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How Do I Choose the Best Corporate Event Ideas?

Tess C. Taylor
Tess C. Taylor

When choosing the best corporate event ideas, go with something that will create a positive experience for all attendees. A memorable corporate event demands careful planning and consideration because it is an expression of the company's identity. Choosing the right corporate event can be best managed by keeping factors such as the date, budget, theme, vendors, and the overall objective in mind.

The best corporate event ideas are planned months in advance. Choosing the right date is often the first consideration. Keep in mind that most guests will be more likely to attend if the event does not interfere with personal vacations, holidays, or important corporate deadlines. Choose a date and time that will enable as many guests as possible to attend and give plenty of notice so that all have time to confirm attendance.

Some companies send employees on team-building retreats.
Some companies send employees on team-building retreats.

Corporate events typically must meet a budget, so ideas for the event must be realistic. An elaborate corporate event can get very expensive in short order, so choose activities, vendors, and food that fall in line with the budget. Go with ideas that have worked in the past and stay away from making things more complicated than necessary.

Another element of planning will be the overall theme of the event. Good corporate event ideas should establish an atmosphere. The theme can be the company's achievements during the year, a new corporate wellness effort, or a whimsical theme that lets people have fun. To choose corporate event ideas, get input from company leaders and pick a theme that best represents the organization as a whole.

Corporate dinners are typically more formal without being too fancy.
Corporate dinners are typically more formal without being too fancy.

For a corporate event to go off without a hitch, work with local vendors who have a good reputation in the industry. These vendors can include music, entertainment, food, security, and other service providers who can make the event a success. It’s a good business practice to use written vendor contracts to make sure there are no last-minute cancellations.

Corporate events that are more casual may include sports competitions.
Corporate events that are more casual may include sports competitions.

The best ideas for corporate events also have a specific company objective in mind. This can include increasing organizational morale, impressing customers, making improvements to the community, or celebrating company achievements. Whatever the reason for a corporate event, make sure the idea is to encourage participation and a positive environment for all those attending.

Discussion Comments

browncoat

A potential way of gathering event ideas is to solicit them from the people who are going to be attending. If there is a monthly newsletter or something you could provide an email address where people could send ideas, or maybe provide a small survey with potential ideas to see which ones are more popular.

Fa5t3r

@Iluviaporos - I don't know about using the same old companies for every corporate event. Maybe if an organizer hasn't got much experience they could go to a company that does to help them, but using the same food and events as every other business just doesn't seem like it would make a very good impression.

When you are in a competitive business you don't just want things to go smoothly. You want them to be original and memorable. You don't have to make corporate event themes too wacky or out there, but you do have to make sure they will stick in the participants' minds.

Even if it's just a matter of serving sushi rather than the same sandwiches that every other company does, or providing an entertainer or a live band or something like that.

lluviaporos

I know it's tempting to try and do something new for these sorts of things, but unless you have extensive experience in planning you are going to want to stick to the tried and true.

There will usually be some kind of routine established by similar businesses in the area, with particular caterers and venues that specialize in providing what corporate events need.

It's all too easy to mess up and when business depends on a good impression you really don't want to do that.

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    • Some companies send employees on team-building retreats.
      By: CandyBox Images
      Some companies send employees on team-building retreats.
    • Corporate dinners are typically more formal without being too fancy.
      By: John Casey
      Corporate dinners are typically more formal without being too fancy.
    • Corporate events that are more casual may include sports competitions.
      By: Daniel MR
      Corporate events that are more casual may include sports competitions.
    • Corporate events may include a more formal cocktail hour.
      By: shotsstudio
      Corporate events may include a more formal cocktail hour.