The Top 10 Corporate Events/Programs We’re Working on for 2011

1. Board/Advisory Meetings: our annual event management contracts includes LOTS of board and advisory meetings–we love them. While certain standards apply, the dossiers kept on the companies we manage ensure smooth no-fuss logistical planning so meeting time is maximized.
2. Sales & Training Conferences: our conference partners generally require full-scale planning and production of internal and/or public-driven gatherings. Our extensive knowledge and scalability allows us to work independently as well as with in-house planners to support their vision.
3. VIP DMC programs: our full-service VIP management contracts have us moving from private airstrip to boardroom to vineyards. We’re told our hands-on management of executive groups is invaluable.
4. Lunch n’ Learns: from sourcing speakers to logistical planning and entertaining aspects of lunch n’ learns, we absolutely love producing these. We’ve done so for internal groups, for client appreciation gatherings and for continued education purposes.  2011 requests for these smaller educational opportunities are already coming in. Many are booking for the four quarters to receive preferential annual contracts/concessions.
5. Award Programs: people love appreciation. This will never change. We work hard to produce the “unexpected” for award programs. We’ve even been known to produce top winner peer videos as well as custom slides and custom designed corporate awards for every category.
6. Destination Management Programs: 2011 should prove a great year for destination management programs in Austin, Texas. The people flooding to our fair city to maximize event/incentive budgets has never been higher. What we’re hearing? People have grown weary of economic fear and are instead digging deep and thanking their employees for stepping up during challenging times. Popular? Spouse excursions, wine tours, dine-arounds and alternative space gatherings (think galleries, private spaces and underground vaults).
7. Executive Retreats: this year we’ll see retreats in the Texas hill country, Canada and Beaver Creek…..so far. Our clients tell us that we provide such an easy time that they can really focus on annual forecasting and strategy.
8. Customer Appreciation Events: many think of these only as social events however some companies are choosing to bring in highly sought after speakers and turn customer appreciation events into educational opportunities. The “wow-factor” of the speakers spike participation — a great way to keep the client interaction alive.
9. Hunting Excursions: Yep, we handle them. Yep, we love them. We’ve produced everything from skeet shoots to full-on hunting weekend excursions. We only do it right though so if your idea is to take a few clients out and throw some sandwiches together at mealtime, we’re not for you.
10. Large-scale Corporate Social Events: we regularly produce both high-brow and low-brow corporate social events including picnics, company carnivals, galas, seated dinners and private concerts.