Planning a meeting in Las Vegas or attending a convention in Las Vegas and having to organize satellite events?
| Must-Have Event Services |
If there’s one lesson the economy of the past few years has taught us, it’s that the meetings and events industry is definitely a group-oriented field. Some might even say a family affair. The point is, no one person can successfully prepare, plan and execute a world-class event all by themselves. It’s a team effort that involves the cooperation of professionals that span a diverse range of specialty areas. This is especially true when building an event program from the ground up and without having the benefit of a turnkey destination management company (DMC).
Why would a planner heading to Vegas not hire a DMC? While hiring a DMC is certainly advantageous when the occasion calls for a more streamlined planning process, it may not be conducive to business professionals who want to take a more proactive approach to their coordination. Some professionals prefer to utilize their own repository of industry connections and friendships, which enables them to have more control over the creative aspect of event planning. No one knows a planner’s vision better than the planner himself/herself. That’s why many decide to go with independent vendors for each event service need, creating a more customized meeting experience.
Of course, there’s no denying the fact that planners are working with tighter budgets than ever before. We don’t think that planners will get to play with the larger-than-life budgets of yesteryear again anytime soon. But needless to say, the show must go on. And if you’re going to put on a show, it might as well be a good one, which means that there’s inevitably going to be some team input somewhere down the line. It’s important for planners to be able to come to a midpoint that equally balances their budget limitations and their wants. Making sure your wants are taken care of is paramount.
Imagine booking a venue and putting on a full-day meeting with just the bare essentials. You’ve spent just enough of your budget to get by, and you have plenty of money left over. Mission accomplished? Hardly. You may have beat the battle odds of today’s grim economics, but chances are you didn’t win the ROI war. With minimum audiovisual technology, no décor, zero refreshments, breakout sessions that were void of any interesting activities and a noticeable absence of take-home mementos, the audience was probably wishing they had just stayed in beds.
Corporate meeting and event attendees are first and foremost people who have attention spans that are trained to react to today’s culture of sensory stimulation. Anything less than that just isn’t going to cut it. Event services give events a sense of pizzazz and personal embellishment. Vendors that can help you fully realize your vision are the best way to imbue your event with a sense of personality and original style. To make sure your budget is put to good use, figure out which services are essential to your event needs. Most planners find that this list changes on an event by event basis, so feel free to drop something from your budget that was important last year, but has little relevance to your current project.
We’ve highlighted a few services that are always in demand, and which have been proven to contribute to the success of corporate events. The companies highlighted in each field are some of the most trusted event service providers in the Las Vegas market, but the possibilities are endless. With so many choices, there’s only one thing you can do: go forth, explore, experiment, create and inspire.
FLORAL DESIGN
A few years ago, the trend in event decor was to minimize the use of flower arrangements by all means possible. It’s no secret that a single large and luscious floral centerpiece alone can run into the hundreds of dollars, and having one for every table in the room only multiplies the cost exponentialy. In short, the principle reasoning behind the nationwide flower scale-back among event planners was cost-driven. However, in today’s green climate, it also started to look very un-PC to have fresh cut flowers thrown in the dump after only a few hours use.
Interestingly enough, the past few season have seen a renewed popularity in floral arrangements. For one, planners have developed interesting recycling programs so that nature’s beauty isn’t gone to waste. Some planners now donate their arrangements to nursing homes or hospitals, allowing for the flowers to be enjoyed by those who can really benefit from a little thoughtfulness. Also, planners are now opting for smaller arrangements with an emphasis on charm and character rather than larger centerpieces focused on size and grandeur, allowing for a more budget-conscious approach to floral arrangements.
Naakiti Floral Design, Inc. is one of the city’s most respected floral companies. Owner Randi Garrett has designed floral arrangements for the past 15 years, and her intricate and one-of-a-kind creations have helped make Naakiti a preferred vendor for such venues as the Four Seasons Hotel, Ritz of Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood Hotel, Canyon Gate Country Club and the Platinum Hotel.
From breathtaking centerpieces to inspired bouquets to innovative floral décor, Naakiti Floral Design creations are a sight to behold. Whereas other floral artists often provide their corporate clients with the usual stock arrangements, the team at Naakiti specializes in individual and personalized designs for a truly special experience.
PHOTOGRAPHY
We can never stress enough the importance of professional photography. It’s the easiest and best way to document each of your events for future use. Having great photography on file can serve a variety of purposes, including being able to use the images for future marketing initiatives and drawing interest from potential investors and partners to your client’s company. If someone sees a great event on paper, then they’re more than likely to believe that the next event will be equally exciting.
Why would a planner heading to Vegas not hire a DMC? While hiring a DMC is certainly advantageous when the occasion calls for a more streamlined planning process, it may not be conducive to business professionals who want to take a more proactive approach to their coordination. Some professionals prefer to utilize their own repository of industry connections and friendships, which enables them to have more control over the creative aspect of event planning. No one knows a planner’s vision better than the planner himself/herself. That’s why many decide to go with independent vendors for each event service need, creating a more customized meeting experience.
Of course, there’s no denying the fact that planners are working with tighter budgets than ever before. We don’t think that planners will get to play with the larger-than-life budgets of yesteryear again anytime soon. But needless to say, the show must go on. And if you’re going to put on a show, it might as well be a good one, which means that there’s inevitably going to be some team input somewhere down the line. It’s important for planners to be able to come to a midpoint that equally balances their budget limitations and their wants. Making sure your wants are taken care of is paramount.
Imagine booking a venue and putting on a full-day meeting with just the bare essentials. You’ve spent just enough of your budget to get by, and you have plenty of money left over. Mission accomplished? Hardly. You may have beat the battle odds of today’s grim economics, but chances are you didn’t win the ROI war. With minimum audiovisual technology, no décor, zero refreshments, breakout sessions that were void of any interesting activities and a noticeable absence of take-home mementos, the audience was probably wishing they had just stayed in beds.
Corporate meeting and event attendees are first and foremost people who have attention spans that are trained to react to today’s culture of sensory stimulation. Anything less than that just isn’t going to cut it. Event services give events a sense of pizzazz and personal embellishment. Vendors that can help you fully realize your vision are the best way to imbue your event with a sense of personality and original style. To make sure your budget is put to good use, figure out which services are essential to your event needs. Most planners find that this list changes on an event by event basis, so feel free to drop something from your budget that was important last year, but has little relevance to your current project.
We’ve highlighted a few services that are always in demand, and which have been proven to contribute to the success of corporate events. The companies highlighted in each field are some of the most trusted event service providers in the Las Vegas market, but the possibilities are endless. With so many choices, there’s only one thing you can do: go forth, explore, experiment, create and inspire.
FLORAL DESIGN
A few years ago, the trend in event decor was to minimize the use of flower arrangements by all means possible. It’s no secret that a single large and luscious floral centerpiece alone can run into the hundreds of dollars, and having one for every table in the room only multiplies the cost exponentialy. In short, the principle reasoning behind the nationwide flower scale-back among event planners was cost-driven. However, in today’s green climate, it also started to look very un-PC to have fresh cut flowers thrown in the dump after only a few hours use.
Interestingly enough, the past few season have seen a renewed popularity in floral arrangements. For one, planners have developed interesting recycling programs so that nature’s beauty isn’t gone to waste. Some planners now donate their arrangements to nursing homes or hospitals, allowing for the flowers to be enjoyed by those who can really benefit from a little thoughtfulness. Also, planners are now opting for smaller arrangements with an emphasis on charm and character rather than larger centerpieces focused on size and grandeur, allowing for a more budget-conscious approach to floral arrangements.
Naakiti Floral Design, Inc. is one of the city’s most respected floral companies. Owner Randi Garrett has designed floral arrangements for the past 15 years, and her intricate and one-of-a-kind creations have helped make Naakiti a preferred vendor for such venues as the Four Seasons Hotel, Ritz of Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood Hotel, Canyon Gate Country Club and the Platinum Hotel.
From breathtaking centerpieces to inspired bouquets to innovative floral décor, Naakiti Floral Design creations are a sight to behold. Whereas other floral artists often provide their corporate clients with the usual stock arrangements, the team at Naakiti specializes in individual and personalized designs for a truly special experience.
PHOTOGRAPHY
We can never stress enough the importance of professional photography. It’s the easiest and best way to document each of your events for future use. Having great photography on file can serve a variety of purposes, including being able to use the images for future marketing initiatives and drawing interest from potential investors and partners to your client’s company. If someone sees a great event on paper, then they’re more than likely to believe that the next event will be equally exciting.
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Send submissions to
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If accepted, your submission will be edited for length and clarity. There is no monetary payment if your item is used; instead, you can publicize yourself through a five-line biography with your contact information that will appear at the end of the article.
Send submissions to
editorial@MeetingPlannerResources.org. We will contact you if your submission is chosen.