First … Happy New Year Everyone!
I wanted to take this time to reflect on my work and share a few revelations
with you:
I’ve been doing a lot of brainstorming marketing-wise because in the last several months I’ve had people telling me “you wear a lot of hats”, so I thought maybe I should re-explain what exactly it is that I do. While being a “Meeting & Event planner” seems like a pretty straight-forward profession, there are a lot of misconceptions about my line of work out there.
Let’s be clear:
Corporate Events: with my team and clients I plan, coordinate, source and organize:
Executive Board Meetings or Strategic/Sales Meetings: the participants involved have this meeting (monthly – quarterly-bi-annually – annually) mainly to strategize their Company’s sales goals and targets in order to entice their sales force to attain a higher bottom line.
{yearly average with the team we do approx. 20 – 25 of these events}
Team-building activities: generally sits within the theory and practice of organizational development, applies to enhance the team atmosphere within departments.
{yearly average with the team we do approx. 6 – 10 of these events}
Seminars/Conventions/Annual Meetings: here it usually is to inform &/or educate my client’s clients/attendees or their membership of current activities going on. {yearly average with the team we do approx. 2– 5 of these events}
Award Dinners (also known as Client &/or Employee Appreciation): again my expertise help organize a classy and unforgettable evening for all.
{yearly average with the team we do approx. 4 – 6 of these events}
M.I.C.E. stands for:
Meetings Incentives Conferences Exhibitions
Most components of M.I.C.E. are well understood, perhaps with the exception of the Incentives component; it is usually undertaken as a type of employee reward by a company or institution for targets met or exceeded, or a job well done. Unlike the other types of M.I.C.E. programs, incentive are usually conducted purely for entertainment, rather than professional or educational purposes (wiki).
Having said that, Client Incentive programs are primarily used to drive sales, reduce sales costs, increase profitability, develop new territory, and enhance margins. {on the books with my collaborators we’ve organized approx. 4 – 6 per year}
NOTE: this is WHY I started to travel so much these past few years. I realized I NEED to get to know the places I’m going to send clients AND NEEDED to make good solid industry connections to properly execute these programs – hence I am required to build a strategic team worldwide.
Private / Special Events: with my clients I plan, coordinate, source and organize:
Fundraisers/Award dinners: whether it’s for a charitable cause, financing a non-profit organization or a celebration, the team and I make sure your event goes off without a hitch.
Holiday parties: holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or tradition of cultural or religious significance.
High School/College/University Grad Banquets Ceremonies: with these clients we coordinate the details of this proud moment in their lives, so they too, can enjoy the day worry-free.
Engagements/Communions/Bat-Bar Mitzvahs: this is one of the most important days in a person’s life, and with them we can turn it into a beautiful experience.
Proposal/Intimate dinners: Romantic, fun, festive, quiet or loud, we coordinate and will ensure the individual flair shines through when we handle the details of this unique night.
Wedding Anniversaries: coordinated and work with the clients to create a magical celebration no matter how large or small the scale or scope.
Bachelor/Bachelorette parties: whether it’s a traditional party or something fresh, our expertise will guide our clients through the planning process.
Fashion/Specialty Shows: having done many the team and I will make sure these shows are trendy.
{yearly average with the team we do approx. 10 – 15 of these events}
Weddings: with my clients I plan, coordinate, source and organize:
Truly one of the most unforgettable moments of a couple’s life: their wedding day. Planning it can also be one of the most stressful. That’s why one in five Canadian couples chooses to work with a wedding planner (WPIC): the Team and I can ease and streamline the entire process. Our proven relationships with high-end vendors allow us to carry out the couple’s visions, from flowers and décor to the menu and even their honeymoon, in a timely, professional way and within budget. Over the years we’ve literally planned over a few hundred weddings – just let us plan yours next!
{yearly average with the team we do approx. 7 – 10 weddings}
Oh and by the way, speaking of weddings there is no lack of information gathering in this market. This month alone there were 4 Bridal Shows here in Montreal: (all FABULOUSLY informative)
Hope this clarified things on what I do as a: Corporate Meeting and Special Events Planner
I’d like to send out a couple of shout outs this month:
Invited to the Media kickoff event for Fete des Nieges (cold but Fun Fun Fun). What a PERFECT method to do some team-building or employee appreciation activity (once you get over the cold factor of course) … this Meeting Planner feels it’s REALLY worth looking into…
I closed off the month by attending an annual (one day) conference, this is specifically for the associative market, and is always held in Ottawa. Well, when Ottawa Tourism heard I was coming, they graciously invited me to an impromptu FAM trip (familiarization tour) specially fitted for my client’s needs!! Besides being spoiled and catered to (which is always appreciated) this was specifically designed for me to have the ‘attendee experience’. Because the goal here is to experience what our attendees (my clients) would. I know I know it’s the ‘tough’ part of my job – but someone has to do it. Anyway the three days were awesome and with their help I rediscovered our beautiful nation’s capital City of Ottawa.
February promises to be INTERNATIONAL all the way … stay tuned!!!
