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Event Planning Buyer's Guide - Introduction
Published: 03/29/2011
Introduction
Running a successful corporate event can tax a company’s time and resources. It can involve hundreds of hours of intense preparation, ongoing management, and extensive organization that most companies can’t handle. To ensure that the event is as polished as possible, companies often turn to event planning professionals to manage all the tactical and operational responsibilities from beginning to end.
Event planning companies apply their industry experience to create successful events. They know where to get the best rates for site venues and hotels, which service companies to subcontract with, and how to best promote your event. While event planners shoulder the workload of preparation, you can stay focused on your primary business.
This Event Planning Buyer’s Guide will detail the services an event planner can offer, how to prepare for your event, how to choose the right planner, and what everything will cost.
Table of contents
Choosing an event planning coordinator
Pricing event planning services
Pricing summary
Corporate events come in all sizes, and prices for event planning vary accordingly. You could spend $10,000 on a one‐day meeting for 100 attendees, or $200,000 on a 3‐day conference for 500 attendees, including room and board. Here are couple of key factors to keep in mind:
• Event planning services companies typically charge 15% to 20% of the total costs of an event as their management fee.
• For smaller events, event planners may require a fixed rate of $5,000 to $10,000 or more. They may also require a 10% to 20% deposit.
