies of event planning. These organizations are also known as “event planning companies” and “event management agencies.”

These companies serve similar roles as event management software , virtual event platforms , and destination management companies . Many organizations use these services to help with corporate events , company retreats , conference entertainment , and corporate incentive programs .

This list includes:

  • top event planning companies
  • online event management companies
  • event management services
  • corporate event companies
  • event management companies in the USA
  • event management companies in Canada
  • event management companies in the U.K.
  • event management companies in Australia
  • event management companies in South Africa

Here we go!

Event Management Companies in the USA

1. eventive.

Ideal for: event planning, outsourced function coordination, and experiential marketing

Massachusetts-based Eventive is a jack of all trades boutique. Eventive offers event management services, from event styling and designing to experiential marketing. More specifically, their services include:

  • event style and design
  • event branding
  • product launches
  • event set-up + breakdown
  • event registration creation
  • social event planning
  • full event production
  • event menu creation.

A sample of their clients includes Masterman’s, Seattle Study Club, and Signarama.

See more information on Eventive .

2. Luxe Fête

Ideal for: corporate events, brand activations, social celebrations, gala dinners & award shows, and incentive programs and trips.

Luxe Fête’s founder, Nathalie, began her career as an attorney. After eight years of practicing law, she realized that law wasn’t for her.

“I was successful, but not inspired. I needed to create. I needed to tell stories. One day I decided it would be my last day in a law firm. The next day, Luxe Fête Event Planning and Design Studio was born. I haven’t looked back since.” -Nathalie

Luxe Fête focuses on the following services:

  • retreat planning
  • private event planning
  • VIP events and openings

Their clients include Gucci, Norwegian Cruise Line, New World Symphony, and Dior.

See more information on Luxe Fête .

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3. Rafanelli Events

Ideal for: non-profit, corporate, private, and virtual events.

Rafanelli Events’ experience is as vast as its client base. Having worked with Fortune 500 corporations and non-profit organizations, Rafanelli offers a host of services, including:

  • brand building
  • entertainment
  • evening program
  • on-site management
  • activities coordination
  • budget planning
  • meeting planning
  • venue selection and management
  • entertainment, and décor selection.

Rafanelli’s clients include Huffington Post, Democratic National Convention, and Boston College.

See more information on Rafanelli Events .

4. Event Solutions

Ideal for: virtual events, corporate events, kick-off parties, company picnics, team building, corporate retreats, conferences, and conventions.

Event Solutions offers clients  a myriad of event services, including:

  • planning and production
  • event management
  • food & beverage catering
  • event design
  • event & stage lighting
  • destination management
  • venue scouting and negotiations
  • valet & parking management
  • event registration
  • event marketing & branding services
  • event security & safety

Event Solutions’ clients include Amazon, Nike, AT&T, Neutrogena, Chase, Microsoft, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Chevron, and American Red Cross.

See more information on Event Solutions .

5. A J Events

Ideal for: corporate events, non-profits, and weddings

A J Events is a versatile event management company specializing in non-profit and corporate events.

Specifically, their services include:

  • fundraising
  • event production
  • event publicity
  • graphic design

Some of their notable non-profit events include King Legacy Night, with $1,475,000 raised in six months, and Mayor’s Gala, We Are Boston, with $85K from the gala’s silent auction.

See more information on A J Events .

6. Shiloh Events

Ideal for: tradeshows, corporate conferences, leadership summits, corporate product kick-offs, and fundraisers.

Shiloh Events takes a “five e” approach to event planning:

  • explore and define client needs
  • envision a plan that meets the client’s costs and vision
  • establish event details that meet all client objectives
  • execute all details to ensure a flawless event
  • evaluate and provide data that clients need to share their success. This aid includes attendee feedback, audience acquisition metrics, vendor and venue analysis, and measured return on investment

Shiloh Events’ services include:

  • concept planning and design
  • venue research and negotiation
  • budget development
  • cost analysis and estimates
  • sponsor management
  • vendor management
  • event marketing
  • theme and content development
  • contract negotiation

See more information on Shiloh Events .

7. Banks Sadler

Ideal for: team-building events, corporate events, corporate conferences, festivals, non-profits, product launches, and training events.

Banks Sadler is a seasoned event management firm, having 13,000 venue bookings under its belt.

Their services include:

  • venue solutions
  • event design consulting
  • budget management and cost control
  • safety and security planning
  • event identity/branding design and production
  • digital support and programming
  • web registration platforms

See more information on Banks Sadler .

Event Management Companies in Canada

8. basset events inc..

Ideal for: private events, corporate events, and galas.

In their own words, Basset Events believe “ that there is a sublime connection between the mastery of logistics and the creation of astonishmen t.”

Based in Toronto, their services include:

  • print and graphic design
  • invitation and RSVP management
  • vendor contract management
  • catering consultation
  • event staffing
  • sponsorship management
  • media relations
  • total event logistics

Their past events include the Third Annual Polar Bear Affair, Royal York Hotel 90th Anniversary, 60th Anniversary of the Weston Foundation, and Malachy’s.

See more information on Basset Events .

9. DCM Event Management

Ideal for: corporate events, meetings and conferences, gala dinners & cocktail receptions, training seminars and retreats, award shows, product launches, executive VIP events, fundraising events, team-building programs, and incentive trips.

Toronto-based DCM Event Management has a host of event management experience ranging from corporate meetings to agricultural tours.

  • corporate event planning
  • event consultation/management
  • site visits and venue selection
  • live entertainment selection
  • vendor/supplier procurement and negotiations
  • online registration services
  • creative services/logo development
  • onsite project management
  • post-event review and success measurement
  • leadership training and team building

Some of their more notable clients include Novartis, Bayer, and CropScience.

See more information on DCM Event Management .

10. Countdown Events

Ideal for: corporate events, retail launches, trade shows, conference events, galas, and fashion shows.

Countdown Events has a star-studded event repertoire and extensive event planning experience.

Services include:

  • budget management
  • fundraising strategies
  • guest list management
  • vendor coordination
  • couture fashion show production
  • styling and magazine and online editorial photoshoots
  • advertising campaigns

Successful Countdown Events’ events include Chopard x Vancouver, #CREMESHOW VIP Event, Panerai Grand Opening, and Pitch for the Purse.

See more information on Countdown Events .

11. Tigris Events

Ideal for: trade shows, galas, non-profit events, conferences, product launches, golf tournaments, and special events

  • corporate entertainment
  • market research
  • digital event strategies
  • content marketing
  • interactive marketing
  • event technologies

Tigris Events has worked with a multitude of clients including Buick, Coca-Cola, L’Oréal, Lamborghini, Reebok, and Warner Bros.

See more information on Tigris Events .

Event Management Companies in the U.K.

12. the events company.

Ideal for: corporate conferences, themed events, awards ceremonies, galas, online virtual events, indoor team building, outdoor team building, online team building, games & activities, and company fun days.

The Events Company is one of the U.K.’s go-to event planning companies.

  • themed team building activities like chocolate workshops and gin tasting

The Events Company’s clients include AT&T, BMW, BP, Roche, and MINI Cooper.

See more information on The Events Company .

13. Rockitfish

Ideal for: incentive travel, parties & celebrations, team building, conferences, product launches & roadshows, awards & parties, brand experiences, virtual & hybrid events, and incentive programs.

Rockitfish aims at delivering captivating experiences, campaigns, and events.

  • conference productions
  • concept design & development
  • venue research & management
  • décor, theming & entertainment

Rockitfish’s more notable clients include Google, Raytheon UK, Financial Times, and Cisco.

See more information on Rockitfish .

14. Beyond Certainty

Ideal for: corporate events, private events, weddings, and Christmas parties.

Beyond Certainty’s talents span from intimate, private events to large, extravagant galas.

  • audiovisual supplier
  • themed planning

Beyond Certainty’s clients include Deloitte, Ernst & Young, French Connection, Pinsent Masons, Global Angels, Sushisamba, D&D Restaurant Group, and Caprice Holding.

See more information on Beyond Certainty .

15. Clearwater Events

Ideal for: virtual meetings, team building, roadshows, conferences, healthcare events, product launches, exhibitions, award events, dinners, and galas.

Clearwater Events is a versatile event planner with experience ranging from small meetings to roadshows.

Some of their services include:

  • corporate trip events
  • corporate incentive programs
  • audiovisual event services
  • event registration including standalone website building for events
  • compliant ready health care events set under ABPI, EFPIA, IFPMA, and Sunshine Act code of conduct

Clearwater Events’ clients have included International Pharmaceutical Conference, Geberit, Gymcon, ZimFest, and Steel & Alloy.

See more information on Clearwater Events .

16. Bearded Kitten

Ideal for: product launches, corporate events, and festivals

Bearded Kitten asks that you not be deceived by their quirky name. This agency is a reputable creative agency with many successful events under its belt.

  • creative production
  • idea generation
  • entertainment agency
  • experiential marketing
  • entertainment design
  • venue finding
  • creative design,
  • video content creation
  • AV lighting & technical production

Bearded Kitten’s notable clients include Cadbury, Amazon, Ikea, Heineken, and RedBull.

See more information on Bearded Kitten .

Event Management Companies in Australia

17. veritas events.

Ideal for: team building, event travel management, virtual events, corporate events, product launches, and galas.

Veritas Events has over two decades of event management and offers a broad scope of services.

  • event logistics
  • virtual and hybrid events
  • venue liaison
  • speaker sourcing
  • content creation
  • audio-visual production.

Veritas Events’ clients include Hewlett Packard, Cisco, Merck, Lenovo, and Visa.

See more information on Veritas Events .

18. Belle Laide Events

Ideal for: corporate events, award nights, experiential events, special events, launch events, corporate conferences, roadshows, and family days.

Belle Laide Events, affectionately known as BLE, is a premiere Brisbane event management company.

  • creative direction
  • technical direction
  • audiovisual production
  • event styling graphic design
  • print management
  • talent management
  • venue management

Clients who have used them include Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Nestle, UBS, Deloitte, and McDonald’s.

See more information on Belle Laide Events .

19. Flying Ruby Events

Ideal for: galas, brand activations, product launches, publicity stunts, Christmas parties, and outdoor events.

Flying Ruby Events is one of Sydney’s most experienced event management companies. Their claim to fame, in my humble opinion, was an edible hamburger billboard created for Deliveroo’s 5 million burgers sold in Australia.

  • event designs

Flying Ruby Events clients include Popsugar, CEO Magazine, Deliveroo, 1800 Tequila, and Air New Zealand.

See more information on Flying Ruby Events .

20. Verve Creative

Ideal for: conferences, gala dinners, award ceremonies, Christmas parties, cocktail receptions, product launches, activations, exhibitions, rural events, internal presentations, special events, and roadshows.

Sydney-based Verve Creative offers a myriad of creative solutions for various event types.

  • entertainment solutions
  • food and beverage management
  • guest transfer logistics
  • technical delivery

Clients who have used Verve Creative Events include BBC Worldwide, Case Construction, Genie, South African Tourism, and NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service.

See more information on Verve Creative Events .

21. Nectar Creative Communications

Ideal for: corporate conferences, exhibitions, government events, association events, and corporate events.

  • event strategy
  • attendee management and registration
  • AV production and broadcast
  • content and program design
  • exhibition management
  • virtual and hybrid event solutions

Nectar Creative Communications clients include Rio Tinto, Australian Airports Association, Queensland Government, The University of Queensland, and APPMA.

See more information on Nectar Creative Communications .

Event Management Companies in South Africa

22. 360 degrees.

Ideal for: corporate conferences, product launches, online celebrations, online webcast events, awards events, and exhibitions.

360 Degrees creates powerful experiences, whether it be a corporate event or product launch.

  • registration management
  • programming
  • content curation

360 Degrees clients have included Samsung, Isuzu, RMB, Coca-Cola, British Airways, Mercedes Benz, and Unilever.

See more information on 360 Degrees .

23. Otto De Jager

Ideal for: corporate events, private events, and weddings

Otto De Jager brings elegance and style to event planning. Operating out of Cape Town and Johannesburg, the company offers a host of services, including:

  • floral design and artistry
  • event entertainment

Otto De Jager’s clients have included FIFA, Sun International, Absolut Vodka, and William Le Grange.

See more information on Otto De Jager .

24. GL events-South Africa

Ideal for: trade fairs, exhibitions, sports competitions, political meetings, and cultural meetings.

GL Events has offices around the world, including Johannesburg, South Africa. Known for executing large, high-profile exhibitions, their services include:

  • event design and production
  • structures and grandstands
  • audiovisual, including lighting, sound systems, stage structures, IT, and network
  • furniture including seating, tables, and storage

GL Events shows have included Automotive Hungary, Auto Moto Classic, and Omnivore.

See more information on GL events .

25. ALEIT events

Ideal for: corporate conferences, year-end soirées, gala dinners, seminars, corporate celebrations & dinners, award ceremonies, product launches, VIP Events, themed festivals, private events, team building events, virtual events, and digital activations.

ALEIT events crafts events from international client dinners to edgy product launches.

ALEIT events clients include LabFin, SABC, Standard Bank, absa, and YPO.

See more information on ALEIT events .

Each event management company brings a unique spin to the industry. While some providers have a broad range of services, others prefer to stay boutique and offer a few niche services tailored to specific sectors or event types.

When choosing an event management company, it is essential to weigh two main factors. First, consider industry. For example, if you plan a product launch for a technology company, choose an event management company with extensive technology product launch experience. Secondly, think about the event type. For example, selecting an event management company specializing in extravagant weddings may not be the best option for a trade fair event.

Lastly, location doesn’t always dictate which event management company you choose. Many event management companies are skilled in organizing events outside their city, province, or country.

Next, check out these lists of conference food ideas , ideas for corporate party entertainment , and event planning books .

We also have a list of confetti event planners and a list of virtual event companies to hire .

FAQ: Event management companies

Here are answers to common questions about event management companies.

What are event management companies?

Event management companies design, organize, and promote events for corporate meetings, galas, fundraisers, client dinners, product launches, weddings, seminars, private events, and conferences.

Why should you hire an event management company?Why should you hire an event management company?

Events, especially large events, can take months, sometimes a year to plan. Event management companies can ease the burden of planning by helping you:

  • decide on a budget
  • pick a venue
  • choose food and beverage services
  • organize entertainment
  • market your event
  • organize the event registration
  • manage the event on the day(s) of the event

Event management companies can also assist with fundraising events, which can be particularly tedious work when planning alone.

What are the best event management companies for corporate events?

Some of the best event management companies for corporate events include Luxe Fête, Belle Laide Events, and Veritas Events.

How do you find a good event management company?

The easiest way to find a good event management company is by researching on the Internet. I recommend throwing in a few keywords pertaining to your event. For example, “event management company fundraising gala” or “event management company product launches.” As mentioned previously, don’t concern yourself with location as larger event management companies will often coordinate events outside their city.

Author avatar

Author: Grace He

People & Culture Director at teambuilding.com. Grace is the Director of People & Culture at TeamBuilding. She studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, Information Science at East China Normal University and earned an MBA at Washington State University.

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The Complete Guide to Corporate Event Planning in 2022

event planning company best

Does the word ‘corporate’ scare you? How about ‘corporate event planning?’ Are there visions of clipboards or dull keynotes dancing in your head?

While anything dubbed ‘corporate’ might conjure images of pantsuits and cubicles, fight the urge to equate it with ‘stiff’ and ‘boring’ –– especially when it comes to corporate event planning.

After all, the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series –– or any Red Bull event for that matter –– is a corporate event. And we can probably all agree planning that experience was anything but boring.

In simple terms, corporate event planning is the process of organizing events for a brand or business to achieve business goals.

Here are a few examples of areas a business might be looking to make progress in by hosting a corporate event:

  • Brand awareness : A branded pop-up or conference session can make a splash. Take Bala’s Disco event for SXSW 2022 . The workout brand hosted a party with exercise classes, cocktails, and dancing to capture attention and increase brand recognition.
  • Thought leadership : Gatherings like The Atlantic Festival are designed to position event hosts as experts, leaders, and shapers in their field.
  • Lead generation or customer retention : Ever been to a car show like the North American International Auto Show ? Big companies like Ford and Toyota use those spaces to reimagine the sales process, reach new customers, and retain current ones.
  • Employee engagement : Whether you’re reinforcing company values or fostering collaboration, internal corporate events can go a long way in making your company a stand-out place to work. Holiday parties, milestone celebrations, and team offsites are all corporate events.

Ready to start planning? We’ve outlined a corporate event planning roadmap and a free checklist to help guide you through the process. But first, let’s do a deeper dive on different types of corporate events and how to think about your planning timeline.

In this guide:

The many faces of corporate events, how to make sure time is on your side, how to plan a successful corporate event, your corporate event planning checklist, how technology can uplevel your corporate events.

Before looking at the planning process, it’s important to set clear goals and objectives so you understand what type of corporate event might be right for your business needs.

Corporate events, like the corporations they’re associated with, come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and types. They can be internal, geared toward employees or internal stakeholders, or external, delivered to a broader audience or the general public. They can also be in person, hybrid, or virtual –– the format largely depends on the goal of the event.

Let’s run through some common types of corporate events:

  • Conferences : These experiences typically happen annually and they’re big-name, big-effort events that can take months to plan. They often involve sponsors , and usually include packed agendas featuring thought leaders and expert commentary. As an example, check out how the World Wide Fund for Nature chose a virtual conference format to bring debates on ecological issues, expert presentations, and a sponsor expo to their international audience.
  • Product launches : If you’re introducing a new product or service, a launch event can help build excitement and drive adoption or sales. That’s what marketing agency N6A found when they helped their client launch a product — a cannabis-focused careers platform — via a virtual event.
  • Trade shows : These tend to work best when companies want to demo products, meet prospects, and network with peers all at once.
  • Internal meetings : Internal company meetings can be focused on specific teams –– think training sessions or offsites. But they also include company-wide experiences (an all-hands meeting, for example) and events designed for a company’s key stakeholders, like board meetings or investor updates. They can happen at scale: GitHub’s company-wide event featured more than 1,100 virtual attendees around the world.
  • Training workshops : From internal security trainings to external product workshops, training events are often designed to be hands-on and participatory. The Flemish Department of Education and Training , for example, runs cultural education training events for students and teachers.
  • Fundraising events : With galas, benefits, danceathons, silent auctions, food drives, and more, the corporate events side of charitable giving or fundraising can take many forms.
  • Webinars : These events are focused on conveying information to an audience, whether it’s a presentation, walk-through, demo, or video.
  • Team-building events : These events typically focus on building morale and positive rapport across a team — from scavenger hunts to talent shows, there’s no shortage of ways to bring employees together to help build bonds.
  • Customer Advisory Board events: Customer Advisory Board events (also known as CABs) — and other kinds of focus group-centric gatherings — bring consumers together to give feedback, perspective, and advice to a company.

When planning any corporate event, there’s one thing you’ll want to make sure you have enough of: time.

When do you need to start planning your corporate event?

That depends entirely on how complex it’s going to be, the amount of people you’re expecting, the size of your team, and the format of your event. Note that completely virtual corporate events won’t require physical spaces, travel arrangements, and other logistics specific to in-person experiences, so they can take less time to plan.

Consider the below as broad guidance:

event planning company best

And this breakdown of key components you’ll need to tackle:

  • Getting universal buy-in : Stakeholders will need to be on the same page about the goals of your event, which can take time.
  • Marketing your event: From email campaigns and social media messaging to paid advertisements and beyond — even if it’s an internal event — you’ll want to build excitement and rack up registrations for the big day.
  • Sourcing speakers . Need a big name that can live up to the expectations of your 100,000 attendees? Start planning early. Even for small events, subject matter experts are in high demand and need quite a bit of notice.
  • Landing sponsors : Sponsors don’t just fill out an expo hall; they can make events profitable . But finding good ones takes time, especially considering that companies often have limited budgets for sponsorship. Seek to secure sponsors as early as possible.
  • Locking in your technical setup : You don’t want to be dealing with technical difficulties on event day . So, you’ll want to work through your setup long before showtime — everything from how you’ll handle audio and video for speakers to how you’ll respond to audience tech issues.
  • Branding your event : Event branding makes it clear to would-be attendees what your event stands for. For virtual events, key branding elements will be entirely digital, like designs for your virtual event platform . In-person event branding will require even more time, as you’ll need to consider things like signage and other physical materials. No matter what type of corporate event you’re producing, make sure your brand shines on your event website .
  • Planning food and beverage : Food and beverage , especially at an in-person or hybrid event, takes time to organize as there are multiple factors to consider: menu, pricing, catering company, sustainability, health and wellness, and more.

Remember, the amount of time it takes to bring your event to life also depends on the size of your team. If it’s just you, aim to give yourself the gift of plenty of buffer room.

If there are a few dozen corporate event planners and organizers working with you, it’s possible you’ll find yourself speeding through your timeline.

Now that you’ve moved through some prep, you’re ready to start planning in earnest. Let this step-by-step tutorial help you conquer corporate event planning.

Step 1: Define success

You can’t know the right format for your corporate event until you know what your desired outcome is.

So, ask yourself a few questions: What’s the intended outcome of this event? What business objective are we driving toward?

Write your goals in the S.M.A.R.T. framework :

  • Specific : A specific goal narrows down the type of success an event organizer seeks.
  • Measurable : A measurable goal typically relates to how you’ll evaluate the goal in a quantitative way.
  • Achievable : Once a goal can be measured, you’ll be able to define what will indicate the goal has been achieved.
  • Relevant : A relevant goal ensures buy-in from your various stakeholders.
  • Time-bound : Setting a time-bound goal means that the goal is aligned with a specific timeframe so anyone reviewing it or acting upon it knows the deadline.“

Step 2: Develop your budget

Once you’ve nailed down the results you’re aiming to achieve, it’s time to build out your event budget .

An event budget helps you determine if you have the financial resources needed to bring your event to life and achieve the goals you’ve outlined.

You’ll break your budget into expenses and revenue.

Primary expenses will include:

  • Venue (whether virtual, via a tech platform, or physical)
  • Food and beverage
  • Speakers and entertainment

And your main sources of revenue will usually come from:

  • Sponsorships
  • Ticket sales
  • Product sales

Before you finalize your budget, add a contingency cost buffer (10-15% of the total is usually advised) for unexpected expenses.

Use a free event budget template to collect all your numbers in one place, then send the final draft off to your stakeholders for final approval.

Step 3: Do a deep dive on what your audience wants

An event is almost always about the audience.

Whether your audience is primarily prospects, customers, employees, or industry peers, it’s full of people looking for value. That value could be emotional, social, educational, or something else altogether. And the success of an event is often determined by how much value it drove for its audience.

So, first you need to figure out what your audience really cares about.

If you can, go directly to the source by sending surveys to your email lists, asking for feedback on social media, and hosting focus groups with would-be attendees.

Or take a more quantitative approach and build a picture of your audience’s motivations, needs, values, and goals using platforms like Google Analytics , Facebook Audience Insights , and Nielsen .

Consider questions like:

  • What motivates your audience members?
  • What problems do they need help solving?
  • What kind of people are they interested in learning from or connecting with?
  • Are there community leaders who could bring them together?
  • What’s most relevant for your audience right now?

Add an audience demographics layer, too. Look at:

  • Geography : Where does your audience come from? Consider countries, cultures, and languages.
  • Career : What industry does your audience work in? What experience levels do they have? What do they already know and what’s most relevant to their learning?
  • Gender : What is the gender breakdown? Do you have equal representation?

Constantly ask yourself: Are there things you can do to make sure everyone who’s part of your audience feels comfortable and included? Consider how you’ll make your event as accessible as possible.

Step 4: Design for engagement

Events are experiences.

Think of the most magical events you’ve been to: maybe it was a wedding that felt like a fairytale, a championship game where you were swept up in the collective energy, a product launch party where you met your new business partner.

Events become magical when they are grounded in the audience’s values, and when they’re designed to engage people .

When designing your event, think about:

  • Theme : Tie your event together with a fun event theme that will resonate with your audience.
  • Stand-out content : If your content falls flat, so will the rest of your corporate event. Focus on providing the very best event content so all your attendees are passively engaged during less active sessions.
  • Participation : What opportunities are you giving your audience to interact with your content? Can you add in workshops, breakout Q&A sections, or even get people started with some thought-provoking pre-written questions?
  • Community : How will your attendees get to know one another? Consider adding a networking session in the middle of your event to encourage conversation and debate on your first set of topics.
  • Co-creation : You want your audience to feel like they are owning the success of your event right along with you. According to industry experts, a key trend for successful events in 2022 and beyond is giving attendees the chance to make something they can take home with them — whether literally or figuratively.
  • Technology : You have no shortage of tech options at your fingertips to make your event something folks will remember. Will you add a virtual reality expo space to explore? A digital photobooth? Artificial intelligence-enabled matchmaking for networking?

Step 5: Choose the right venue

You want people to feel welcome at your event. So choose a space that conveys that message.

In-person space considerations include size and cost, as well as:

  • Wi-Fi and technical support : Do you have what you need to make sure the technical side of your event runs smoothly, and that attendees will be able to stay connected throughout the experience?
  • Food and beverage options : What can you offer attendees and how does it meet dietary, wellness, and sustainability expectations?
  • Health and safety : Returning to in-person events requires a lot of forethought, and a key consideration is the level of health and safety policies required and desired.
  • Location : How easily will attendees be able to get to your event?

Virtual and hybrid venues have their own set of considerations:

  • Capacity: How many attendees can participate at once?
  • Customization : A virtual venue should be easier to customize than an in-person one (no architects or interior designers needed). Can you add custom graphics? Names? Spaces?
  • Tech : Are live-streaming capabilities built into the platform of your choice? What about networking options? Live chats and polls?
  • App integrations : Can you combine your marketing software with your virtual event management software? What about gamification tools, data analysis, and more?

Virtual events tend to open up possibilities for attendees and speakers since the potential audience becomes anyone with an internet connection. You can bring together a diverse audience and give them multiple ways to interact with one another and your content, including:

  • Networking spaces
  • Virtual expos and fairs
  • Games and challenges
  • Options to rewatch content after the event

Step 6: Promote your experience

Effective event marketing and branding can play a big role when it comes to filling up your registration list and getting attendees excited for your live event. These tools help illustrate what your event will be about and convince audience members of the value it will deliver.

When marketing to your audience, call on the knowledge you uncovered about their values, motivations, and goals.

For example, if you’re promoting a fun employee event like Greenhouse’s employee offsite , you might do a text-heavy drip campaign of emails explaining the various games that await participants: in this case, Zombie Battle, Salty Telephone, and Beg, Barter, Solve.

But if you’re promoting a more serious event, like the UN Climate Change Conference , you might lean on sparse graphics with provocative messaging to create eye-catching advertisements.

It’s not just emails and advertisements, either. Event promotion often requires an integrated, layered effort featuring an event website, email marketing, social media marketing, influencer engagement, and more.

However you decide to approach event marketing, get started early. You’ll want attendees to have time to plan –– and you’ll want to give yourself some runway in case you need to tweak your approach along the way.

Step 7: Tackle logistics for the live show

It’s all in the details.

Running through potential scenarios could be the difference between your audience struggling to hear a speaker whose microphone died, and said speaker delivering the most engaging presentation of your corporate event.

While event promotions continue running to drive registrations, it’s time to coordinate the rest of the event’s logistics.

Logistical to-dos might include:

  • Finalizing your event’s agenda
  • Creating your run-of-show document
  • Setting up your virtual event environment
  • Coordinating presentations with speakers
  • Completing your on-site venue coordination
  • Confirming and organizing audio/visual (A/V) production needs
  • Doing dry runs and tech checks with presenters and hosts
  • Nailing down any remaining experiential elements and things that might need to be mailed out to attendees, like swag

The list goes on.

Step 8: Put on a memorable experience

This is where it all comes together. Months of hard work, planning, and coordinating all culminate in attendees gathering for your experience.

Day of, you’ll want to make sure your team members are on the same page regarding their roles and responsibilities. Make sure you talk to:

  • On-site staff , including event producers, emcees, hosts, reception workers, speaker liaisons, lead event managers, A/V technicians, guest relations coordinators, sponsor coordinators, and more
  • Virtual staff , including producers, emcees and moderators, speaker liaisons, technical support, and chat managers
  • Hybrid staff , including anyone supporting the coordination between experiences

Make sure the lines of communication stay open as your event is happening in case anything goes awry and needs to be addressed in the moment. Coordinating through software such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, or Walkie Talkies (for those in a physical venue), will make sure you’re on top of any issue.

Step 9: Evaluate your event’s results

As you celebrate a successful corporate event, remember to debrief with your team and complete post-event reporting for your stakeholders. Take a look at data and analytics to measure your event’s performance.

Look at event data like:

  • Attendance : The percentage of registrants who actually attended the event
  • Average time spent in the event : How long participants stayed at your event
  • Visitor numbers : Unique visitors to different areas of the virtual venue, like keynotes and sponsor expos
  • Connections made : How many participants connected with one another
  • Event Net Promoter Score (NPS) : A number from 1-10 that tracks how satisfied attendees were with an event and how likely they are to refer that event to others or attend again

If you use a virtual event platform , the above data should be easy to pull together. Once you have your data, collect it in a post-event report to help you — and importantly, your stakeholders — evaluate how well your event performed relative to its goals and objectives.

Follow up with thank you notes and surveys to make sure you get feedback on what your participants enjoyed –– and what you can improve next time.

A corporate event planning checklist is a simple tool that can help you keep track of all the details in front of you, and make sure you’re ahead of the game when it comes to organizing your next corporate event. Consider these tasks as you navigate the process:

6-12 months out

  • Determine your event’s goals and objectives
  • Set your objectives, key results, and metrics
  • Decide what type of event would best meet those goals
  • Decide on theme and creative direction
  • Create a budget and get approval from your stakeholders
  • Set a date and time
  • Start planning your location or venue

5-6 months out

  • Finalize venue and vendors
  • Identify speakers and start reaching out to them
  • Start looking for sponsors and reach out to them
  • Kick off your event branding, create a style guide, and start designing assets

3-5 months out

  • Build event website
  • Start event marketing and promotions to drive registration
  • Finalize speakers
  • Finalize sponsors
  • Update your budget

1-3 months out

  • Finalize details and logistics
  • Source physical and virtual swag
  • Update safety protocols, if necessary

0-1 month out

  • Do final run-of-show rehearsals
  • Get in sync with your event team on roles and responsibilities during the event
  • Communicate final details to attendees
  • Run final teaser campaigns
  • Run last-minute promotions to fill any unclaimed spots
  • Send attendee survey and thank you notes
  • Send speaker gifts and thank you notes
  • Schedule debrief with stakeholders on event performance against goals
  • Update budgets, run-of-show, and processes for your next event
  • Use event content to fuel marketing activities and branding campaigns

Want to learn more about hosting and marketing events? Read other Event Marketing Guides from Hopin.

You don’t have to go it alone when it comes to planning corporate events.

The right event technology can simplify the corporate event planning process and support you as you create the best attendee experience possible.

See how Hopin’s leading event platform can help you achieve success with every type of corporate event –– whether it’s virtual, hybrid, or in person. Contact our team of corporate event experts today to learn more.

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Come join the hopin team, get started with hubspot, recommended reading.

Discover effective strategies to keep your virtual event attendees engaged during the summer months. From optimizing timings and mobile compatibility to utilizing social media, we share innovative ways to turn the challenges of summer into exciting opportunities.

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BAZAAR's Little Black Book: The Top Wedding Planners in the World

Engaged? Check. Next, have one of these top-tier event specialists on speed dial.

Executing the perfect wedding day—or weekend—is all about organization, details, style, taste level, and logistics. And any event planner worth their salt can take on the execution of any event, consult on its design, and help you successfully manage your expectations and budget.

These names are those in the wedding industry who can take on the most creative of challenges and elevate any expectation, whether you're planning for a chic celebration at home, a luxe affair in New York City, an outdoor event in Napa Valley, a wedding weekend spent in Italy, or a multicultural wedding weekend in Thailand, Bali, Kuwait, India, or beyond. Trust us: This short list is who we would call (and who we have tapped) when planning our own celebrations.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect BAZAAR Bride’s commitment, now and moving forward, to inclusivity. We look forward to continuing to present the industry’s best—from seasoned experts to the new and noteworthy.

Alison Events

harper's bazaar top wedding planners alison events

The Look : Every detail of our events is creatively composed to feel timeless and like an intimate dinner party with all your closest friends and family–no matter the size or scope. We’re about effortlessness and authenticity, highlighted by our unique solutions and integrations of lighting, furnishings, linens, and florals through design collaborations around the globe. Whether it's a white sand beach in Anguilla, a rustic barn in Napa Valley, a private villa in the hills of Tuscany, a boutique hotel in Marrakesh, or an art island in the heart of Japan, we help clients find the most talented vendors to bring their visions to life.

The Approach : We embrace the culture and personal connection to any event and locale we commit to producing, striving for a natural balance of unique details and, most importantly, making sure our couples have the most amazing time on their wedding day.

Expert Advice : Enjoy the process and trust your planner and creative partners. Having been in the events world for 18 years, we have seen it all and done it all—and the clients who trust us to do our thing enjoy the process so much more. The planning process should be creative, unique, and, most of all, fun!

Weddings of Note : Seth Rogan & Lauren Miller, Twitter founder Evan Williams, the first wedding at Amanemu in Ise Shima, a wedding on Naoshima Island off the coast of Uno, as well as the first-ever wedding at Benesse House, a world-renowned museum and art site with an impressive collection of sculpture, conceptual art, and installations from all over the world.

Alison Bryan Destinations

harper's bazaar top wedding planners alison  bryan

The Look: We create elevated guest experiences around the globe. Our aesthetic varies, depending on the client and the location, but our goal is always authenticity and warmth—with a touch of etherealness and magic. Our weddings feel more like a vacation; we set the scene for connectivity and joy. We often use the environment as inspiration, forgoing trends in exchange for something personal and memorable.

The Approach: We're a husband-and-wife team with a 20-year background in the fine art of hospitality. Our clients and their events are all over the world, so 99 percent of our work is done via email and video conferencing. We are designers at heart, but we pride ourselves on being as equally organized as we are creative. You work with us—not a team of assistants—and are one of only six to eight clients we take on per year.

Expert Advice: Finding a great planner is all about finding someone you can connect with. There are a lot of people who do gorgeous work, but look for someone who you feel you can be honest with—someone you can really trust.

Weddings of Note: We are lucky to work with fun and fabulous people—among them, some of the top CEOs and talent in tech, music, film, fashion, and finance.

André Wells

andre wells wedding in aspen photographed by stanlo photography

The Look: My aesthetic is fashion forward and colorful—with lots of floral and attention to detail. We love using multiple patterns and color variations; I am not a matchy-matchy kind of guy. We pride ourselves on our ability to edit. In our designs, we work with what's in season, as well as what’s practical, functional, and beautiful at the same time. I love a WOW lighting design; the hues and movement make an event unforgettable.

The Approach: We are a full-service boutique firm, here to walk our clients through planning and design from conception to conclusion. No detail is too big or too small for us to handle. I love getting to know our clients and design to whatever beat they live their lives. The entire process for us is bespoke, as no two weddings are alike. Most importantly, we try to make the experience fun and memorable.

Expert Advice: Your wedding is just the beginning of a lifetime of entertaining and gathering with family and friends. You don't have to do everything you've ever thought of, seen on Instagram, or seen in publications. Edit the day! If something doesn't make sense to do or you feel like it isn't you—just don't do it.

Weddings of Note: We've had the opportunity to create, plan, and design events for politicians, CEO's, celebrities, and a host of professional athletes—but we pride ourselves on spectacular service and discretion.

tablescape by a votre service events

The Look: At Á Votre Service Events, we’re all about creativity and are meticulous in using our global network of suppliers for impeccable execution. Given that we offer planning, design, production, and full-service floral design, we are known to collaborate and travel to flower farms worldwide to source only the best products for our events. While each wedding or event is unique, our goal always is to always deliver a sophisticated, understated, elegant, and elevated experience for our clients each and every time.

The Approach: Our process is, first and foremost, about our clients; it’s intuitive and authentic. Our business name translates to our motto—“At your service.” When working with us, nothing is beyond your reach. If you can dream it, we can produce it.

Expert Advice: Allow the team of professionals you hire creative freedom and leverage their expertise, network, and resources. In turn, they will deliver a magnificent experience likely to exceed your expectations.

Wedding of Note: We value our clients’ privacy as they value our discretion. We have been privileged to work on at iconic venues, private estates, and on destination weddings spanning days. Whether it's a corporate CEO, a political power-broker, or a professional athlete, we remain grateful for each opportunity to do more of what we love.

Bash Please

harper's bazaar top wedding planners bash please

The Look: Our celebrations reflect our clients fully—their shared history, style, and energy. We take those influences and marry them with our global intuition to create an experience that's fresh, unconventional, and one of a kind.

The Approach: We revel in a great party and specialize in multiday celebrations around the world. Our approach blends refinement with originality—but with approachability and a strong foundation in the principles of hospitality.

Expert Advice: Weddings are not a time to reinvent, but rather, honor your natural instincts. Let your intuition guide your decisions about what kind of environment you want to celebrate.

Weddings of Note: Andy Favreau & Molly McQueen (granddaughter of actor Steve McQueen), Nasty Gal's founder and #Girlboss Sophia Amoruso, Todd Selby & Danielle Sherman, Scott Oster & Anna Getty, David Hornsby & Emily Deschanel, and Fred Cipoletti & Margo & Me's Jenny Bernheim.

Beth Helmstetter

samira wiley  lauren morelli's wedding, shot by abby ross

The Look : Our couples hire us to create a cohesive aesthetic and experience that is reflective of their personalities. We are as obsessed with our classic couples as we are our wild ones; we work closely with each and every one of them to create an individual and intentional design.

The Approach : We are a full-service event design and planning team. With six full-time associates, we each bring our strongest skill sets to the table to produce flawless events. Our behind-the-scenes team takes care of the administrative side of the process, communicates with traveling guests, supports vendors, and makes sure every custom detail created is perfect.

Expert Advice : The best weddings allow guests to be fully present. The smallest thing, like being too hot during the ceremony, not being able to get a drink quickly, or waiting in long lines can take them out of the moment. It doesn't matter how beautiful your day is if you haven't anticipated your guests' needs properly.

Clients of Note : Samira Wiley & Lauren Morelli (pictured here), Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey, and Nikki Reed.

Brooke Keegan

harper's bazaar top wedding planners brooke keagan

The Look: We take a residential approach to our style and design. Finely curated, detailed, and personalized experiences allow our clients and their guests to feel like they are enjoying the best version of a dinner party at their own homes.

The Approach: Our team expertly navigates the planning of luxury experiences at any scale. We tailor our process to each individual’s needs and only accept a limited number of events per year, allowing us to focus our efforts on creating outstanding, memorable experiences that exceed expectations.

Expert Advice: When selecting your creative partners, please consider these three criteria—style, personality, and finances. Trust your planner to guide you in curating the perfect team.

Weddings of Note: Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard & Hayley Stommel, NBA player/coach Luke Walton & Bre Ladd, Riker Lynch & Savannah Latimer, Diana Taurasi & Penny Taylor, Josh Singer & Laura Dave.

Bruce Russell

harper's bazaar top wedding planners bruce russell

The Look: A carefully curated design that encompasses elements of the venue, destination, personalities, and passions of each couple. It’s personal perfection.

The Approach: From day one, it’s important for us to build a rapport with our clients in order to personally understand the vision and the ultimate common goal. When they have confidence in our expertise, that’s when they can enjoy each moment of the planning journey.

Expert Advice: Visualize your wedding day as a theater production. Consider all elements, such as entertainment, catering, décor, etc. for each “act,” and the transition process from one to the next. Your guests are on a journey–make it memorable.

Weddings of Note: Discretion is at the heart of what we do, so we don’t like to name names (and often, we can’t!). Suffice it to say that we’ve had the privilege of orchestrating weddings for dignitaries, sporting legends, famous personalities, and socialites.

wedding planned by by chenai photographed by tom weller

The Look: No two events of ours will ever look the same. I work with my clients to make their wedding or party uniquely theirs, incorporating thoughtful and luxurious details without ostentation. Our clients are a stylish, multicultural bunch who are drawn to the aesthetics and, at the core, are after a really great party. The overall experience is paramount, from food to music, to the decor and details. With us, emphasis is placed on guiding our clients to creating truly memorable parties that their friends and family will keep talking about for ages.

The Approach: My initial meetings with clients always begins with a conversation that’s less about the wedding itself, and more about their lives and what brings them joy. I love to consider their favorite restaurants and travel hotspots; all those personal details inform how I proceed with the design and planning of their event. From the moment we meet to the day of the wedding, I strive to make the experience of planning an enjoyable, detailed, and thoughtful one where my clients feel truly valued. For this reason, I don't crowd my calendar. We take on a limited number of events per year; our clients will never be one of many on a conveyor belt of events.

Expert Advice: Have the conversation early on about what your priorities are for the wedding as a couple. Consider what really matters to you and what experience you want your friends and family to enjoy. Setting those priorities early on will help in creating a realistic budget.

Weddings of Note: The Sunday Times' best selling author Candice Brathwaite is a current client, and we’re very excited to currently be planning a 2022 wedding for a UK pop artist.

Calder Clark

tablescape with florals and candles planned by calder clark

The Look : The mantra “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should” shapes our body of work. Our projects are fresh and unpretentious, narrative and thoughtful, underproduced and well-edited, supremely unstuffy, and layered with our trademark je ne sais quoi.

The Approach : Our process is all about mining for details. We deep-dive into your personal story, excavating for nuances we can weave into a killer party. Every couple has an entertaining style; we aim to suss it out and design your celebration to echo that vibe.

Expert Advice : You drive the mood of your entire party. Go ahead and get mired in the minutiae with us during the planning phase; when the big day rolls around, let your hair down and the good times roll.

Weddings of Note : We have designed parties for notable politicos, athletes, celebrities, and scions of business, but it’s not client notoriety that excites us. Building enduring relationships, collaborating on world-class projects, and connecting on a personal level is what truly makes our team tick.

Chanda Daniels

wedding planning by chanda daniels

The Look: We proudly celebrate all love, equally. We value diversity and inclusivity. For the past 21 years, our designs have reflected the diversity of our clients. Our signature aesthetic is refined and classic, with elevated details and lots of texture.

The Approach: We are a full-service wedding design and planning company that specializes in curated wedding weekend experiences. Through an in-depth acquainting session, we learn all about the lifetime milestones that brought our couples to the day of their engagement. Then, we make cohesive connections to their love story throughout the design and flow of their event. We only accept a limited number of weddings per year, allowing us to focus uniquely on each of our couples.

Expert Advice: When selecting your creative partners, remember to look at the following criteria (in this order): style, values/personality, and investment. After you have curated the perfect team, trust them. Relax and enjoy the planning process, and be 100% present on your wedding day.

Weddings of Note: We’ve had several VIP LGBTQ+ couples as clients—and we’ve signed nondisclosure agreements. We're good at keeping secrets.

Colin Cowie

harper's bazaar top wedding planners colin cowie

The Look : No two of my weddings ever look the same. I start with the clients’ DNA and embrace the five senses to tell their story. Always glamorous with insane attention to detail—we offer two different services: Team Cowie and Signature Colin.

The Approach : After an in-depth meeting with the client in our offices, we prepare a series of mood boards to ensure we have interpreted their vision. Simultaneously, we start collecting fabrics, finishes, renderings, and detailed floor plans. We present a full creative presentation so that the client can sit at the dinner table, feel the starch in the napkin, and make sure they love every flower. Day of, we have one producer who is dedicated to taking care of the bride's needs from start to finish.

Expert Advice : Something will go wrong the day of the wedding—but not to worry if you’ve hired the very best. We can take care of any situation; the client should focus 120 percent on having fun and being the glamorous host.

Weddings of Note : My own wedding this February to Danny Peuscovich in South Africa, DJ Tiësto at Amangiri, Sloan Lindemann’s pre-wedding ball on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, HRH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Jimmy Iovine & Liberty Ross.

Daughter of Design

harper's bazaar top wedding planners annie lee

The Look: We design for the It girl. Our concepts are heavily pulled from contemporary fashion, art, and interior design–but we are never "trendy."

The Approach: I want my clients to feel like they're in the back of an Uber XL, not worrying about how to get there, or if they're on time, just comfortably relaxing and letting someone else who knows the roads take the wheel.

Expert Advice: If something doesn't go exactly as planned, don't worry and keep smiling. Your guests probably have no idea what the original plan was anyway!

Weddings of Note: We don't plan and tell but can tell you this—our clients are the cool kids around town.

harper's bazaar top wedding planners david monn

The Look: My signature aesthetic is that of extreme elegance. My use of scale is what gives the events I design a unique appeal.

The Approach: My process always answers back to three main components—authenticity, scale, and detail. Understanding the clients’ hopes and dreams and hearkening back to those principles is the key to a successful event. Our team is geared to make every element seem effortless so that the couple and their families feel as comfortable as their guests for a stress-free day.

Expert Advice: First, stick with your original idea of what your wedding should look like, and put equal emphasis into the ceremony as you do the celebration. If the guests have been a part of a moving, emotional, and uplifting ceremony, they’ll go into the celebration with exuberant joy, ready to party with you.

Weddings of Note: Amanda Hearst & Joachim Rønning and Isabelle Marino & Ryan Hoffman.

David Stark

harper's bazaar top wedding planners david stark

The Look: We approach each wedding as a truly personal story brought to life. Creative innovation is our heart and soul, and we pride ourselves on exquisite craftsmanship, sophisticated whimsy, and singular ideas that elevate the typical wedding experience to the realm of installation art.

The Approach: We go beyond typical event planning and design services to create personalized, immersive environments that set the stage for life’s most cherished moments, starting the journey as esteemed professionals and ending it as dear friends. Our dream client is confident, stylish, and revels in the creative journey of their planning and design process.

Expert Advice: Don’t be afraid to break the rules as long as you do it fabulously.

Clients of Note: A few of the notable clients we've designed and produced weddings for include Glenn Close and Jon Stewart. We collaborate with a wide range of celebrity, society, and fashion clientele who have included Brad Pitt, Martha Stewart, Mariska Hargitay, SNL 's 40th anniversary, major corporations like Target and Louis Vuitton, as well as galas for organizations as diverse as the Robin Hood Foundation and the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Diana Sorensen

harper's bazaar top wedding planners diana sorensen

The Look : Our signature aesthetic encompasses stylish, impressive, untraditional, and very detailed celebrations in Italy. Many have described our events as always blending naturally into the setting—without ever looking over the top. We have designed events worldwide, but specialize and differentiate ourselves by creating celebrations in off-the-radar, unique, private locations in Capri, Positano, Ravello, Puglia, Sicily, and Rome in particular.

The Approach : Our clients live worldwide and are typically very busy; we offer them a variety of options in the planning process, allowing them to be very involved no matter their location. We conceptualize, design, and create mood boards, renderings, and floral design in house, and so we are able to present full event visions in advance at any location convenient to our clients. We also welcome clients to our offices in Italy, where they can peruse our showroom full of custom-made table settings, linens, furniture samples, and more. We work on our own and in collaboration with planners around the world. Our goal is to ensure our clients have an authentic, bespoke, Italian design—not a design that could be featured anywhere in the world.

Expert Advice : Make sure your planner works for you and has a strict no-commission policy. Trust is fundamental; only consider and interview planners whose design aesthetic is one you really love and that aligns with the country and location you want to celebrate in. No planner truly invested in your wedding from start to end can work 12+ events per year; we ourselves only take on a maximum of four in order to ensure we are completely hands on.

Clients of Note : Fashion designer Misha Nonoo & Mikey Hess, Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe-Herd & Michael Herd, Zimmermann boutique launch celebrations in Capri, fashion tycoon Lawrence Stroll, stylist Erica Pelosini & Louis Leeman, Feiping Chang & Lincoln Li, Michael Fuchs & Alvina Collardeau.

Duke + Van Deusen

harper's bazaar top wedding planners duke  van deusen

The Look : An elevated Hamptons-inspired aesthetic that is customized to suit our clients and the unique private properties, estates, and raw spaces that we specialize in transforming.

The Approach : As a small boutique company, we take on a select number of weddings per year to foster an intimate planning experience with our clients and the teams we curate. Our clients are invited to be part of the creative planning and design process to produce a weekend of events featuring details unique to them and memorable to their guests.

Expert Advice : Trust your team, relax into the planning process as it unfolds, and stay in the moment throughout your wedding weekend. It all goes by faster than one can imagine and staying mindful of that is the key to fully appreciating the experience.

Weddings of Note : Lucie Fink & Michael Morris, Jonathan Simkhai & TJ Allers, Nev Schulman & Laura Perlongo.

Easton Events

outdoor ceremony planned by easton events

The Look: Our signature aesthetic is understated elegance. Our events are known for leaning into the surrounding environment and playing into the world of residential interiors through layering color, texture, subtle patterns, and patina. At an Easton Events, every element from the finish of the flooring to the hand of the linen draping is thoughtfully composed. We want our brides to look back at their weddings 15 years from now and still feel that they were personal and timeless.

The Approach: One facet of our Easton ethos is that the design or “making the pretty” is the most natural part of wedding planning, so we focus on streamlining the planning process with our Easton Management Systems. Our signature program creates a custom online client portal for our brides to access all the tools they need to help keep them on track throughout our work together. Typically, our brides are engaged in busy careers, and our role is to create a planning road map, so it is as stress-free as possible. Our rock-solid systems allow for our weddings to unfold seamlessly.

Expert Advice: Prioritize financial transparency! It is critical to have a mutually agreed upon “bucket budget” before moving forward with any contracts—whether it be your venue, your photographer, or your band. Be sure your planner creates a budget weighted toward the areas that are a priority for you, which will ultimately guide your vendor selection.

Clients of Note: We are experts in planning for a highly private clientele. Fun Fact: Lynn Easton is a cofounder of the Easton Porter Group, which owns the uber-chic hotel and restaurant Zero George in Charleston, and nationally acclaimed winery and event venue Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards in Charlottesville. They are also the operating partner of Cannon Green, a top Charleston event venue and restaurant.

wedding planning by elena damy photographed by maria lopez

The Look: We are known for crafting beautiful and welcoming multi-day wedding celebrations. With music, food, décor, and thoughtful details, we weave warmth and richness into the fabric of each of our weddings.

The Approach: Over the past 18 years, we have curated a talented team of floral, event, and interior designers as well as event producers who work together to create unforgettable experiences for each of our discerning clients. Our clients also have exclusive access to our collection of custom-designed, locally-made, high-style furniture and decorative accessories.

Expert Advice: Collaboration works best with open, honest, and detailed communication—consistently shared with and amongst all involved in the wedding. That way, everyone feels heard and all concerns are voiced and addressed, alleviating stress and last-minute changes.

Weddings of Note: We have had the pleasure of producing weddings for clients from around the world in Hong Kong, New York City, Costa Rica, Santa Barbara, Punta Mita, Riviera Maya, our beloved home-base, Los Cabos, and more. We have enjoyed working with notable sports stars, global dignitaries, and Hollywood celebrities—but their privacy is our priority.

Fait Accompli

harper's bazaar top wedding planners fait accompli

The Look: There is no Fait Accompli signature aesthetic. Our independence allows us to piece together celebrations that are entirely our clients’.

The Approach: We have 30 years of experience in planning and delivering perfectly magical celebrations. We operate with the utmost discretion, creating highly individual weddings that we run with exquisite attention to detail.

Expert Advice: Don’t be afraid to provide a budget early on in the planning process so everyone’s expectations are fully aligned.

Weddings of Note: The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge, The Duke & Duchess of Sussex, Ellie Goulding & Caspar Jopling, and Caroline Wozniacki & David Lee.

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Carrie Goldberg is HarpersBAZAAR.com’s Weddings & Travel Director. She oversees the site’s BAZAAR Bride channel, travel & dining content, and styles fashion and bridal editorials for BAZAAR.com. When she’s not traveling, she spends her free time in her hometown–New York City–where there is no shortage of new places to shop, eat, drink, see and explore.

Headshot of Heather Hall

Heather Hall is a weddings, fashion, and lifestyle writer and editor. Her career in weddings began at The Knot , where she worked as a bridal fashion editor. She then worked as a PR Manager at Amsale, a bridal design house, before starting her own events and digital marketing business. She has been featured on Today.com, MSN.com, Yahoo.com, Racked.com, Huffington Post, Verily Magazine, and Style Me Pretty. Heather loves music, travel, and practicing yoga. In her spare time she's typically researching the next fun workout class to try, or finding a new concert to attend. Her latest goal: become a DJ.  

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See how Cvent can solve your biggest event challenges. Watch a 30-minute demo .

A Must-Know Guide To Corporate Event Planning

blog topic header

Events in a corporate environment are often staged to communicate company strategy, change internal company behavior, launch a product or service, motivate, train or reward staff, or influence the external behavior of customers towards the brand.

In many instances, they bring company employees together, support wider marketing or sales initiatives, incentivize team achievements, or entertain senior leaders.

What is corporate event planning?

Yet, corporate event planning goes beyond meeting planning. Although conferences and meetings may form the lion’s share of the workload, other events you may be asked to organize include corporate hospitality, client entertaining, conventions, exhibitions, and employees events—such as incentive travel reward programs, team building, motivational events, receptions, parties, and charity fundraising days.

Planning and executing a successful corporate event is no simple task. It’s typically a months-long process consisting of several stages and a variety of organizational steps.

To help you navigate the business of corporate event planning, here is everything you need to know:

  • Types of Corporate Events

Event budget

Event objective, venue sourcing, event marketing, attendee engagement.

  • Corporate event planning checklist

Types of corporate events

Cvent CONNECT Marketing

As outlined above, corporate events can range from company conferences and internal training seminars to team away-days and client hospitality. When planning for any type of corporate event therefore, it’s best to assess them in terms of their size.

Micro events  (otherwise known as ‘simple events’) are planned for up to 100 delegates and often take the form of meetings or more intimate training sessions.

The planning requirements for these micro-events may simply involve a room booking, presentation facilities, break-out refreshments, and registration. However, referring to them as ‘simple events’ can be misleading, as an away-day or hospitality for 50 senior managers can be as complicated as planning a conference for 500 attendees.

Small events  are classed as between 100 and 250 delegates. They could be seminars, training days or departmental conferences.

Planners may need to manage a main stage itinerary and several break-out sessions, along with lunch, refreshments, audio-visual facilities, online registration , and transport.

Midsize events  rely more on technology. They could be company-wide conferences for up to 1,000 delegates or leadership summits for important client customers to meet with senior leaders.

A branded website, pre-event communications, and an event mobile app should all form part of the budgetary considerations. Delegates may require hotel accommodation, plus transport which takes attendees to and from the venue. While a pre- or post-event reception or evening entertainment may be required as part of a complex multi-stream conference itinerary.

Large-scale events  often require enterprise technology tools to manage elements such as hotel room bookings, delegate flights, budgets, and online registration.

These may be multi-day events so you could need offsite activities, dinners, partner programs, an awards ceremony or other complex itinerary planning.

Staffing, catering, registration, speaker and delegate management will all need to be carefully planned at scale. Conventions, for example, can attract anything up to around 10,000 attendees and can last a few days.

calculator and budget

The amount of available budget can impact every aspect of corporate event planning, from the choice of venue and speakers to the levels of catering, entertainment, technology, and staffing.

Decide if your budget has outgoings only, or will you be able to supplement it with income from exhibitors, sponsors or other forms of external revenue?

Has this event happened in the past? If so, use the previous budget to establish a baseline but ensure that inflation and evolving needs are taking into consideration.

Figures from past budgets are useful in providing a clearer picture of how much certain suppliers will charge. Use these to ensure you are not being over-charged when you reach out to suppliers for initial quotes.

Every event budget, however, needs built-in flexibility. Unanticipated expenditure is common and supplier costs are often provided as estimates, rather than fixed prices, so it’s vital that an overall budget is managed accordingly, and a contingency fund is in place.

Once you’ve sourced supplier costings, make a comprehensive list of all the budget line items in the event lifecycle, including venue hire, AV, food, and beverage, accommodation and travel, speaker fees, staffing costs, marketing and service fees.

For larger or more complex budget planning, look into corporate event management software suites, which include a dedicated  event budget management  tool. This will ensure accurate collection of your budgetary information, help you track expenses easily, generate budget reports, and demonstrate the ROI of your event.

Setting Goals

‘What is the event’s objective?’ This should be the first question you ask when a corporate event is requested. By gaining a deep understanding of the deliverables that key stakeholders are hoping to achieve, it’ll allow you to plan more effectively and communicate your ideas in a language your bosses will understand.

Once you’ve understood whether the event’s aim is, for example, to build brand awareness, communicate business strategy, reward and motivate, or launch a new product or service, you can then set goals, put the right metrics in place to track results, and determine who the attendees will be, along with their expectations.

When you have well-defined goals and objectives for your event, planning, promoting, and sticking to your budget all become much easier.

Event objectives should be SMART

  • S pecific: What is the desired outcome and when does it need to be achieved by?
  • M easurable: Return on Investment or Return on Objectives… or both?
  • A chievable: Ensure that the event objective is something that can actually be achieved otherwise senior leaders will consider it a failure.
  • R elevant: The overall objective needs to remain something that relates back to the company’s goals throughout the entire planning process.
  • T imebound: Plan for the event objective to have been achieved between two time periods. This may require subsequent training seminars or a follow-up event to assess the outcomes of the first.

Venue Search Frankfurt

The event’s objectives may also determine your choice of venue. If stakeholders are looking to leave a lasting impression on valued or prospective clients, for example, the venue will need to play its part and deliver a memorable wow factor.

Other factors that will influence your venue choice include budget, capacity, location, availability, and logistics. Having a clear understanding of these event requirements will allow you to shortlist a number of venues, send out requests for written proposals (RFPs) and arrange site visits.

Some venues offer seasonal pricing, so the hire cost may be lower during certain times of the year. Find out what the costs are for your venue of choice on your desired date. If your dates are flexible, you may be able to secure a better deal at your preferred venue.

If your event has a short-lead time, keep an eye out for last-minute venue offers as there are often great deals to be found. If you’re planning an event that’s a long way off, consider those venues undergoing refurbishment or not yet opened. They’ll be eager to secure your business and may be able to negotiate more favorably.

Three steps to venue sourcing

Step One: Find Venues

  • Know the meeting objectives and requirements. By determining these at the outset, you’ll decrease the search process.
  • Take into account feedback from attendees. Is this an annual event? If attendees ranked the venue from the previous year poorly, look at the feedback to pick a venue that will resonate better.
  • Don’t feel alone. Reach out to your team, or others that have a stake in the event to brainstorm what factors are most important.

Step Two: Write the perfect RFP

  • You already know general objectives and requirements – now define your purpose. Make it clear what this event requires and hopes to achieve.
  • Get detailed. Give as much information about the event as you can.
  • No one likes to discuss money, but you need to share your budget requirements. The venue is one of the largest costs of an event and can make or break your budget.
  • Make your deadlines clear. Give a date and time that provide venues enough time to respond.
  • Don’t start from scratch. Pull a template the internet.
  • Be ready to answer any questions venues may have about the proposal or event.

Step Three: Send and evaluate proposals

  • Using a  venue sourcing tool , you can search and filter venues and send one RFP to multiple venues at once.
  • Assess proposals via the chosen venue sourcing tool or by manually importing data into a spreadsheet
  • Create a list of any factors that are less concrete – the qualitative factors.
  • Pay close attention to meeting rooms – do the sizes and layouts make sense for your event?
  • Compare how responsive and helpful the venues are to help figure out how helpful they’ll be if you choose them.

Now go on some site visits. You should be in great shape at this point. You have proposals, you know that the spaces you’re looking at are within budget and have the spaces you need, now you can look in person .

Event Marketing

By building a marketing campaign around your event, attendees and stakeholders will feel more invested and involved. It will also allow you to communicate key instructions and announcements, safe in the knowledge that your audience is already engaged.

Event marketing assets include teaser emails, social media channels, a branded website, and a mobile event app . You may also wish to design and create posters, flyers, pin-badges, and other accessories to keep the event front-of-mind and anticipation high.

A customized pre-event website will showcase event highlights and build on the notion of ‘experience’ before attendees arrive. A website can also be used to streamline the registration process and create a one-stop-shop for accommodation or transport booking.

The design and usability of your event website will be crucial to the success of your event, so make sure you pay special attention to how it is  designed and built .

With the latest corporate event management software solutions,  creating a custom event website  has become easier than ever. There is no technical expertise required, and you certainly don’t need to learn HTML. With a simple drag-and-drop tool, you can  build a complete website from scratch .

A branded mobile event app meanwhile will allow attendees to view the agenda, receive notifications of scheduling updates and plan networking. It will also enable you to signpost attendees to important information like the venue Wi-Fi password, sponsor information, local hotel details, or session sign-up pages.

On-site advertising should also be included in your marketing plan, which includes signage, banners, flyers and brochures, and other event collateral.

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According to a  survey by Cvent and Edelman Intelligence , attendee expectations and needs differ significantly on the basis of their persona, age, and region.

For example, the event expectations for a Millennial from the UK could be entirely different from a Baby Boomer from Germany. To deliver a unique and engaging experience for every attendee, you need to have a solid event management plan in place, supported by a strong digital strategy.

If a corporate event cannot generate engagement, it will impact the attendees’ ability to retain information.

The human attention span has reduced significantly in this mobile-first, digital era. As a result, event planners have needed to move away from ‘death by PowerPoint’ presentations to more innovative session formats that avoid information overload.

Using the right event technology tools, implementing feedback strategies like live polls, reconciling goals and expectations, and staying authentic should all be top priorities.

Plenary sessions should be designed for delegate participation. To do this, find more engaging speakers, use live polling, real-time Q&As, table discussions, and other methods of keeping engagement high and attendee attention focused.

Conference breakouts should be designed to provide targeted and truly interactive content for your audience. A common event planning pitfall is to turn them into mini keynotes.

Two popular formats for breakouts are:

Breakout sessions:  This format is generally used for conferences or sales rallies and offers participants an opportunity to delve deep and explore a topic of interest.

Breakout groups:  Pairs, trios or small groups of up to 12 participants work together to brainstorm, complete a business exercise or analyze a specific business issue. Breakout groups are also used for skill practice during training and development programs, as well as projects during team building sessions.

Coffee and lunch breaks meanwhile should be designed for networking. So, consider ice-breakers, buffet stations and other free-flowing formats and activities to get people talking.

A strong digital strategy will build a sense of community before and after the event. Online communities can be formed via social media platforms or by ensuring that your event app is available well in advance and includes built-in social features.

The week before your event is crucial for building attendee engagement for your event.

In order to keep the energy and excitement going, create a unique countdown in the form of emails or website updates, with engaging content such as quiz contests with attractive awards, a preview of the main keynote speakers or any number of other possibilities.

The big four types of attendee engagement

1) Engaging with content:  This means giving attendees the right sessions, exhibits and other activities to maximize learning and the value of their attendance.

2) Engaging with each other:  For many, networking is the primary reason for attending an event. By creating networking opportunities — whether face-to-face or virtual, one-on-one or in groups — planners can encourage and facilitate networking and create a more valuable experience for attendees.

3) Engaging with sponsors:  If you’ve sold sponsorship at your event, then those paying customers will be looking for real connections with the right kind of attendee — rather than just signage.

4) Engaging with you:  Communication is a two-way street, and as the event organizer you’ve got to effectively communicate with your attendees — whether for promotional, consultative or logistical purposes.

Virtual Meeting and Event Planning

Not all corporate events need to be in-person. Virtual meeting and event planning is a great choice for these types of events. If you decide on a virtual event , you will need to ask yourself a few questions. Are you planning on a more collaborative environment? Does your technology allow you to do this? And if it's a virtual event, do you want it to be casual or formal? Is the content engaging? And does your technology support networking opportunities? While the planning process doesn't vary much from in-person to virtual, the main difference will be in the production and presentation of your content, as well as the virtual technology used.

Corporate Event Planning Checklist

Checklist

Use these 21 action steps, together with the aforementioned best practice advice, to ensure effective and successful corporate event planning.

  • Determine the overarching goal and the primary objectives you intend to meet by holding this event.
  • Identify the audience to determine the event’s tone of voice and what takeaways they’ll expect.
  • Agree on how the event fits into the overall company strategy. What are its long-term objectives?
  • Make a comprehensive list of all the budget line items in the event lifecycle.
  • Appoint a planning team and allocate responsibilities.
  • Establish a schedule for planning meetings.
  • Decide on the date(s) when the event will take place.
  • Prepare a preliminary budget based on historic costings and supplier quotes.
  • Create a list of venue requirements.
  • Compare venues and negotiate.
  • Plan the event layout.
  • Secure speakers.
  • Develop and activate an  event marketing plan .
  • Prepare an event timeline allowing adequate time between sessions and activities for transitioning, as well as for any potential delays or technical difficulties.
  • Reserve accommodation and transport requirements.
  • Plan menus for meals and refreshments, taking dietary needs into consideration.
  • Prepare and print event collateral.
  • Confirm or recruit event staffing.
  • Rehearse speakers if required.
  • Follow-up with speakers and attendees post-event to thank them for attending and provide key takeaways.
  • Conduct surveys, secure feedback and collate final costings for future reference.

Mike Fletcher

Mike Fletcher

Mike has been writing about the meetings and events industry for almost 20 years as a former editor at Haymarket Media Group, and then as a freelance writer and editor. He currently runs his own content agency, Slippy Media, catering for a wide-range of client requirements, including social strategy, long-form, event photography, event videography, reports, blogs and ghost-written material.

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Additional Team Building Resources

Feb 16, 2022

The 7 Best Virtual Event Companies (reviews included!)

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Anecia Ascalon

Team Building Expert

Planning an in-person event for a large group of people is often a daunting task and not one completed by a singular person. Add in the intricacies of a virtual event and the venture can seem near impossible. However, it isn’t! With the help of a virtual event planning company, you can host a variety of cost-effective, virtual events at ease.

What Is A Virtual Event Planning Company?

A virtual event planning company serves as the organizer, marketer, management, and coordinator for virtual and hybrid events. As full-service agencies, they eliminate the organizational burden of those who would like to host a virtual event, but do not want to contend with the logistical headache. They allow companies and individuals to focus on the fun of team building .

The Best Virtual Event Planning Companies

a group of people in an office writing on post-its and sticking them to a glass wall

We’ve compiled our favorite seven virtual event management companies to help you host your next large scale virtual event with ease. These seven virtual event planning platforms also cover a wide variety of virtual team building needs so you’re sure to find an option perfect for your team. No matter what type of event you’re looking to plan, you will definitely find the perfect solution here!

1. Team Building Hub

event planning company best

Team Building Hub helps you create an unforgettable team building experience. With fun, one-of-a-kind games and enthusiastic hosts, each activity will make your team actually want to leave their Zoom cameras on. We offer interactive virtual escape rooms , online game shows , and online mystery games that challenge your team to communicate and think outside the box to win!

To book an event, all you have to is contact our events team and they’ll organize everything for you over the phone. From there, a host will guide your team through the entire experience!

“The virtual team building options are innovative, fun, and all-around awesome! Our employees really enjoy them and they have helped us maintain our engaging culture while working remotely!” – Paige L., Tokio Marine North America Services

“They put together amazing virtual experiences for us. Our employees loved it!” – Kathy B., SAP

Get Your Free Game

The 3-minute non-cringey ice breaker for your next meeting.

A ready-set-go game to run at your next fully remote or hybrid meeting without the hassle or added pressure of developing a team-building exercise yourself. Get it here →

a screenshot from the website for a company called Marco showing a young man looking forward and smiling

Marco will help your team create a meaningful experience together. “We believe technology can build community – but shared brand experiences create a culture.” With this mindset, they focus on a cohesive, engaging, event with activities to bring your team closer and allow your company culture to thrive.

Marco also believes in hosting events for a cause. For a limited time, you can participate in an activity where the proceeds go towards a charitable cause . Using Marco, you can create a custom experience for your team.

Marco offers a quiz on their homepage to help tailor a custom experience perfect for your team!

“Marco has become my go-to partner for curated, thoughtful, and fun team experiences that keep our distributed organization connected and inspired.” – Jenn Cornelius, Ritual

“ The bar for an experience that employees truly enjoy, is high. And in a distributed world, it’s a more difficult target than ever. Marco is the rare firm that understands and delivers on this.” – Hunter Horsley, Bitwise

a screenshot of the website for a company called Evee

Evee works with you to plan a seamless, fun event designed to bring your team closer together. Through Evee’s extensive, curated network of event partners, you can easily create a virtual team building event. They work to streamline the various, complicated aspects of an event, from guest management to location coordination. This way, all you have to do is show up, log in, and enjoy the event! 

One unique feature Evee offers is a financial management service. With that, you can optimize your available team building budget and receive a visible ROI that goes towards maximizing your team’s engagement. Evee’s software allows you to customize and style things according to your company’s branding. That means you can make the event feel personal down to the final details.

“Evee has incredible corporate experiences, and makes my life easier by handling registrations, event reminders, and personalized customizations that are burdensome to handle on top of my regular job duties.” – Nanci Thomas, Sr. Executive Assistant at OfferUp

“Evee was so fun to work with in helping us put together fun vendors for our marketing offsite event! They helped increase our average virtual event participation by over 80%!” – Sarah Parks, Events Manager at Hulu

4. Access Elite

A happy team is a healthy team. Access Elite works to help your team be their best by making wellness a priority. As the first well-being-driven platform, they offer comprehensive physical, mental and emotional support, wherever your team might be.

On their platform, you can sign up for different types of mindfulness-related activities like yoga, kickboxing, meditation, and Pilates. If you’re looking for holistic team-building options, Access Elite is for you.

“I thought it was super successful. Huge win on the number of people that attended!” – Joanne, TCW

“I am so excited. These virtual health fairs are so needed right now and we should always have them. Normally we have health fairs in remote areas through the nations, but this a great way for the organization to be connected at once.” – Nuvision Event Executive

5. Host Events

a screenshot of the website for a company called Host with images of smiling people at work

For a collection of interactive experiences, try out Host Events . Through live events and a commitment to customer service, this company aims to provide truly memorable experiences. Their event activity options include virtual happy hours, games and adventures, health and wellness options, food features, art-centered activities, and charitable activities.

Host Events also offers seasonal events, which is perfect if you’re looking for something more specific with the time of year. Seasonal events can include themed cocktail happy hours, themed painting activities, or a cooking class with seasonal food items.

“ We took a chance on HOST Events this past spring and booked five different team activities for our company. The response from our employees was so positive and we just came back to book multiple team events for the holiday season.” -Jessica Pieroway, Google review

“ Zoom fatigue is real, but this company is the remedy to that. We used them for a corporate event and it was not only super easy to set up…but we were able to customize it for our little group. The actual event was really fun, and the hosts were engaging….” – Toni-Ann Daly, Google review

6. Boombox Events

With a sizable amount of team building options, Boombox Events is a great virtual event planning company for your next private online event. They have events and activities focused on different categories like entertainment, wellness, price, and holiday. Boombox will happily help you book and coordinate your event in minutes.

“Convoso’s Magnificent Marketing Team had a great time this week with “The Amazing Cyberspace Race” Holiday Edition, traveling the [virtual] world, and challenging our resourcefulness as we solved clues…. Thanks to our hosts and Boombox !” – Convoso

“ How FUN was this virtual holiday social event we had at Cyware this evening?! Boombox hosted the event and sent everyone kits to make 2 festive holiday cocktails and we had an awesome mixologist from The Mixologer who mixed drinks with us” – Melissa Pirro, PHR, Cyware

With Kapow , you can seamlessly find, book, and manage small corporate events. Kapow is perfect if you’d like to plan multiple activities for a singular event without having to juggle booking information for numerous companies. 

“The wine and cheese tasting event was absolutely fantastic! We had a great turnout of key customers and decision makers that could not say enough praise on how they enjoyed this.” – Megan, Splunk

Why Should You Use A Virtual Event Planner?

a group of happy people in an office talking and laughing

Simply put, virtual event planning companies make your life easier. They do the work of putting together an event for you. This means that you don’t have to sift through countless online team building activities. They’ve already collected, categorized, and ranked activities that will be worth your company’s time and dollars.

A planner skilled in events, virtual and in-person, understands which types of activities work to keep an audience engaged. They can also help synthesize calendar dates, financial payments, and activity information in one place. Rest assured, a planning company takes care of the headache so you can take care of your team. For feedback, try asking your team how they felt about all of the activities post-event. That way you can determine if the company you used to plan your event was helpful or not.

Don’t forget to ask about live streaming! Companies can live stream the session or record for those unable to attend at the same time across the globe depending on the size and length of the event!

Check out these virtual events you can plan!

  • Virtual Company Celebrations
  • Virtual Awards Ceremony
  • Virtual Holiday Party

Need more help planning?

While Peerspace doesn’t offer virtual tooling or games, what Peerspace does offer are physical spaces to gather your team IRL, regardless of your chosen cadence. Book a Peerspace by the hour and choose from our unique venues in cities worldwide: – Meet and collaborate in a high-tech loft. – Create together in a funky studio. – Celebrate your wins on a swanky rooftop. Either way, Peerspace enables virtual teams to ditch Zoom for a day and gather as a group in person.

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Anecia is a Nashville-based writer who believes in the power of team building. She writes a variety of content focused on creative corporate team building ideas, to help teams become more dynamic, unified, and successful.

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5 World-Famous Event Planning Companies That Will Wow You

These world-famous event planning companies set the bar high year after year. And, their thoughtful, stage-stealing events leave guests lasting impressions.

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World-Famous Event Planning Companies That Make a Lasting Impression

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Basset Events

3. Colin Cowie

Colin Cowie Lifestyle on Thursd

4. David Tutera

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5. A Perfect Event

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Internationally recognized event planning courses. HELPING EVENT PLANNERS ACHIEVE THEIR EVENT & BUSINESS GOALS

10 Famous Event Planners You Should Follow

In our modern world of technology and social media, it’s easy to follow your favorite, famous event planners. 

From Mindy Weiss planning elaborate events for the Kardashian family to Colin Cowie’s celebrity A-listers like Oprah and Jennifer Anniston, we’re lucky to get a glimpse into the world of famous event planners and their events. 

Before we dive into our top 10 list, let’s discuss how these famous event planners can help you and your event business .  

Researching your competitors isn’t a new concept. 

We’ve all done it, even if we don’t realize it, because it’s way easier to do with everything online and easily accessible.

Researching your competition can be as simple as checking out a company’s website, social media account, and online reviews to see what services they offer, how many followers they have, and what people are saying about them.

And that is all incredibly important to do; however, light “cyberstalking” isn’t enough to gather the information you really need.

Sizing up the competition isn’t something to take lightly. It involves more in-depth competitive research to get the results you need.  

Competitive research is a crucial part of any good marketing plan because it helps you:

  • Understand your target market
  • Improve your marketing strategies
  • Identify market gaps, and allow you to fill them
  • Develop a strategic plan for future success

However, to effectively do all of this, you first need to identify your top competitors. 

Once you get to know your competition and learn what they do well, you can begin to cherry-pick and”borrow” the best pieces of what has been proven to work for them.

Knowing what makes other companies successful is beneficial for a few reasons:

  • Inspiration can lead to innovation with the proper implementation.
  • It can help you learn and perfect the art of borrowing.
  • Determining the common factor to others’ success can lead to your own.
  • It can help establish a more realistic timeline for your business goals.
  • Following famous event planning companies and event planners can feel like mentorship.
  • If you engage in conversations on LinkedIn groups or comment on posts on social media, it can help extend your reach and highlight your talents.
  • Knowledge is power. It’s really that simple. If you want to go to the best Italian restaurant, you do your research. This applies the exact same principle.
  • Knowing about, and following successful event planners can give you important tips and tricks of the trade, while also helping to keep you in the loop regarding industry trends. 

In addition to those benefits, it can also help you learn the lingo to sell your services, letting your potential clients know the benefits of hiring a professional. 

Because — believe it or not — some people think they can handle event planning all on their own .

After all, they have Pinterest and lots of beautiful Pinterest boards with wonderful ideas.

How hard can planning their own wedding be?

Planning their own wedding will save them money, right?

Does hiring an event planner cost more?

Carley Roney, the co-founder of TheKnot.com , was asked, “But isn’t hiring a wedding planner just one more assault on the budget?”

She turned the question around by replying, “You give them a budget, and their job is to make the wedding happen in that budget,” she said. “By not overspending, they can save thousands of dollars.”

She was able to do this, because (as a professional) she knows that the average person will spend well past their budget due to a lack of experience in event planning.

Ms. Roney added: “There are so many overlooked expenses that people don’t calculate as part of their budget.” Consider tipping: 15 percent of a $20,000 catering bill means an additional $3,000. Or, she said, “if you’re holding your wedding at a popular beach site, a difference of one weekend can bring you from high-season rates to off-season rates.”

Not only can it help you learn the lingo to help you sell your services, but it can give you insight into how the pros handle things, like negotiations to help save their clients money.

Great Advice

According to an article written by the NY Times , “You needn’t be a pit bull to get a bargain, she said. “You don’t have to think of it as a formal, tough, adversarial negotiation,” she said. “You just have to frame it as asking a question: ‘What specials or promotions are you currently offering? Can you discount the gown or give me more photos for the same price?’ ”

This type of free advice is good as gold if you know how to spin it. 

But this involves doing your homework by getting to know your competition first.

Even though famous event planners might not be your direct competition, it’s important to know about them because you can learn a lot from them and their expert-level strategies. 

  • Colin Cowie Lifestyle

Colin Cowie Lifestyle, located in N.Y.C., L.A., and Las Vegas, has been planning private and corporate events and weddings for over 30 years.

Voted by Vogue as the No. 1 best wedding planner, Colin Cowie has earned the price tag that comes with his events — $25,000 to $25 million. Is it any wonder that, as of 2019, his net worth is $4 million?

Their expertise is so desirable by their discerning clientele that they even offer an exclusive, invitation-only package, called Colin Cowie White.

This package is for clients who need and value ultimate privacy in unpublished locations not readily available on the market.

Who would need such a thing, you ask? 

Let’s just say that their client list includes: Oprah, Jennifer Aniston, Elton John, Kim Kardashian, American Express, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Hard Rock Hotels and more.

event planning company best

Image courtesy of www.theworldsbest.events

2. Bassett Events, Inc. 

Bassett Events, based in Toronto, specializes in planning high-profile charitable events, weddings, and private parties.

Jennifer Basset, CEO, philanthropist, and celebrated event planner has been leading her small team for over 20 years now.

They design, plan and manage every project from conception to execution, including:

  • Vendor contract negotiation
  • Event staffing
  • Sponsor and media management
  • Video production
  • Talent procurement
  • Sound design
  • Catering consultation
  • Budget development
  • Print & graphic design
  • Floral design & installation
  • Media relations
  • And much more…

They’ve worked for The World Wildlife Fund, Volvo, Special Olympics, Fours Seasons Hotels & Resorts, Toronto Zoo, Jeremy Piven, Sick Kids, Carrie Underwood, John Legend, and many more.

famous event planners

image courtesy of insightssuccess.com

MKG, based in NY and L.A, is the go-to event planning company when big brands are looking to create unforgettable brand experiences, Instagram-worthy environments, and spectacular product launches.

Proudly known as a women-owned and operated creative agency, they specialize in planning immersive, innovative, and unique events. 

Services include:

  • Insight research & development
  • Brand & campaign strategy
  • Live experiences
  • Virtual events
  • Employee engagement
  • Social impact actions
  • Project management
  • Content production
  • Interactive & tech development
  • And so much more…

Big-name brands that have entrusted their events to MKG include BarkBox, ShopBop, Google, Audi, and Delta Air Lines.

4. David Tutera

David Tutera is a Celebrity wedding and event planner, based in Los Angeles, who’s been creating “experiences” for over 30 years.

He and his team handle the events from start to finish, including decor, planning, coordination, production, and everything in between.

With notable Clients like Elton John, Jennifer Lopez, Vanessa Williams, David has really made a name for himself. 

How has he done this? According to David, “Creating celebrations is NOT a job to me, it’s my passion… I simply love what I do!”

In fact, he loves what he does so much that he even offers a twelve-month mentorship program that includes monthly one-on-one calls with David himself and direct access to him via email.

Do twelve months seem long? Maybe, but David says, “ Everyone deserves to be successful. It takes patience, dedication, hard work, connection, passion, and the willingness to stand OUT! To be You and to be UNIQUE.”

famous event planners

image courtesy of amazon.com

5. A Perfect Event

Named ‘Top Wedding Planner’ by Martha Stewart Weddings , A Perfect Event is a full-service, award-winning, event and design firm based in Chicago.

Debi Lilly’s awards include:

  • World’s Top 10 Event Planner by Departures Magazine
  • Top wedding planner by Martha Stewart and The Knot
  • Top event planner by Global Black Book
  • Top event innovator by BizBas

With 20 years of experience, Debi has led her team in perfecting countless events, including weddings, corporate, galas, birthdays, dinners and more.

  • Wedding & party planning
  • Designing & planning galas and corporate events
  • Styling beautiful environments, vignettes and styled photoshoots
  • Designing and creating favors, stationary & floral design
  • Hosting workshops at the Nantucket Floral Camp

Oh, did I mention that A Perfect Event planned and ran Oprah’s on-air birthday party?

6. Wonderland

Wonderland, located in London, NYC, and Miami, is known for organizing more upbeat and modern events than that of traditional management companies for more than 15 years.

Services they offer include:

  • Brand-forward experiences
  • Brand strategy & experiences
  • Digital & hybrid experiences
  • Creative & event consultancy
  • Social media management
  • Experiential marketing
  • Event design & production
  • Social & digital amplification
  • Marketing, PR and sponsorship

Because they specialize in events that crave a younger vibe, it’s no surprise that Ariana Grande, MTV, Heineken, H&M, and Nike are on their client list.

7. Rafanelli Events 

Located in N.Y.C., Palm Beach, and Boston, Rafanelli Events plans over 100 events a year, specializing in weddings.

In fact, Bryan Rafanelli (Founder, President, and CCO) is one of the top celebrity wedding planners in the world.

He has also been named Top Event Planner by Vogue, InStyle, Bazaar, Martha Stewart Weddings, Bizbash, and The Knot.

  • End-to-end event planning
  • Private events
  • Corporate events
  • Non-profit galas

With prominent clients like Barack and Michell Obama, Allison Williams, Matt Damon, and Chelsea Clinton, it’s no surprise that the events come with a price tag that ranges from $250,000 to $1 million.

8. Mindy Weiss

Mindy West Party Consultants, located in New York and Beverly Hills, has been planning events for over three decades.

The price tag of $20,000 to $1 million for her events seems like a bargain considering that clients know her for her calming presence on their wedding day. Anyone who has ever been married, been to a wedding, or watched a movie about a wedding knows that that is priceless.

As one of the most creative minds in the industry, Mindy brings life to the unimaginable with her inventive eye and passion.

Her services include:

  • Wedding planning
  • Non-profit events
  • Celebrity parties
  • Social hosts
  • Property management
  • Personal shopping
  • Home design, including sourcing
  • Pet care & services
  • Travel reservations & itineraries

With the wide variety of services she offers, and notable clients like Sofia Vergara, Ellen DeGeneres, the Kardashians , it’s no wonder her net worth is $8 million.

famous event planners

image courtesy of Mindyweiss.com

9. Marcy Blum Events

Starting out as a “social secretary”, Marcy Blum of March Blum Events is located in Brooklyn and Palm Beach is an internationally sought-after event planner & entertaining expert with 30 years of experience.

Known for her humour, style, and innovation, Marcy has created events for the likes of The Rockefeller family, Kevin Bacon, and Billy Joel.

Named Top Planner in the World by Vogue and Harpers Bazaar, getting her to plan your events is currently on a referral-only basis.

  • Venue Selection and Layout
  • All Appointment Scheduling
  • Planning Schedule and Timeline
  • Vendor Recommendation, Negotiation, and Coordination
  • Design and Decor
  • Lighting, Staging, and Sound
  • Selection and Coordination of Invitations and All Printed Materials
  • RSVP Coordination
  • Guest Concierge Services
  • Ceremony Planning
  • Event Run of Show
  • On-Site Event Supervision
  • Gifting for Guests
  • Including Welcome Gifts, Evening Turndown Surprises, and Favors
  • Food and Beverage
  • Service Staff Training
  • Planning and Coordination of All Auxiliary Wedding Events
  • Entertainment
  • Coordination of NDAs, and if Applicable, Press Liaison

What sets her apart and makes her so successful? Her incredible imagination. According to Marcy, “Our events innovate, rather than follow trends.”

famous event planners

image courtesy of the NY Times

10. Lisa Vorce Co.

Lisa Vorce Co. was founded in 2001 by Lisa Vorce, who brought such a depth of experience to creating one-of-a-kind events, that she received accolades from Martha Stewart, BizBash, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Brides, and more.   

Known for planning events all over the globe, she earned the bragging rights to masterfully produce iconic celebrations such as the weddings of John Legend & Chrissy Teigen, and Kate Upton & Justin Verlander.

A full-service event design & production company, Lisa and her team handle everything from start to finish. No detail is too small and no task is too big.

event planning company best

Attention to detail, having a strong team and unrelenting passion are some of the strengths these10 famous event planners have in common.

But they didn’t build their famous businesses overnight. And they didn’t do it without making mistakes and learning along the way. 

If you’re ready to boost your event business, click here .

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7 Best Free Event Planning Software (Event Management Tools) 2024

Evan Gerdisch

Content Strategist

February 13, 2024

Let’s be honest:

Event planning is difficult.

There’s the planning, ticketing, sorting of seating arrangements, engaging your event attendees, and so much more. As an event planner, handling all of that can feel like trying to stop your dog from chewing your shoes. It’s impossible!

However, quality event management software can really streamline things for you. In this article, we’ll highlight how free event management software can help you run your events smoothly.

How to Choose the Best Event Management Software?

2. social tables, 3. wild apricot, 4. ticket tailor, 5. planning pod, make every event eventful with clickup.

Let’s get this event started!

ClickUp Strategic Event Planning Template

Before we get to our event planning tools list, you need to know what you’re looking for in an event management tool or software solution.

Also, you can learn more about event project management here .

Here are some of the questions you can ask yourself to make the right choice:

  • Does this free event software let you collaborate with multiple event stakeholders such as attendees, sponsors, and vendors? 
  • Is the event technology suitable for an in-person or virtual event , or both?
  • Does the event planning tool need to have built-in marketing tools to help you or your exhibitor attract more visitors?
  • Is the event planning software easy to use for all levels of event organizers?
  • Does the software let you track your progress and achievements?
  • Does the app support social media integrations or other forms of social media marketing?
  • And most importantly, is it an all-in-one event management tool that can bring your event-related information under one roof?

Take a minute and think it through. 🤔

This will help you find the right tool for the job. 

The kind that has all the features you need and nothing else. 

Got your answers?  

Alright then, let’s check out some event management and event planning software.

Top 7 Free Event Management Software

Here are the seven best free event management software that you can get your hands on today:

clickup devices

First up is ClickUp, one of the world’s highest-rated project management software.

With ClickUp, you can streamline all your event planning and attendee managing processes. For free!

ClickUp key features

A. Schedule events and tasks with Calendar view

Having two plus-ones for a wedding might make for a hilarious TV episode.

But in event planning? 

It’s a nightmare!

Avoid such embarrassing situations and just keep your planning and itinerary up-to-date with ClickUp’s Calendar view.

Use it to plan , schedule, and even manage resources for your event and visualize it on a calendar .

ClickUp also lets you integrate your favorite calendar apps such as Google Calendar , Outlook, Apple Calendar , etc.

Alternatively, check out the Timeline view to map out your entire event and assign tasks from the same place.

B. Get things done together using Multiple Assignees

Whether it’s brainstorming event themes or cleaning up after the party, some things just need a team to step up. 

For such tasks, you have ClickUp’s Multiple Assignees. Use it to assign tasks to more than one person and even an entire Team.

Let the teamwork begin!

C. Suggest changes with Proofing

You can survive an avalanche. 

But you cannot survive misspelling your guest’s name on the invitation card. 

Make sure your event material is 100% error-free and perfect looking with ClickUp’s Proofing features. 

Use it to add clear markers on design mockups to ensure you’ve got the best invite in town. 🎉

D. Don’t miss out on important tasks with Reminders and Priorities

Imagine forgetting to pick up the event banner. 

Or replacing those yellow napkins that the client hated.

Just go ahead and cancel that weekend plan. Sigh. 

Alternatively, you set Reminders in ClickUp and avoid such mishaps in the first place.  

clickup reminders

And you know what they say about efficient management…it’s all about getting your priorities right. 

Well, we got just the thing for you. 

Categorize your Tasks according to Urgent, High, Normal, or Low Priorities. This way, your team knows exactly how to plan their days.

priorities in clickup

E. Save time with team Templates

ClickUp has several prebuilt event planning templates for all kinds of teams, including event management , CRM , design , finance , and more.

Use one of them to instantly create an event management system or workflow for your upcoming event and save some valuable time. ⌚

You can always create your own planning process and Template it for future reuse.

Don’t forget to use Custom Task Statuses to make your workflow as personalized as possible.

ClickUp pros

  • Turn comments into simple tasks by assigning them
  • Track time for different tasks within ClickUp with Native Time Tracking
  • Document your event processes using Docs
  • Host webinars, conferences, virtual corporate events , basically any kind of online event with the Zoom integration
  • Use Custom Fields to calculate easy and advanced formulas for budgets 
  • Integrate with Zendesk or HubSpot to create an efficient ticketing system alongside your event management
  • Use Recurring Tasks to customize what you want to repeat
  • Visualize your event concepts and do some solid planning using Mind Maps
  • Use Offline Mode to carry on event management even when the internet is down
  • ClickUp mobile app is available for both iOS and Android users

ClickUp cons

  • Can’t export Dashboards

But don’t worry! 

Our team operates almost 24×7 to ensure that we always address your suggestions and resolve your concerns.

Check out our development roadmap to see what’s in store!

ClickUp pricing

ClickUp has three pricing options:

  • Free Forever Plan  (best for personal use)
  • Unlimited Plan  (best for small teams ($7/member per month)
  • Business Plan  (best for mid-sized teams ($12/member per month)
  • Business Plus Plan  (best for multiple teams ($19/member per month)

ClickUp user rating

  • Capterra : 4.7/5 (2000+ reviews)
  • G2 : 4.7/5 (2300+ reviews)

Use ClickUp’s party planning template for your next event!

social tables homepage

Another free event management software is Social Tables. Its specialty is event diagramming, which lets you sort out the seating arrangements for your venue.

No event attendee goes seatless!

Social Table is also great for driving leads right from your event website. The software even has a mobile check-in app to speed up event registration.

So it’s perfect?

Sure, if you don’t mind the lack of to-dos, deadlines, or integrations with communication tools like Zoom , Gmail, etc.

Oh, and they also don’t have an Android app.

We feel you, Android users .

Social Tables key features

  • Lets you upload PDF floor plans
  • Lets you perform custom 3D event diagramming
  • Lets you manage guests and their details

Social Tables pros

  • Supports real-time team collaboration and updates on attendee check-ins
  • Lets you view analytics to discover peak event attendance
  • Lets clients view real-time edits made to event diagrams

Social Tables cons

  • The free version allows only one active event at a time and one floor plan per event
  • No offline mode
  • Not ideal for task management

Social Tables offer two pricing options:

  • Essential (free) : 150 attendee seats, one user account, and real-time collaboration
  • Professional ($199/month) : 250 attendee seats, email support, and two active events

Social Tables user rating

  • Capterra : 4.5/5 (26 reviews)
  • G2 : 4.4/5 (100+ reviews)

wild apricot homepage

Up next is Wild Apricot. 

Is anybody craving an apricot now? 😋

Well, cravings apart, Wild Apricot is an online event registration software and a good competitor on this list of free event management tools.

It provides the right tools for attendee engagement before, during, and after the event.

However, for an event management software, Wild Apricot has no way for you to assign tasks to your crew members.

Luckily, unlike Social Tables, the software has a mobile event app for both iOS and Android devices. But there’s a catch.

The mobile event app doesn’t come free. 🤷

Wild Apricot key features

  • Lets you customize registration forms
  • Allows automated event promotion via email
  • Lets you track and collect registration fees

Wild Apricot pros

  • Automatic reports on event incomes
  • Online membership database for members
  • Event marketing tools like quick website builders with mobile-friendly templates 

Wild Apricot cons

  • No online payment processing on the free version
  • No task scheduling or assigning abilities
  • No Windows or Mac app

Wild Apricot pricing

Wild Apricot has six pricing options:

  • Free : includes 50 contacts, database importing, and guest registration
  • Personal ($40/month) : includes 100 contacts, online ticket selling, and automated reminders
  • Group ($50/month) : includes 50 contacts, event website hosting on AWS, member and admin app
  • Community ($90/month) : includes 500 contacts, WordPress integration, and automatic email invoices
  • Professional ($160/month) : includes 2000 contacts, member-only online store pricing, drag and drop for website building
  • Network ($290/month) : includes 5000 contacts, automatic invoice generator, and waitlist registration

Wild Apricot user rating

  • Capterra : 4.5/5 (500+ reviews)
  • G2 : 4.1/5 (26 reviews)

ticket tailor landing page

Number four on the list is Ticket Tailor. 

It bills itself as your go-to event management app for ticketing.

This event ticket app is one of the best you’ll find in the event management software market when it comes to selling tickets for both free and paid events.

Whether you’re fundraising , hosting an academic conference, or a party, you can sell tickets for all these events on Ticket Tailor.

Unfortunately, it’s no match for the other planning software. 

You can’t plan an event or design a workflow with it. You can manage your event tickets and daily attendees, but that’s about it.

So if you’re looking for more, you may have to find an alternative.

Ticket Tailor key features

  • Built-in box office that you can embed in your website
  • Customizable automated email ticket delivery
  • Ticket scanning app for event day management

Ticket Tailor pros

  • Multiple payment options for ticket buyers
  • Supports tons of integrations, including MailChimp, Zapier, and Google Analytics
  • Lets you sell password protected tickets for special groups or VIPs

Ticket Tailor cons

  • No mobile apps (they have a separate check-in app called Tazotix)
  • You have to pay a fee for each ticket sold after the first five tickets
  • Only allows selling online tickets on Facebook pages with 2000+ likes

Ticket Tailor pricing

Ticket Tailor has three pricing options:

  • Free events : includes free tickets for any free event
  • Pre pay ($0.26/ticket) : includes offline payments, event organizers contact section, and customizable checkout form
  • Pay as you go ($0.65/ticket) : includes unlimited ticket types, analytics dashboard, and unlimited events 

Ticket Tailor user rating

  • Capterra : 4.9/5 (300+ reviews)
  • G2 : 4.9/5 (50+ reviews)

Planning Pod is an excellent event management software. Its key feature set helps with venue management and floor planning.

Whether it’s to engage attendees, manage check-ins, handle registration management, or online payment processing, Planning Pod aims to make it all simple.

However, what really bothers us is Planning Pod’s free version.

Which doesn’t exist.

We know. We know.

This is supposed to be a list of free tools.

But the tool’s pretty well-known, so we couldn’t leave it out! 

Unfortunately, there are more problems.

Its basic plan only supports two events at a time.

So if you’re a beginner event manager with just two events, Planning Pod may work for you. For larger organizers or event professionals, your search for the right event management solution might not end here.

Planning Pod key features

  • Provides an event webpage builder
  • Has venue management for weddings, restaurants, golf clubs, etc. 
  • Offers productivity reports and dashboards

Planning Pod pros

  • Offers social media promotion for marketing and allows virtual event planning
  • Has email and chat support
  • Offers built-in online registration and RSVP forms

Planning Pod cons

  • Technically, you only get a 14-day free trial; there’s no free plan
  • No integration support for the Essential or Planner packages
  • Very expensive for just an event planner and online event registration software

Planning Pod pricing

Planning Pod has three pricing options:

  • Essential ($19/month) : includes unlimited users, online registration, and attendee list
  • Planner ($39/month) : includes invoice payment processing, itineraries, and calendars
  • Business ($69/month) : includes budgets, surveys, and CRM

Planning Pod user rating

  • Capterra : 4.3/5 (20+ reviews)
  • G2 : 4.1/5 (10+ reviews)

event planning company best

Next, we’ve got nTask – a project management tool that goes beyond a typical event management software. 

With to-do lists and checklists, this tool ensures that any person looking to attend your events won’t be going unnoticed or unseated, for that matter!

Manage real-life activities, corporate or SMB events, and meetings with important officials across the organizational hierarchy. 

nTask is available to users across Android and iOS platforms.

nTask Key Features

  • Create events as tasks or to-do lists, or make them part of an important project’s checklist
  • Avert risks through a built-in risk management feature
  • Manage guests and their details
  • Create attendees, assignees, and check-ins through dedicated modules
  • Setup meetings across the board through the meeting feature
  • Lets you time activities through the time management system
  • Cannot alphabetically sort tasks and notes
  • Meetings cannot be edited after posting
  • Can be a bit difficult to use

nTask pricing

  • Premium ($3/user/month) : offers a select number of features
  • Business ($8/user/month): unlimited features and can be billed annually
  • Enterprise and MNC (Contact Sales): solutions with custom features, white labeling, and much more

nTask user rating

  • Capterra: 4.2/5 (90+ reviews)
  • G2: 4.4/5 (15+ reviews)

event planning company best

InEvent is made of event professionals and A/V specialists inspired to push the boundaries of webinars and event technology.

As a global event planning software, InEvent’s software is able to aggregate fundamental data to measure ROI, control suppliers and manage budgets.

InEvent also has mobile apps for iOS and Android, not to mention the possibility of having your virtual meeting with your team in a workplace setting.

Because InEvent supports large corporations, they only offer a free trial of 30 days.

InEvent Key Features

  • You can have a control room, simultaneous RTMP sessions, sponsor trade shows and video conferencing breakout rooms.
  • Manage your information with CRM, integration and data management.
  • Get accurate and detailed reports organization-wide.

InEvent pros

  • Private 1-1 chat messaging.
  • Virtual Lobby reporting analytics.
  • Live Studio available.

InEvent cons

  • Only 10 free credits in trial. 

InEvent pricing

  • Basic ($2990/year) : includes InEvent live event engagement and video interactivity.
  • Express (US$ 3990/year): includes registration and live engagement all in one package.
  • Advanced (contact sales): includes custom branding, RTMP streaming and simulated live streaming.
  • Full (contact sales): includes integrations, API support, Full HD video, project manager support.

InEvent user rating

  • Capterra: 4.5/5 (20+ reviews)
  • G2: 4.5/5 (100+ reviews)

As event organizers, your plate is already full. 

Every moment can feel like an inch away from chaos.

That’s why you need an event planning tool or a free project management software that can put major event-related processes on autopilot.

Which is where ClickUp comes in.

It’s incredibly powerful and adapts to all kinds of industries. Moreover, it’s highly customizable to help you in the places you’re falling behind.

Is it tracking workload distribution amongst your crew members? Setting up a workflow ? Assigning tasks to the event team?

ClickUp can help you do it all on a single platform.

So get ClickUp for free today , and host one successful event after another. Forever. 🤝

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Table of Contents

Types of corporate events, 5 examples of goals for corporate events, the ultimate corporate event planning checklist, tips for corporate event planning success, get started: make your next corporate event the best yet, corporate event planning: checklist and guide.

Chaviva Gordon-Bennett

Every event professional has the same goal for corporate event planning: to orchestrate an engaging experience that delivers favorable business outcomes.

Corporate event planning checklists can significantly increase your chances of achieving your event goals. Plus, checklists help you stay organized, ensure everything is accounted for, and make it easier to scale your event strategy.

In this post, we’ll examine different types of corporate events, common goals event professionals aim for, what your corporate event planning checklist should include, and tips to remember as you start the corporate evening planning process.

As you begin planning your next corporate event, your approach may vary depending on the type of event, the size and scope, and what you hope to accomplish. Some of the more common types of corporate events include the following:

  • Trade shows are larger events that unite people who want to experience products, exchange ideas, learn new skills, gather leads, and meet other folks in the industry.
  • Team-building events foster camaraderie by bringing coworkers together to learn new things and get to know each other on a deeper level. 
  • Product launches highlight new products and services an organization brings to market to generate buzz and excitement.
  • Conferences and seminars , like HubSpot’s INBOUND , are typically the largest events and feature keynote addresses, seminars, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, workshops, and more.
  • Networking events are designed to help folks meet other people in their industry and learn new things.

event planning company best

According to a report from Allied Market Research , the U.S. corporate event market — which brought in $95.3 billion in 2020 — is expected to reach $510.9 billion in revenue by 2030, growing 17.3% annually. This impressive growth can be attributed to the fact that corporate events deliver several benefits to organizations, like the following opportunities:

  • Celebrate your wins. You can increase employee happiness, engagement, and productivity by using events to recognize your team’s hard work.
  • Motivate employees. Events are a great way to motivate your team. Not only will employees feed off the energy of the event, they will also learn new things, meet new people, and develop new skills.
  • Generate leads. Hosting a corporate event creates the perfect atmosphere for meeting new business prospects and capturing leads. Since most attendees will likely head to your event because they’re interested in what you offer, you won’t have to pitch them cold.
  • Promote your brand. Events enable you to bolster brand awareness and get people talking about your company on social media, enabling you to leverage word-of-mouth recommendations.
  • Improve employee retention. Since events make employees happier and help them develop in their careers, they serve as a vehicle for reducing employee turnover — a nice bonus in today’s difficult job market. 

event planning company best

Photo by Canva Studio

Having a checklist when planning a corporate event is paramount because it ensures a systematic and organized approach to the entire process. A checklist serves as a comprehensive guide to the essential tasks and details that need to be addressed, helping you stay on track and minimizing the chance you overlook crucial elements. It also enables better time management and coordination among team members while enabling progress tracking. 

But the best part of a checklist is that you can use it repeatedly from event to event, updating as you go for what worked best and what missed the mark. As you begin creating your event planning checklist, here are some things you’ll want to include:

☐ Goals: Decide What Success Looks Like 

Clearly define what you want to achieve with your corporate event and outline what success looks like. Ensure your event goals align with your business goals. 

☐ Logistics: Set a Date, Format, and Location

Pick a date and an event type, considering availability, attendee preferences, event objectives, and potential scheduling conflicts (e.g., holidays or seasonality). Consider second-tier cities and outside-the-box locations to save on event costs and make it easier for attendees to justify coming. 

doing more with less for event planners

☐ Theme: Choose a Memorable Concept

Select an event theme that aligns with your objectives to create a cohesive, memorable experience for attendees. Not sure where to start? Check out these “ 27 Unforgettable Corporate Event Themes .” 

☐ Budget: Assess Costs and Source Vendors

Figure out how big your event budget should be and identify vendors that can provide the services you need at price points you can afford.

☐ Venue: Choose the Perfect Location

Select a venue that suits your event’s size, location, and requirements, ensuring it aligns with the theme and atmosphere you want to create. Not sure where to start in choosing the right venue? Read our article, “ 10 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Conference Venue .”

The Vendry and bizzabo find venues and vendors

☐ Speakers: Decide on Keynotes, Sessions, and Entertainment

Figure out which speakers will impact your event most by engaging and captivating attendees. Don’t forget to cast a wide net for diverse and lesser-known speakers to ensure your event meets attendee expectations and that attendees feel represented. 

☐ Marketing: Craft a Promotional Plan

Develop a comprehensive event marketing strategy to promote your event and attract attendees. Be sure to include assets and promotional materials for your partners, vendors, speakers, and others to share on their social channels to boost attendance. 

☐ Run of Show: Create Meaningful Experiences

Map out the schedule and activities for your event, including breakout sessions, fireside chats, workshops, and networking opportunities. Be sure to spend plenty of time on independent activities like self-care, 1:1 meetings, and much-needed downtime. 

☐ Event Tech: Lock in Your Event Management Software

If you haven’t already, vet the right corporate event management software to power your event. The ideal solution will include a mobile event app , event networking tools , and plenty of options for webinars and virtual events. 

consolidating event tech stack ebook

☐ Registration: Invite Attendees and Promote Your Event

Send out invitations to your target audience and actively promote your event on social media, relevant media outlets, email, paid ads, and other key channels. Start promoting your event early so you can send follow-ups and last-chance communications. 

☐ Food and Beverage: Plan the Menu

Hire a caterer or local business and plan the food and beverage offerings to meet the needs and preferences of your attendees. Be sure to consider sustainable materials for your event, including compostables or reusable items instead of plastic. Choose vendors that use locally sourced and processed ingredients to ensure a low carbon footprint. 

☐ Contingency Planning: Consider All Potentialities

Prepare for unforeseen circumstances by developing an event contingency plan to address any issues or emergencies that may arise during the event. Ensure your plan includes options for speakers backing out, vendors backing out, inclement weather, and every other possibility. 

☐ Rehearse: Do Final Walkthroughs

Do a dry run of your event to address any logistical or technical concerns ahead of time and ensure a smooth experience when the big day arrives. Be sure speakers have all the information and prep they need to succeed. 

☐ Event Follow-up: Survey Participants To Measure Success

Collect feedback from attendees, speakers, and vendors by distributing surveys post-show. Consider offering incentives to encourage participation, such as gift cards, sustainable swag, or a virtual meet-and-greet with one of your keynote speakers. 

☐ Post-mortem: Gather Stakeholders To Evaluate Success

Conduct a thorough evaluation of the event’s outcomes, discussing what worked well and areas for improvement to inform future events. Be sure you take plenty of notes and add them to your event documentation so you can pivot at your next event. 

To increase the chances your corporate event delivers the results you’re aiming for, keep these tips in mind as you finalize your plans:

  • Start the planning process earlier to allow ample time for all necessary preparations.
  • Build an engaging agenda, but leave room for networking and decompressing.
  • Ask attendees what they want to see at the event.
  • Look at historical data and surveys to ensure you’re not repeating sessions that fell flat.
  • Build your list of must-haves and nice-to-haves and communicate to stakeholders when you have to compromise for budget, time, or event goals.
  • Embrace technology and invest in a purpose-built event management solution you can rely on to plan, execute, and analyze your event.

Survey attendees, employees, and speakers afterward to gather event feedback and learn what you can do better next time.

Making your next corporate event one for the ages starts with meticulous planning. By creating a corporate event planning checklist and using it to guide the event planning process, you can ensure no details are overlooked as you prepare for your next event.

To help you tackle planning your corporate event, we’ve built several kits fully loaded with run-of-show templates, budgeting guidance, and much more. Whether your corporate event is in-person, virtual, or hybrid, we have a kit to maximize your efforts and help you spend more time on building experiences and less time on the nitty-gritty: 

  • The In-person Event Production Kit
  • The Virtual Event Production Kit
  • The Hybrid Event Production Kit
  • The Webinar Production Kit

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10 Best Virtual Event Planning Companies & Services For 2024

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Virtual events and conferences are no longer a temporary means to an end.

Zoom meetings , video conferencing, and working remotely are here to stay. Meaning that  engagement within your  remote workforce deserves some extra attention as we continue to evolve and adapt to a new world of work.

Meetings, trainings, and typical office interactions have now gone mostly virtual. But what about the fun parts? Keeping your teams genuinely connected is more important now than ever, and not being onsite shouldn’t stop you. Have you even held  a fun event since the pandemic rolled in?

Team building retreats. Icebreaker games in the conference room to kick off the monthly sales meetings. Happy hours at the corner spot. These kinds of in-person events, although fun and engaging, have taken a back seat. As the remote workforce grows, so do the ways we collaborate and stay in tune and in touch with each other.  Virtual events are definitely on the upswing.

But what does a fun virtual event even look like?

How do you coordinate with everyone when your team covers multiple zip codes or even country codes?

How do you get everyone together in the same space and keep them all engaged?

65% of employees working remotely claim they’ve never even participated in a virtual team building event . Probably because of the overwhelming details to deal with!

Fortunately for all of us, there’s an entire market of event organizers that host virtual events for just these reasons. They know you don’t have the time to coordinate all the people, timing, and communications needed to put together an entertaining and successful event by yourself.

You want to plan a memorable, engaging virtual activity for your team but you have far more important things to focus on than how to put it all together.

No matter the size of your group, small or large-scale, one of our picks for the top ten best virtual event planning companies can handle all the legwork for you. And your ROI will prove why it’s a brilliant idea.

List of Virtual Event Companies For Business

1) confetti.

Best for groups of: 10 – 25

This virtual event company has it figured out. Choose from a wide variety of event options, from classic games, hands-on experiences with all material shipped to their “offices,”  murder mysteries , and so many more. They make it so easy to engage your whole team in a fun virtual setting.

Notable companies that use Confetti:

Why we love this virtual event company: The huge menu of topics provides something that will no doubt bring your teams closer together. Their options span from bring-your-own ingredients food and drink activities to full-service events with shippable components.

Pair this experience with: Happy Hour Celebration Box

Favorite Virtual Event Activities:

  • 🍷 Wine Tasting –  Teach teams how to identify and ap preciate the different flavors of wines.
  • 👸🏼 Drag Queen Bingo –  An entertaining virtual game show that combines drag queens, music, and bingo for an unforgettable experience.
  • 🔐  Escape Quest –  A virtual escape room adventure in which teams must solve puzzles and complete challenges to progress through the game.
“Our team was thrilled with the breakfast bar… Will definitely go to Confetti for our next office experience!

To request more information,  check out Confetti here .

2) Outback Team Building

Best for groups of: 50+

OutbackOutback-Virtual-Party-Virtual-PartyOutback-Virtual-Party

For thirty years, Outback has been building and expanding on the creative venture that was born from a passion for hiking and paddling experiences. Today, they offer SO much more. Their virtual event services include training and coaching, as well as creative and engaging team-building events that add value and bring energy to your groups.

Notable companies that use Outback Team Building:

  • American Express

Why we love this virtual event company: There’s something for everyone on this virtual event platform. Outback Team Building can connect up to 300 employees and ensure an inclusive and collaborative attendee experience for all.

Pair this experience with: Virtual Event Care Package

  • 🎗 Virtual Do Good Games – An entertaining and socially impactful activity to bring teams together while supporting charities.
  • 💎 Jewel Heist –  A virtual escape room that requires teams to decode messages to find a hidden gem.
  • ❓ Happy Hour Trivia –  An online team-building event that brings teams together to compete in trivia games and challenges while enjoying drinks and snacks.

“Many from our team including our VPs said this was the best team building event they’ve experienced.”

To request more information, check out Outback Team Building here .

event planning company best

Add “order lunch” to the itinerary for your next virtual meeting. Reward your teams with fantastic health and wellness subscription options. Or celebrate employee milestones with a gifted getaway. Whatever your occasion, these gift cards are the perfect side dish.

Notable companies that use Hoppier:

Why we love this virtual event company: Each card is loaded with the amount you choose and any funds not spent are refunded to you. No muss, no fuss, no waste!

Pair this experience with: Warm Wishes Curated Gift Box

Favorite Virtual Event Options:

  • 🌮 Food –  Learn how to cook different types of international cuisine with your team through a virtual cooking class.
  • ✈️ Travel –  Take a virtual trip around the world and explore different cultures and cuisines.
  • 🎟 Conferences  –  A virtual team-building event that combines conference presentations and games for a unique learning experience

“You get a virtual credit card that you can simply enter into UberEats or another platform and just order. Everyone that was part of the meeting enjoyed it. Thanks Hoppier!”

To request more information,  check out Hoppier here .

4) The Go Game

Best for groups of: 10 – 500

Combining virtual work and play has never been easier. The Go Game has a dedicated virtual event platform, Weve , that handles all the hassle of coordinating your virtual event and delivering a productive AND fun platform to connect your team. They deliver monthly event content to keep your groups “edutained.”

From onboarding, wellness, and DEI activities to happy hours and employee celebrations, there are hundreds of game options to choose from to ensure a fully inclusive and entertaining virtual event.

Notable companies that use The Go Game:

Why we love this virtual event company: One of the most diverse and inclusive virtual event companies… period. With hundreds of event options and new ones added each month, there’s definitely something here to fit your team.

Pair this experience with: Virtual Event Swag Box

  • 🏆 Original Game Show  – An interactive live game show event that combines trivia, challenges, and team strategies for a unique, virtual, and entertaining experience.
  • 🏃🏻‍♂️ Virtual Amazing Race – A virtual team-building experience that requires teams to solve puzzles, complete challenges, and gain points through a variety of tasks.
  • 🕵🏻‍♂️ Murder on the Mystery Express – An online murder mystery game in which teams must find the murderer and crack the case.

“Our team is definitely closer after using Weve”

To request more information or book your experience, check out The Go Game here .

5) Unboxed Experiences

Best for groups of: 5 – 100

Your hops and barley fans will love these virtual events because of Unboxed Experiences’ beer and cheese pairings and seasonal beer experiences . However, the virtual event provider continues to expand their portfolio with tasty event packages that you can ship to your team around the country. Don’t want any beer? Check out one of our newest favorites, the Charcuterie Board Experience !

Notable companies that use City Brew Tours:

Why we love this virtual event company: Beer, cheese, and team-building make for a great combination. Tasting boxes can be customized with non-alcoholic options as well.

Pair this experience with: Sweet Celebration Gift Box

  • 🍺 Beer and Cheese Pairing Happy Hour –  Teach teams how to pair different types of beer and cheese for the perfect tasting experience.
  • 🧀 Charcuterie Board Experience –  Create and enjoy the perfect charcuterie board.
  • 🍦 Ice Cream Float Experience –   Learn how to make tasty ice cream floats with your team.
  • ☕ Tea & Mindfulness Experience –  Take time for relaxation and mindfulness with a guided tea ceremony.

“We had a fantastic time! It was great to have the cheese and other items for those who don’t drink.”

To request more information,  check out Unboxed Experiences here .

6) Escape Game

Best for groups of: 25 – 50

The Escape Game Virtual Escape Room

This virtual event platform can easily accommodate your global team building needs, with super flexible scheduling. All the online events are designed to take only ninety minutes, from preparation to post-game photos. And all the planning is handled by their stellar event management team.

Notable companies that use Escape Game:

Why we love this virtual event company: Complete with creative details found throughout the adventures, some of their  activities are actually completely free. It doesn’t have to cost you a fortune to connect your teams and have some fun together.

Pair this experience with: Virtual Event Snack Box

  • 🕵️‍♂️ Monthly Mystery –  Join an ongoing virtual escape game with monthly challenges to keep teams engaged.
  • 🗿 Ruins: Forbidden Treasure –  Explore an ancient ruin and retrieve a concealed treasure through a virtual escape room. 
  • 🚀 Remote Adventures –  An online escape game that requires teams to navigate their way through a virtual world and solve puzzles.  

“Really fun experiences and lovely staff. We’ve done two games so far and have had such a good time that we plan on doing them all!”

To request more information,  check out Escape Game here .

7) Priority Experiences

Best for groups of: Under 10

virtual-tasting

This virtual event planning company is “a female-founded, family-owned and operated business,” run by an international panel of amazing women. They partner exclusively with small businesses for their carefully curated tasting products. For non-alcoholic events, soups, aged teas, chocolates, and mocktails are just some of the experiences offered. And for those on the “stronger” side of the menu, a variety of wine, tequila, and craft beer packages.

Notable companies that use Priority Experiences:

Why we love this virtual event company: Not only does this virtual event planning company support small businesses, but they also offer hybrid events and international shipping for your global team members. The fully customizable experiences are great team-building activities for the whole brew (or non-brew) crew.

Pair this experience with: VIP Treatment Care Package

  • 🍫 Lunar Gems Virtual Chocolate Tasting –  Enjoy and appreciate the subtle flavors of artisan chocolate. 
  • ☕️ Handcrafted Aged Tea Cold Brew Experience –  Learn how to make the perfect cold brew tea.
  • 🍹 Codigo 1530 Tequila Tasting Experience –  Taste and savor different types of tequila.

“The rave reviews from this team event are still coming in and it will be something we continue to talk about until our next one… This really brought the team together.” -Marina

To request more information,  check out Priority Experiences here .

8) Laughter On Call

laughter-on-call

It all started with a daughter’s mission to help her elderly mother battle depression from Alzheimer’s Syndrome. In just a few short years, it’s grown into something so much bigger. Their virtual  team building  events are hosted by talented comedians and have served up laughter on a screen for some of the biggest organizations in the world.

Notable companies that use Laughter On Call:

Why we love this virtual event company: This virtual event company offers so many ways to combine laughter with valuable, interactive, team-building activities. And the source of their vision is proof that sometimes, laughter really is the best medicine.

Pair this experience with: Mindfulness Box

  • 🤣 Laughter Training –  A virtual team-building session that teaches teams how to use humor as a tool for connection and collaboration.
  • 🎤 Happier Hour –  A virtual team-building event that combines comedy and trivia for an entertaining experience.
  • 🖥 Zoom Icebreakers –  A series of interactive activities designed to get teams talking and laughing. 

“With services like their Happier Hour, Laughter Training Workshops, and Laughter Gym, Laughter On Call brings in their team of compassionate and inclusive professional comedians to engage your employees in games inspired by improv and stand-up comedy and teach useful comedians tools to improve communication.”

To request more information,  check out Laughter On Call here .

marco virtual experiences

Scrolling through their expansive menu, there’s literally something for everyone. Bring your teams together for interactive games, creative hands-on activities with shippable kits, and side-splitting comedy experiences, just to name a few. They offer some incredible virtual events, as well as amazing in-person activities if that’s your preference.

Notable companies that use Marco:

Why we love this virtual event company: Whether you have weeks to plan or just days to put together your event, this virtual planning company can make it happen. Sort the experiences by “lead time” and their event management team will handle the rest.

Pair this experience with: Unplugged Box

  • 🍦 Ice Cream Tasting + BTS Factory Tour –  Take a virtual tour of the BTS factory and learn how to appreciate different flavors of ice cream.
  • 🍣 Sushi Making 101 –  A virtual team-building event that teaches teams how to make sushi and appreciate the art of Japanese cuisine.
  • 🎨 Fluid Paint –  A virtual team-building event that combines painting and music for a creative and fun experience.

“Marco has become my go-to partner for curated, thoughtful, and fun team experiences that keep our distributed organization connected and inspired.” – Jenn Cornelius

To request more information,  check out Marco here .

event planning company best

Before the pandemic, Woyago was earning rave reviews for their live tours of Paris. They could be seen all over the city, hosting full-day events, nights out on the town, bicycle tours, and more. When the world shifted, they did too, and now provide your teams with live-streaming, interactive, cultural experiences from several countries across the globe.

Notable companies that use Woyago:

Why we love this virtual event company: A virtual visit to a foreign country, complete with authentic, engaging tour guides and effective team building activities. Magnifique!

Pair this experience with: Culinary Enthusiast

  • 🇮🇹 Scavenger Hunt In Italy –  Take a virtual journey around Italy and find hidden treasures in each city. 
  • 🇫🇷 A Virtual Party In Paris –  An interactive virtual event that includes a variety of activities like French cooking, fashion shows, and games.
  • 🇮🇳 Incredible India –  A virtual team-building event that combines Indian culture, music and dance for a fun and immersive experience.

“Can I give 10 stars? That was amazing! When I found the experience and saw the reviews the first thing that came to my mind was”Wow what do these folks do to have such great feedback?” and after the first few minutes I understood. They just do their best to give the best experience they can.

To request more information,  check out Woyago here .

Don’t sleep on the feedback!

Collecting feedback from your employees on your virtual event is vital. This information lets you know if your event was successful, engaging, or frankly, a colossal waste of time and money. No one wants the latter.

Your employees’ feedback can help you determine how to plan the next virtual team-building event. The interactive options are endless, from group games and competitive activities to crafty creations and lively libations. And they can accommodate small department activities to large corporate events.

“Done well, virtual team building can help stand in for the connections and collaboration you’d experience with in-person working. It ensures employees feel cared for , connected, and inspired to be productive!”

Virtual event planning companies break down all the technical and logistical barriers to ensure a fun and effective exercise for your team members. These full-service, online event companies handle the management, planning, scheduling, shipping, communications, and everything in between, from beginning to end.

Just remember. You don’t have to go it alone. The virtual event planning services we’ve hand-picked above take care of all the headaches related to coordinating so you can simply reap the rewards of happier, more deeply connected teams.

Expert Advice For Working With A Virtual Events Company

Tip #1: do your research.

When planning your virtual event, managers should give themselves plenty of time to find the right company to work with.

This means scheduling time to research multiple companies and services to request information, receive price quotes, and determine what kind of event you are looking to plan.

Tip #2: Ask Your Team

employee feedback

While your team members might not know exactly what they like and dislike, getting a sense of how interested your group will be in a certain activity or theme is a great way to ensure your event goes well.

Regardless if you are looking to plan an event, managers should poll their team to learn about what types of activities their group would be excited to try.

Tip #3: Factor in Timing & Length

Since your virtual event will be attended by your group during or outside of business hours, managers should understand that this event should be the right amount of time.

Too brief and the event might not feel worth it for team members to join, but too long and you risk losing employees who cannot block out an entire afternoon. Many of the virtual event companies in this list will provide time options for you to nail down the right length for your event.

People Also Ask These Questions About Virtual Event Planning Companies

Q: what are the benefits of hiring a virtual event company.

  • Not having to plan every detail on your own
  • No logistical, functionality, or materials concerns for you
  • They handle all aspects of managing the entire digital event

Q: What does a virtual event planning service do?

  • A: A virtual event planning service handles all the details related to event marketing, planning, and materials. They also ensure attendee engagement and provide an entertaining live event experience.

Q: When should I consider hiring a virtual event company?

  • A: You should consider hiring a virtual event company if you want to provide an interactive virtual experience for your teams but don’t quite know how to manage the whole project.

Q: How do I choose the right virtual event company?

  • A: Choosing the right virtual event company is easy – identify how many attendees you’ll have. Then, let one of the virtual event management teams above help you choose the right experience and handle all the dirty details.

Q: How much does it cost to hire a virtual event company?

  • A: The cost of hiring a virtual event company will vary based on the number of participants and what type of event you choose.

Q: How should I compare virtual event planning services?

  • A: You should compare virtual event planning services based on their customer reviews, product offerings, and how well they meet your needs overall. Not all event management companies are created the same.

Q: How do I know if the virtual event planning service was successful?

  • A: You’ll know if the virtual event planning service was successful when your teams are raving about how much fun they had and how much they appreciated the event. Follow up with a survey to get the full picture.

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About SnackNation

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SnackNation is a healthy office snack delivery service that makes healthy snacking fun, life more productive, and workplaces awesome. We provide a monthly, curated selection of healthy snacks from the hottest, most innovative natural food brands in the industry, giving our members a hassle-free experience and delivering joy to their offices.

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How to Plan an Event: Event Planning Steps, Tips & Checklist

ProjectManager

Need to know how to plan an event? If you’re planning a big event like a conference, we can help you successfully create, structure and lay out your event plan. This blog will cover everything you need to consider when planning an event, including event planning steps, tips and an easy-to-use event checklist.

What Is Event Planning?

Event planning is the process of putting on and managing a variety of events, from something as small as a meeting to as big as a convention and everything in between. When event planning you’ll be taking into account every aspect of that event, whether it’s a birthday party or a networking event.

That means you’ll be estimating budgets, creating timelines to schedule the event, reserving the site and any panels or speakers involved, getting necessary permits, food, transportation and more. If the event has a theme, you’ll develop that, too. Plus, you’ll be in charge of securing the needed resources to make the event a success.

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Event Plan Template

Use this free Event Plan Template for Excel to manage your projects better.

What Is an Event Plan?

An event plan defines how an event will be executed. It addresses all the components of an event such as the start and end dates, budget , venue, marketing, attendees and more. The scope and complexity of the event plan vary depending on the size of the event, but the fundamental challenges remain the same.

Organizing all those disparate parts, especially for larger events, requires powerful project management software. ProjectManager is award-winning project management software that lets you plan, manage and track your event to ensure it’s a success.

Our powerful Gantt charts help you list all your tasks and the associated resources and costs, assign them to your team and set milestones to track your progress. The whole plan is visible on a project timeline and can be saved by setting a baseline. Now you can track the planned progress against your actual progress to make sure you’re on schedule. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

Event plan gantt with CTA image

Event Plan Example

Most of us have some experience planning an event, be it at home, work or in our community. For this article, let’s focus on large events.

A conference is a common type of large event, so for our event management purposes, let’s talk about a TEDx conference that we were involved in to illustrate how to plan an event. This example is a good scenario to explain the structure and challenges of planning a big event, along with the benefits of planning an event with project management software .

Let’s break down the other components of setting up an event. They’re summarized below:

  • Event timeline: First, establish a timeline for your event. This timeline should include pre-event planning, event execution and post-event activities.
  • Budget: Estimate your event costs and create a budget. Your available budget will influence many event management decisions such as your venue, the marketing and advertising methods, etc.
  • Venue: The event has to take place somewhere, and that involves logistics management , food and beverages as well as the décor.
  • Marketing: Once you’ve selected a venue, you need to start drawing people to it through a marketing program that can include a website, social campaign, email and print work.
  • Advertising: Hand in glove with marketing is advertising. That can include radio, TV, newspaper and magazine advertisements.
  • Volunteers: A big event needs a big crew of people to get it off the ground and run smoothly. That means volunteers, which means writing contracts, defining their roles, setting up meetings and determining schedules.
  • Speakers: You must have a keynote speaker or a group of speakers to attract an audience. This involves contracts, curators to select the talent, a program, bios and rehearsals.
  • Sponsors: All of this costs money, and a big event’s budget is supplied by its sponsors. This again involves contracts, marketing and logistics.
  • Production: The production involves creating contracts as you work on creating an audio-visual recording of the proceedings, as well as a sound and video broadcast during the event.
  • Stage: The event takes place at a specific venue and on that venue is a stage on which the event proper will be presented. That usually incorporates a projector, screen, microphones, internet connection, batteries, cables and more.
  • Attendees: Don’t forget about the people attending the event! You’ll need communications to inform them of event information, payment processes to collect fees, emails to stay in touch, directions, badges and access points.

Related:  10 Free Event Planning Templates for Excel & Word

Free Event Plan Template

This free event plan template for Excel is a great tool to start assembling the information you need to create an event plan. It can be customized to add your event details.

event planning template for Excel by ProjectManager

The Event Planning Process: Event Planning Steps

We covered a lot on event planning, so let’s break down those tips into concrete steps. These event planning steps will guide you toward success. Let’s continue with our conference example.

  • Step 1. Determine your event goals and objectives
  • Step 2. Assemble your team
  • Step 3. Establish an event budget
  • Step 4. Choose a date & venue
  • Step 5. Select the speakers
  • Step 6. Event marketing & advertising
  • Step 7. Execute your event

When you break down the scope of your event plan into manageable steps, the process seems a lot less daunting. However, there are a few more things to keep in mind when making your event plan.

Event Planning Roles

As you might expect, there are many different roles that work together to bring an event to life. It’s easy to get confused. Are you an event manager or an event planner? Is there any difference between the two? Let’s take a look at some of the more common event-planning roles and define them.

Event Manager

The event manager is often mistaken for the event planner, but they are two distinct roles. Most simply, the event manager is responsible for event management activities, which involve coordinating and implementing the event. They take care of setting up the event, including its design, and make sure the vision of the event planner is realized.

Event Planner

An event planner organizes, coordinates and executes the event. They’re in charge of coming up with the idea, overseeing the setup and breakdown of the event. They’ll select the venue, create the budget and ensure everything is taken care of. What sets them apart is they design the strategy for the event to the smallest detail.

Related: Free Event Budget Template for Excel

Event Producer

The event producer fleshes out the strategic plan of the event planner. They are the one who takes the idea and turns it into a living event. They will take charge of the technical aspects of the event, such as audio/visual, stage design, etc. They work with the event planner to schedule the event , but the event producer uses their skills and expertise in producing events to deliver the event that’ll impress both attendees and the client.

Event Planning Tips

Unfortunately, there are always going to be variables out of your control that’ll affect the event planning process, such as the weather, delivery delays, technical difficulties and other potential mix-ups. As stated earlier, you can’t change the date of your event, so you’ll want to be as prepared as possible for any risks or issues that may pop up on the day of your event.

Do a Post-Event Review

A post-event review or a post-mortem as they’re often called, is very valuable. By looking back at the past event and seeing what worked and what didn’t work, you can better plan your next event. There are always lessons to be learned and applying them to the next project will avoid previous mistakes and increase your chances of a better outcome.

Use Event Planning Templates

Having an event planning template is a great way to make sure you’re not missing any important pieces of the larger event. It’ll help you organize your tasks and resources, costs and more. Use our free event plan template to get started on the right foot.

Use Event Planning Tools

A template is fine, but limited. You have to manually update everything and it’s not very collaborative. Event planning tools, such as Gantt charts , kanban boards, task lists and calendars, help you plan and implement the event plan. They also allow you to track the work to make sure it’s following the plan, which leads to a more successful event.

Prepare a Plan B

As important as your plan is, there can be issues with it. There might be acts of god, such as weather, which negatively impact the event. Whatever the cause, you’ll need a backup. That’s why developing a plan B is so critical to the success of the event. You might never have to use it, but in case you do, you’re prepared.

Use an Event Planning Checklist

Another tip is to have a checklist made up. That way you can collect all the things you have to do and why you’re doing it in one place. Using a checklist for event planning can be done in conjunction with project planning tools . The more safeguards, the better. Also, there are few things more satisfying than crossing something off your list.

Event Planning Checklist

There’s a lot to manage when planning an event, so it’s important to have a list of everything you need to include in your event management plan. The following is a general event planning checklist to help you get started. The more questions you ask, the better your event checklist. Feel free to add your own unique responsibilities and tasks.

Goals and Objectives

  • What’s your event’s reason for existing?
  • What are the goals this event is expected to achieve?
  • What are the revenue objectives?
  • What is your target audience?
  • How many people will attend?
  • Is there a cost associated with ticketing and what is it?
  • Where is the event being held?
  • Create an event schedule.

Event Budget

  • Figure out what the costs will be
  • If you held similar events, use and adjust an old budget for a baseline
  • What ticketing and registration software will be used?
  • Finalize sponsor contributions
  • Set ticket price

Date & Venue

  • When will the event take place?
  • Have a backup date in case issues arise
  • Is there the best location for the event?
  • Is the venue appropriate for your expected number of attendees?
  • Decide on needed infrastructure: wifi, capacity, bathrooms, near shopping & restaurants, etc.
  • Hire a caterer
  • Secure what equipment you’ll need
  • What are your security needs?
  • Do you need permits, licenses or insurance?
  • Create event signage and communication plans for attendees
  • Research potential speakers
  • Create a list of relevant speakers
  • Create a pitch for speakers
  • Pitch speakers
  • Finalize speaker selection, get bios and headshots and arrange travel and accommodations
  • Develop a list of sponsors and what you can offer them.
  • See if there are sponsors who have partnered with similar events.
  • Reach out to potential sponsors.
  • Design signoff.
  • Update the site or build a unique one.
  • Make sure the site can handle expected traffic.
  • Have a mobile-friendly site.

Event Marketing & Advertising

  • What’s your messaging?
  • Coordinate with digital tools and social platforms
  • Add the event to online calendars
  • Market the event with blog posts and other promotions like videos and online ads
  • Send reminders to all parties a month or two before the event date

Finalizing the Last Steps

  • Speakers and scripts
  • Decorations

Pro tip: That’s a lot to coordinate and plan, which is why there’s a need for project management software that has the right features for event management. It provides a common portal, where you can track costs and tasks with automated alerts. It also offers both a communication and a collaborative platform that reduces the need for unnecessary emails. Software collects all your files in one place and makes team reporting simpler by adding efficiencies and reducing stress.

ProjectManager Offers Robust Event Planning Tools

ProjectManager is online software that’s suited for event planning. We have event project management tools to keep all the parts of your events, from managing vendors to promotions, organized. Our planning software helps you keep track of all the elements that make up your event plan.

Keep Stakeholders Updated With Event Calendars

Our multiple project views mean that event planners and managers can use project calendars , Gantt charts and there are task lists and kanban boards for teams. While reports can keep stakeholders informed, they might want to have access to the project. Share the calendar view with your stakeholders, which allows them to see start and end dates for all the tasks as well as milestones. This manages their expectations.

event planning company best

Zoom Into Event Activities With Kanban Boards

Use ProjectManager’s kanban board to manage the daily activities that need to be executed to plan, schedule and track your event plan. Move tasks from column to column as you collaborate on work with your team, and it’s easy to spot bottlenecks and get everything over the line in time for the event.

Event plan on a kanban board

Track Event Labor Costs With Timesheets & Real-Time Dashboards

Plus, timesheets make invoicing easy for all your events. They can be submitted and approved with a keystroke. Our software also offers a variety of views, from a list to a calendar and even a kanban board that helps you visualize the workflow to keep on task.

ProjectManager's timesheets are ideal for event planning

More About Planning an Event

Event planning can be complex. There’s a lot of balls to keep in the air. If the above is too much to digest immediately, you could start with our event plan template and watch one of our planning experts. Jennifer Bridges, PMP, has years of experience and uses it to teach you the fundamentals of event planning in this short video.

Related Content

  • Free Event Proposal Template
  • Event Management: A Quick Guide
  • How to Plan a Virtual Event: Virtual Event Planning Checklist
  • Event Project Management Software

ProjectManager is award-winning project management software that helps you plan and monitor your event details. From powerful planning tools to real-time reports and dashboards that capture all of your event details, you can use our software to stay on schedule and stick to your planned budget. Try our software today with a free 30-day trial.

Click here to browse ProjectManager's free templates

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Corporate event management in Russia

Like any megapolis, Moscow is a paradise for event management professionals. Proekta main office is located in Moscow, and our second location is in Staint Petersburg. The capital has thousands of companies, which consider it the same process of development as staff training or new product release. Almost each company faces a problem in quality corporate event management services.

MAJOR PROBLEMS YOU FACE WHEN MANAGING A CORPORATE EVENT IN MOSCOW

On the one hand, having plenty of options is great , but on the other hand, it also creates problems problems for inexperienced corporate events management company. In theory, it is easy to choose a quality partner, coordinate the contractor's work,  develop functional ideas, and find a proper venue.   Unfortunately, it is only easy in theory. Luckily, it’s cheaper to use agency’s services to organize and run corporate events in Moscow.    This is because, for inexperienced planners, each mistake they make will cost them money. For example, if you make a mistake when choosing the right partner or fail to meet your obligations, you will have to pay more to make the situation right. 

WHY IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO WORK WITH AN AGENCY

A professional agency’s experience allows them to properly arrange any corporate party in Moscow or St. Petersburg. They know how to avoid making mistakes, save time and, of course, provide professionalism. Obviously, time and quality are the main reasons you should work with an agency. You’ll save time on delegating task and receive a much higher quality event when using professionals. Corporate event planning services in Moscow is a difficult job that requires stress tolerance and inexhaustible enthusiasm, which any professional always provides.

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO CHOOSE AN AGENCY?

The best proven way to find a reliable partner to run you corporate event in Moscow is through recommendations. The top agency’s names are passed from person to person. However, there are cases when there’s neither time nor resources to manage your corporate events planning and search for an agency on your own. If that sounds like you, then make sure you pay attention to the company’s portfolio and range. If you can, contact this contractor’s previous clients.

CONTRACTORS YOU SHOULD AVOID WORKING WITH

The greatest mistake is to choose a partner who offers the lowest price for their services. Certainly, cost does matter, but it shouldn’t be too low or too high, especially if it’s an offsite corporate event organization. A professional corporate event agency always provides you with detailed estimate that is clear and transparent. Typically, incompetent contractors do not provide these types of estimates, rather they quote you an approximate cost. Besides this, pay attention to the way a contractor communicates. Know what their services and current project are. These factors will eventually allow you hire the right agency to plan and hold a corporate party that will please everyone. Most importantly, know that when you are planning corporate events in Russia, you will definitely need a reliable partner.

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15 Best Event Registration Software Picks to Boost Sign-ups

While check-in represents the official beginning of an attendee’s event experience, registration is the true kick-off to your event. This process gives attendees their first glimpse into your event and how it will be run.

When you provide an efficient event registration experience, you make a great first impression on attendees and get them excited for what’s to come. Event registration software streamlines the registration process, making it easier for both event organizers and attendees.

To help you find the best event registration software for your organization, we’ve compiled a list of 15 top options to explore. Choosing the right registration software will allow you to start your event on the right foot and engage attendees from the very beginning.

Schedule a demo to test out the best event registration software.

What Is Event Registration Software?

Event registration software is a tool that allows attendees to easily and efficiently sign up for events online. These platforms also enable event organizers to collect attendee information, process payments, promote sponsors, and more.

Whether you’re planning a conference , association meeting, workshop, trade show, or anything in between, software for event registration is an essential tool for any event organizer.

Benefits of Registration Software for Events

Adopting event registration software will introduce many benefits for your organization and its events, including:

The benefits of software for event registration, as outlined in the text below.

Enhanced attendee experience

Event registration software can increase your event attendance by allowing attendees to sign up for your event from any device at any time. You can even use the software’s tools to incentivize early registration with discounts or access to exclusive content.

Increased event attendance

Since event registration software allows attendees to sign up for your event from any device at any time, this type of tool can increase event attendance. With a registration process that’s so simple, the software encourages those who are interested to sign up and can even incentivize early registration with discounts or access to exclusive content.

More opportunities to promote sponsors

One of the greatest challenges of event management is creating a valuable experience for your sponsors that makes their investment in your event worthwhile. Event registration software allows you to introduce your sponsors to attendees ahead of time and send automated email reminders that highlight your sponsors along with other important event information.

Easier event management

The best event registration software lets you streamline multiple aspects of the event management process, including developing an event registration website, processing payments, sending event reminders via email, and creating session waiting lists. This software also makes it easier to manage multi-ticket and consecutive registrations.

Access to more attendee data

Collect important attendee and event data, such as registrant type and status, number of registrants per session, the device used to register, and event and session capacity to make data-driven decisions about your event. The best event registration software offers secure data storage that allows you to analyze attendee trends and plan for each session following data regulations and best practices.

Streamlined workflow with integrations

Registration software that integrates with your existing event technology makes it easier for you to manage and access attendee data when and where you need it. For instance, EventMobi’s event registration software is built into the same platform as your badge design and even check-in software, for a fully streamlined experience.

How to Choose the Best Event Registration Software

When deciding on an event registration software provider, you should have a clear list of criteria to guide your choice. Consider the following factors:

Decision criteria for choosing the best event registration software, as outlined in the text below.

  • Reviews. One of the best ways to assess event registration software is by hearing other organizations’ experiences with the platform. Check out review sites like Capterra and G2 to learn more about each provider’s reputation.
  • Security. When collecting data from your attendees, security is essential. Ensure the platform you use is PCI and SOC 2 Type II compliant to protect guest information like sensitive payment details.
  • Ease of use. Not only should your software be easy for attendees to use, but it should also be simple for your team to set up. Requesting a demo is a great way to see a platform in action and help you decide if it’s right for your organization.
  • Customer service. If you run into any problems with your event registration software, you’ll want to have quick access to reliable customer support. Review each provider’s customer service hours and policies to ensure they’ll adequately support your organization.
  • Price. Pricing may depend on your organization’s size, event size, or timeline. Stay within budget by comparing pricing options for each provider, and choose the platform that both fits your organization’s needs and is affordable.
  • Customization options. The best event registration software is adaptable. Seek out a platform that offers customizable forms, branded elements , and templates so you can make the registration experience unique to your organization.

Remember to choose a platform that integrates with your existing tech stack for easier data management. Even better, you could opt for a comprehensive event management platform that not only allows you to build beautiful registration websites and process payments securely, but also supports badge design and printing, event check-in, networking opportunities , and more.

15 Best Event Registration Software Providers

Jump-start your research process by exploring our top recommended event registration software providers:

1. EventMobi

EventMobi's homepage, which displays more information about this top registration software for events

EventMobi’s event registration software allows event organizers to run a seamless attendee registration process. With 4.8 out of 5 stars on Capterra, EventMobi is the trusted platform for associations, corporations, third-party planners, companies, and other organizations around the world.

EventMobi’s flexible registration software for events offers a variety of must-have features, including:

  • Branded event registration website creation
  • Automated email marketing campaigns
  • Customizable online event registration forms
  • Secure data storage
  • Payment processing
  • Event registration data reporting
  • Post-event analytics

This registration platform also integrates with EventMobi’s badge design and event check-in software so you can easily design branded conference badges and check attendees in with the help of your registration data.

Pricing: Fill out the pricing form so the EventMobi team can better understand your needs and present you with options that will work for your event and its budget.

Watch the product tour to explore EventMobi's event registration software.

Whova is an intuitive registration software solution for events that lets you create and sell event tickets within minutes. It integrates with their other event management tools for a seamless experience.

Pros: Whova’s event registration software is free for free events and affordable for organizations hosting paid events.

Cons: Some users note technical issues with the software and find it difficult to navigate.

Pricing: Registration fees are 2.5% + $0.99. For further pricing details, fill out Whova’s pricing form.

Cvent's homepage

Cvent prides itself on offering customizable, responsive event registration software. The platform allows event organizers to build event sites, promote their events, personalize content to attendees, analyze event data, and integrate with other event management tools.

Pros: Cvent integrates with a variety of popular platforms, such as HubSpot, Salesforce, and Zoom.

Cons: Some users find Cvent difficult to set up and use.

Pricing: Cvent requires interested organizations to fill out their pricing form to start a conversation about pricing.

4. WildApricot

WildApricot's homepage

WildApricot’s event registration app allows associations to easily register attendees for their events. They offer custom registration forms, event email campaigns, and online payment processing.

Pros: WildApricot has a free mobile app for administrators that allows you to manage your event registration on the go.

Cons: This platform is intended for associations, nonprofits, clubs, and other similar organizations, so it might not be best for corporations.

  • Personal Plan: 100 contacts for $60/month
  • Group Plan: 250 contacts for $75 month
  • Community Plan: 500 contacts for $140/month
  • Professional Plan: 2,000 contacts for $240/month
  • Network Plan: 5,000 contacts for $440/month
  • Enterprise Plan: 15,000 contacts for $530/month
  • Global Plan: 50,000 contacts for $900 months

5. RingCentral

RingCentral's homepage

RingCentral is an all-in-one events platform with registration features. These include an advanced registration page builder, third-party registration support, automated email reminders, and custom themes and templates.

Pros: RingCentral allows event organizers to set up free, paid, or private ticketing in over 135 currencies.

Cons: Some users feel limited by the templates RingCentral provides when creating a branded registration page.

Pricing: Starts at $750/license/year with up to 100 attendees per event

6. Eventbrite

Eventbrite's homepage

Eventbrite is a popular event registration software for a variety of different events, including social events, classes, and charity events. Using Eventbrite, event organizers can create customizable event pages, post events on their site, and sell tickets with embedded checkout.

Pros: Eventbrite allows you to easily promote events to those in your local community.

Cons: Since Eventbrite is mostly used for social events, it may not be the ideal platform for professional events.

  • Up to 100 tickets: $9.99/event
  • Up to 250 tickets: $24.99/event
  • Unlimited tickets: $49.99/event
  • Pro 100: $29/month
  • Pro 250: $79/month
  • Pro Unlimited: $159/month

Bizzabo's homepage

Bizzabo has event registration software that’s scalable and flexible to different organizations’ needs. The platform allows event organizers to customize registration fields, process payments, and embed registration widgets on their websites.

Pros: Bizzabo has analytics features that allow event organizers to track progress toward their registration goals and convert page visitors into registered attendees.

Cons: Some users note that they wish there were more customization options when creating their registration pages.

Pricing: Bizzabo has four main plans (Essential, Premium, Unleash, and Enterprise) but requires organizations to request pricing details through their website.

8. Webex Events

Webex Events' homepage

With Webex Events , event organizers can build event registration pages for virtual, in-person, and hybrid events. This event registration software allows you to brand your page to your organization, use registration conditional logic that simplifies the sign-up process, and collect important attendee data.

Pros: Webex Events’ registration software integrates with their other event tools, such as their check-in and lead retrieval solutions.

Cons: Some users note that the backend user interface is difficult for beginners to navigate.

  • Free Plan: Free to host a single event for up to 100 attendees
  • Pro Plan: From $83/month for 100 attendees/year to $2,917/month for 10,000 attendees/year

RSVPify's homepage

RSVPify is an event registration software solution that caters to corporations, small and mid-size businesses, nonprofits, and more. Their solution allows event organizers to create a full event website or registration only, process free or paid registrations, and automate confirmation and reminder emails.

Pros: RSVPify enables event organizers to share their events with anyone through their registration link or limit registration to an exclusive guest list.

Cons: Some users note that while RSVPify offers free plans, it can quickly become a costly platform depending on the number of sign-ups.

  • Small Events Plan: Free for up to 100 RSVPs
  • Personal Events Plan: $19/month
  • Professional Events Plan: $39/month
  • Enterprise Plan: Starts at $499/month

10. Accelevents

Accelevents' homepage

Accelevents is an event registration software solution that is easy to integrate with other platforms, customize, and navigate. With this provider, event organizers can create branded event pages, process payments, sell a variety of ticket types, set up waitlists, and more.

Pros: Accelevents offers unique tracking links that allow event organizers to determine which platforms event registrants are coming from.

Cons: Some users claim that the platform has a steep learning curve and can be confusing to navigate at times.

  • Professional Plan: Starts at $5,000
  • Business Plan: Starts at $12,000
  • Enterprise Plan: Contact for pricing
  • White Label Plan: Contact for pricing

11. JotForm

Jotform's homepage

JotForm allows users to create forms and collect online payments with no coding required. The platform offers over 750 event registration form templates for event organizers to choose from.

Pros: Jotform integrates with over 150 business apps, such as CRMs, cloud storage apps, and email marketing platforms.

Cons: Jotform is not an event-specific platform, so it may not have all the features event organizers need.

  • Starter Plan: Free
  • Bronze Plan: $39/month
  • Silver Plan: $49/month
  • Gold Plan: $129/month

12. Google Forms

Google Forms' homepage

Part of Google Workspace, Google Forms allows event organizers to create online forms for event registration and analyze response data. While Google Forms is a quick and easy form builder, it is not an all-in-one event platform.

Pros: Google Forms is simple to use and can be accessed from any device.

Cons: Google Forms is limited in its features and may not be the best choice for large events and conferences.

  • Personal Plan: Free
  • Business Standard Plan: $12/user/month

13. 6Connex

6Connex's homepage

6Connex is an event management platform with registration features. Using this software, event organizers can sell multiple ticket types, manage discount codes, process payments, and more.

Pros: Event organizers can use registration data to create personalized event agendas for each attendee.

Cons: Some users note that 6Connex is not very user-friendly on the backend.

  • LAUNCH Eventory Plan: $3,000/event
  • LAUNCH Immersive Plan: $12,500/event
  • RISE Plan: Request a quote
  • SOAR Eventory Plan: $6,500/year
  • SOAR Plan: Request a quote

14. Eventify

Eventify's homepage

Eventify aims to help event planners maximize ticket sales with their platform. This event registration software simplifies the event registration process and allows organizers to either create a branded event page or embed a widget on their existing website.

Pros: Eventify has a simple two-step checkout for event registrants with no major fees.

Cons: Some users note issues using the mobile app.

  • Business Single Plan: $399/event
  • Business Annual Plan: $1199/year
  • Enterprise Single Plan: $999/event
  • Enterprise Annual Plan: $1799/year

Splash's homepage

Splash is an event management platform with extensive ticketing features. It allows event organizers to create branded ticket purchase forms, offer discount and affiliate links, and connect their event page to their Stripe account to easily receive ticket payouts.

Pros: Splash enables event organizers to customize the ticket-purchasing experience by accepting a variety of currencies and adding checkout questions.

Cons: Some users note that the integrations Splash provides with other platforms are not as seamless as they would like.

  • Free Plan: Free
  • Pro Plan: Contact for pricing

Maximize Attendance with the Best Event Registration Software

Event registration software allows you to start your event strong with a smooth attendee registration process. Make it easy for attendees to sign up for your event and for your team to manage registrant data and preferences.

EventMobi offers the best event registration software on the market, allowing you to share important event information, encourage potential attendees to sign up, promote your sponsors, and analyze the resulting data. If you’re ready to get started with EventMobi’s registration software for events, contact the team by filling out this form .

For more information on how to set your next event up for success, check out these resources:

  • Event Registration Strategies to Increase Attendee Excitement and Sign-Ups. Leverage these event registration strategies to make the process even more engaging.
  • 17 Event Marketing Strategies to Boost Engagement & Drive Sales. Registration is only one avenue for marketing your event. This article provides 17 event marketing strategies to help you spread the word.
  • The Easy Event Check-In Guide: How to Impress from the First Hello. After registration, check-in is the next major touchpoint with attendees. Check out the tips in this guide to impress attendees from the beginning.

Book a demo of EventMobi's event registration software today to simplify the event registration process.

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2024 Total Solar Eclipse Map

An interactive map showing exactly when the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse will happen across North America

Some eclipses last longer than others, so be sure to check the duration of the eclipse as well. If you’re watching a total solar eclipse , there will be longer periods of partial coverage leading up to and following totality, so you’ll need to decide whether you want to watch the entire eclipse from start to finish or a shorter period of time around totality.

Choose a viewing location

Find a spot that offers a clear, unobstructed view of the sky. Public parks, open fields, rooftops, and even backyards can be great choices. Make sure the location is easily accessible and comfortable for guests, considering amenities like bathrooms and seating. Depending on the weather, you might want to plan to bring blankets, sunscreen, hats, or bug spray so that you and your guests are comfortable throughout the event.

If possible, go to your chosen location the day before at the same time as the eclipse to make sure the Sun won’t be hidden by a tree, neighboring building, or anything else. 

If you’re traveling to reach the eclipse, check out our tips on getting to and from potentially crowded viewing locations.

Plan for safe viewing

Never look directly at the Sun without proper eye protection. Provide or remind guests to bring solar eclipse glasses . You’ll probably need to plan ahead for this, since eclipse glasses can be hard to get your hands on in the days and weeks before an eclipse. 

If you’re planning on using a telescope or binoculars to enhance your eclipse experience, make sure they’re equipped with solar filters.

If you don’t have access to eclipse glasses or viewing cards, prepare ways to observe the effects of the eclipse indirectly. Shadows are the best way to do this, since partial eclipses cast crescent-shaped shadows through holes (like in pinhole projectors and even kitchen colanders) and dappled leaves.

Set the atmosphere

A little creativity can turn an eclipse-viewing event into a party. Make Sun and Moon decorations and thematic refreshments. Think crescent-shaped cookies, moon pies, and sun tea. Make a playlist of space-themed music to play in the background with songs like “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler or “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles.

Educate your guests

Eclipses are even more enjoyable when you know a few things about them. You can learn all about eclipses by reading articles , watching videos , or taking an online course . You can also brush up on your knowledge about the Sun and the Moon and missions that explore them. During your event, you can share with your guests some of the coolest things you learned. Invite your guests to share their knowledge, too.

There are also lots of great educational activities for kids to learn about and enjoy eclipses.

Set up a camera

Eclipse chasers recommend not focusing on trying to take your own photos of the eclipse itself unless you have special camera equipment and expertise . If you’re just working with a smartphone, a better plan is to set it up on a tripod facing you and your group and record your reactions to the eclipse. This can capture a much more meaningful memory of the experience, and you can always find professionals’ photos of the eclipse itself online afterward.

Have a backup plan

Weather can be unpredictable, and clouds can spoil even the best-made plans. It’s important to have a setup ready to watch a livestream of the eclipse just in case the view from your location is obstructed.

By following all of these steps, you can make sure that your eclipse-watching party is fun, safe, and memorable for everyone. Happy eclipse watching!

Experience the Total Solar Eclipse

A total solar eclipse is coming across North America on April 8, 2024, and you're invited to experience it with The Planetary Society. Explore maps, eclipse glasses, and merch as you get ready for totality.

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External Event Planner Stockholm and North of Sweden - Nordic Marketing Company

Are you swift to action, confident to take ownership, and eager to develop new skills? Do you enjoy cross-functional collaboration and are you curious about a business truly dedicated to its purpose and patients? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

Our AstraZeneca Nordic Marketing Company employs around 550 people and has offices located in Copenhagen, Espoo, Oslo, and Stockholm. AstraZeneca Nordic is a recognized leader in its core therapy areas and aims to improve the lives of millions of people. This is an area where you are free to be more – you are encouraged to challenge traditional ways and test your curiosity. We drive innovative science, deliver key launches, build close collaboration and partnerships within health care.

We are looking for an External Event Planner to join our Swedish Biopharmaceuticals team based in Stockholm. This role will support our Business Unit (BU) teams, primarily sales, in the execution of local meetings, activities, and events.

What you will do

As an External Event Planner, you will coordinate and support the execution of meetings and events such as speaker-led meetings, scientific meetings, and advisory boards. You will ensure local context, language, and adaptation to processes when planning these events. Working closely with different internal and external stakeholders, you will assure that all tasks are of correct quality and in accordance with written procedures, current legal requirements, and internal standards. You will need to be flexible with the ability to coordinate multiple tasks for different teams and functions simultaneously. You will prioritize tasks and clearly communicate expectations and deliveries to optimize collaboration with your customers and colleagues.

Essential for the role

- Specialist with knowledge in relation to administrative/ business support activities in the relevant area

- Preferably having experience as Sales and Marketing Assistant and/or functional assistant work

- Excellent communication and presentations skills

- Proficient in both written and spoken Swedish and English

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That’s why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we’re not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca, we are on a journey to bring life-saving medicines to patients. Our role in contributing to decreasing mortality rates globally is clear. We are shaping the future by spotting scientifically-led commercial opportunities and acting now to operationalize and scale them. We are driven by the solutions we bring to the healthcare ecosystem. It powers us to make an impact at every step of the patient journey. We are constantly thinking big to answer new challenges. We push ourselves to start small and scale fast. The pioneers of digital and innovative solutions that have never been seen before. And we bring our teams on this journey with us, sharing our vision to inspire commitment to succeed together.

Are you ready to be part of this journey? To shape the future, define what the next decade looks like for BioPharmaceuticals, and act on it now? There are countless opportunities to develop and grow with AstraZeneca. Working with top people to build a diverse career and learn what Commercial looks like at its best.

So, what is next?

Be part of a leading team in a highly competitive environment where you will feel appreciated and be rewarded for your work. Embrace the unrivalled opportunities to progress and succeed in BioPharmaceuticals Business Unit.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now with your CV in English by the latest March 6th, 2024 .

Applications will be reviewed continuously throughout the application period.

We are proud to have a unique workplace culture that inspires innovation and collaboration. Here, employees are empowered to express diverse perspectives - and are made to feel valued, energized and rewarded for their ideas and creativity.

Where can I find out more?

Our social media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/

Inclusion & Diversity: https://careers.astrazeneca.com/inclusion-diversity

Career site: https://careers.astrazeneca.com/

AstraZeneca Nordic Marketing Company

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.

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Wharton regains status as best business school for MBAs, according to FT ranking

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Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

Wharton has regained its position as the world’s leading provider of MBAs in 2024, according to the latest FT ranking of the top 100 global business schools .

The US business school, part of the University of Pennsylvania, topped the assessment, which takes into account measures including value for money, alumni study aims achieved, gender and international diversity, the quality of academic research and school environmental policies, as well as salary and increases in pay. Schools’ participation is voluntary.

Wharton was followed by Insead in France, in second place, then Columbia in New York, SDA Bocconi in Milan and Iese in Barcelona.

MBA alumni are finding times tougher after graduation. In line with recent job cutbacks, including in banking and technology at a time of broader uncertainty in the global economy, graduate employment within three months of MBA completion across the ranked schools dipped to an average of 89 per cent, compared with 93 per cent the previous year.

The ranking also follows a year in which demand for business degrees has stagnated. The latest survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council in 2023 shows a drop of 5 per cent in applications for MBAs and a shift away from the full-time, in-person course and towards more flexible, part-time and online alternatives .

Global MBA Ranking 2024

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Read the ranking and report , plus how we compiled our league table . Spotlight on the MBA webinar, February 21: businesseducation.live.ft.com .

The Wharton School , led by Dean Erika James, is ranked top in the research category, measured by recent faculty publications in leading academic and practitioner journals, followed by the University of Chicago: Booth , Harvard Business School and Columbia Business School .

Wharton’s alumni reported the third-highest average weighted salaries at $245,772, adjusted for those working in different sectors and for international purchasing power parity, three years after completing their courses. Stanford alumni had the highest weighted income, at $250,650, with Harvard graduates just behind at $246,509, while those from Columbia averaged $232,760.

Just four of the top 20 business schools ranked by highest weighted alumni salaries were from outside the US, led by Insead , south of Paris. The others were Milan’s SDA Bocconi , Shanghai University of Finance and Economics and the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad .

Erika James, dean of the Wharton School

Stanford, in California, was ranked top for alumni assessments of aims achieved on their MBA, followed by Dartmouth College: Tuck in New Hampshire and the University of Virginia: Darden .

The University of Georgia: Terry is top for “value for money”, calculated by dividing the average alumni salary three years after completion by the MBA’s total cost, including tuition, forgone salary, opportunity cost and other expenses.

Four US schools were rated highest by former students for the quality of their alumni networks: Stanford first, followed by Dartmouth, Cornell in New York state and the University of Notre Dame: Mendoza in Indiana.

Georgia Institute of Technology: Scheller was judged top by former students for its career services, followed by UCLA Anderson School of Management , Shanghai’s Fudan University School of Management and then Peking University: Guanghua .

The highest salary increases — from when alumni began their MBA to three years after completing it — were reported at the Indian School of Business and two Chinese business schools: Fudan, followed by Shanghai University of Finance and Economics: College of Business.

MBA classes remain predominantly male, with an average of 41 per cent female students

The Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad is top for career progress — measured as an increase in responsibility in alumni’s role in employment and size of organisation — followed by Stanford and then Fudan.

SDA Bocconi School of Management is placed top for a public audit of carbon emissions in its operations and net zero emissions targets, followed by the University of Virginia: Darden, IE Business School in Madrid, Duke University: Fuqua in North Carolina, Esade Business School in Barcelona, and Rotterdam School of Management , Erasmus University.

MBA classes remain predominantly male, with an average of 41 per cent women across the 100 schools. Only Wharton, France’s ESCP and Audencia reported top-scoring parity between male and female MBA students, while 10 schools had more women than men.

The greatest diversity of employment by sector among students before starting their MBAs was at ESCP Business School in France, followed by Esade, Warwick Business School in the UK and then Brigham Young University: Marriott in Utah.

The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta is ranked top for the extent to which the most recent completing class carried out exchanges and internships of at least a month abroad, followed by HEC Paris, ESCP and then the Lisbon MBA Católica | Nova .

For insights into the ranking and business study, sign up for Spotlight on the MBA, a free online event on Wednesday February 21. The webinar is presented in partnership with leading business schools and will feature academics, admissions experts and FT journalists. businesseducation.live.ft.com

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International Edition

In today’s complex global business environment, effective supply chain management (SCM) is crucial for maintaining a competitive advantage. The pandemic and its aftermath highlighted the importance of having a robust supply chain strategy , with many companies facing disruptions due to shortages in raw materials and fluctuations in customer demand. The challenges continue: one 2023 survey found 44% of companies had to make changes in the past year due to issues with their supply chain footprint, and 49% said supply chain disruptions had caused planning problems.

But with the right tools and priorities, each step in the process can run smoothly. Here’s how companies are using different strategies to address supply chain management and meet their business goals.

Why supply chain management matters

Supply chain management involves coordinating and managing all the activities involved in sourcing , procurement, conversion and logistics . It includes everything from product development and strategic decision-making to information systems and new technologies. But perhaps most relevant today are the capabilities within SCM to help mitigate disruption.

Supply chain disruptions are caused by a variety of factors, from pandemics, natural disasters and political instability to supplier bankruptcy and IT failures. To mitigate these risks , companies need the resources and technology to develop robust contingency plans.

On top of disruption, companies with global supply chains must also deal with different regulatory environments, cultural norms and market conditions. They need strong SCM practices to help work out the logistics of transporting goods across long distances and through multiple countries without creating longer lead times or delays.

Effective SCM initiatives offer several benefits:

  • Lower operational costs : By optimizing inventory levels , improving warehousing efficiency and streamlining order fulfillment processes, companies can save on storage, labor and transportation expenses.
  • Better customer satisfaction : An optimized supply chain allows businesses to make sure products are available when and where people want them—which can improve relationships and loyalty with customers.
  • Fewer disruptions : A healthy supply chain mitigates risks and protects against inevitable disruption. By developing contingency plans and resilient supply chains, companies can continue to operate even when unexpected events occur.

Key strategies for effective supply chain management

There are a number of ways that companies can better optimize and manage their supply chains. Here are the areas some businesses are focusing on as they refine their overall approach:

Forecasting and demand planning

Companies can reduce storage costs and avoid stockouts or overstock with help from accurate demand forecasting , which uses historical sales data, market research and economic trends to predict future market demand for products or services.

Big data and predictive analytics are increasingly being used to improve forecasting accuracy, allowing businesses to respond more effectively to changes in customer needs. Advanced software tools can automate some parts of forecasting, providing real-time updates and alerts when inventory levels are too high or low.

Automation can streamline supply chain operations, from order fulfillment to inventory tracking. It can take many forms, from automated warehouse systems that pick and pack orders, to blockchain-based smart contracts to software that automates purchasing and invoicing processes . These technologies can significantly reduce manual labor, minimize errors and speed up processes, leading to increased efficiency and cost savings.

Technology-driven visibility

AI and machine learning can be used to analyze large amounts of data quickly and accurately, providing insights that can improve forecasting, inventory management, and customer service. A 2023 survey found that a third of businesses are using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve resource and supply chain planning, and more than a third said using digital tools for inventory management was the most effective strategy in cutting overall supply chain costs.

Real-time tracking systems, often enabled by Internet of Things (IoT) devices, help companies monitor their supply chain accurately and immediately. Having visibility into the status and location of goods as they move through the supply chain helps companies monitor supplier performance, identify bottlenecks and respond quickly to disruptions. A supply chain control tower can connect many sources of data-driven information and improve end-to-end visibility.

Moreover, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software can integrate different aspects of a business into one system, providing a holistic view of operations and the metrics needed to streamline supply chain processes. Integrated supply chain analytics software, such as IBM Planning Analytics , connect complex data sets for more insightful analytics and scenario analysis that can help avoid demand-and-supply mismatches or fulfillment delays.

Sustainable and ethical sourcing

Companies are trying to ensure that every stage of their supply chains is adhering to responsible practices. This not only helps satisfy customer desire for sustainability and ethical products but also helps mitigate risks, such as regulatory penalties or reputational damage.

Ethical sourcing involves ensuring that the products and services a company procures are produced under fair, safe and environmentally friendly conditions. This may involve conducting audits of suppliers, implementing codes of conduct and using certification schemes to verify compliance. Sustainable sourcing, meanwhile, focuses on minimizing the environmental impact of the supply chain. This might involve partnering with suppliers who use renewable energy , reducing packaging or implementing recycling programs.

Blockchain technologies can increase transparency and traceability in the supply chain, helping to prevent fraud and ensure product authenticity. For example, IBM Food Trust® , a collaborative network of growers, processors, wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers, retailers and others, uses blockchain technology to improve visibility and accountability across the food supply chain.

Building strong partnerships

Strong relationships are a key part of any business strategy. When it comes to supply chains, strong connections with providers, distributors and other key stakeholders in the supply network can help companies improve resilience. Partnerships can facilitate better communication, collaboration and responsiveness, particularly in times of disruption. They can also provide access to new markets, technologies, and expertise, offering a competitive advantage.

Because finding the right suppliers can be challenging, some businesses turn to technology to help. For example, IBM® Trust Your Supplier , a supply chain risk management software solution, helps ensure suppliers and other partners in the supply chain meet global and industry standards, provides continuous monitoring and risk assessment and uses blockchain-based information management to ensure transparency and traceability.

Effective supply chain strategy for the future

Whether it’s through forecasting, automation, sustainable sourcing, strong partnerships or new technologies, there are numerous strategies companies can employ to optimize supply chain planning and execution. By doing so, they can improve profitability, meet customer demand and ensure their business is resilient in the face of disruptions.

To learn more about how a technology-enabled supply chain can support your business goals, explore the IBM Sterling® Supply Chain Intelligence Suite.

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