Are you looking to plan the corporate event of the century? If so, check out this guide to learn how to plan a corporate event.

Corporate events are about much more than showing off or having a good time. They can actually do a lot for a business's (and the economy's) bottom line.

In fact, did you know that for every dollar businesses spend on face-to-face events, they put back an additional $1.60 into the U.S. economy?

Clearly, it pays to put some effort into making your corporate events special.

Do you have a big corporate event coming up for your company? Whether you're planning a conference, a convention, a celebration, or anything in between, there's a lot you have to take into account when preparing for such an event.

Read on for some tips that will make the process of planning and executing a corporate event much easier.

Start with a Budget

One of the first things you need to figure out when you start planning a corporate event is how much money you can spend.

Take a look at the financial reports from past events, if possible, to see how much it cost to put them on. Then, look for ways to reduce spending wherever you can.

Don't be afraid to negotiate when you get quotes from hotels or other venues to see if you can make their rates fit within your budget.

​Define Your Objective

What do you want your employees to get out of this event?

Do you want your employees to learn something specific? Is it an opportunity for them to network and try to bring in new clients? Is it meant to be purely celebratory?

Whatever your plan is for the event, make it clear right from the beginning. This will help to inform your future decisions and ensure everything you do moves the event in the right direction.

Narrow the Guest List

Once you've determined the purpose of the event, the next step is to narrow down your guest list and figure out who's invited.

Is it a company-wide event? Is it only for your sales staff or another smaller department? Will people be allowed to invite guests of their own?

Once you've answered these questions, it'll be easier for you to make other arrangements, such as planning for food or finding a venue.

Choose the Right Venue

Speaking of the venue, that's the next thing you need to take care of.

Figure out how much space you need to comfortably accommodate everyone who's attending the event. Be sure to think about what kind of venue your budget can accommodate, too.

Do you want to hold the event at your office? At a nearby location hotel or convention center? A local restaurant?

There are tons of options available depending on your budget and the number of people you've invited.

Decorate Appropriately

Depending on the location you've chosen for the event, you may not have to do a lot of decorating. This is especially true if it's being held at a local restaurant or hotel.

If you want the event to have a specific theme, though, you might have to spend some time putting up decorations and turning the venue into a place where people are excited about spending their time.

Whatever decorations you choose to use, make sure they're appropriate for the event and easy to set up and take down. This will save you a lot of time and effort later on.

Plan a Great Menu

Corporate event attendees are much more likely to enjoy the event if good food is served. Whether you do a sit-down dinner, a buffet, or just serve appetizers and drinks, make sure there's plenty of food to go around.

Arrange a tasting a few weeks before the event to make sure you like everything you're planning to serve.

Do your best to ensure the food is allergen-free (or at least contains labels listing potential allergens) as well, so all your guests can enjoy it without having to worry about potential reactions.

Promote the Event

Make sure everyone who's invited to the event knows about it. Give them plenty of notice so they can fit it into their schedules, especially if it's held outside of regular office hours.

Be sure to ask those who are invited to RSVP by a specific date, too. That way, you'll have accurate numbers to give to the catering staff and other members of your event planning team.

Set Deadlines

Set lots of little deadlines for yourself leading up to the big event. This will make it easier for you to stay on track and avoid feeling overwhelmed. You'll also be able to celebrate small wins along the way.

Don't Work Alone

If you ask the most seasoned corporate event planners, they'll tell you that it's a bad idea to try and tackle everything yourself.

Even if the event is only for a small number of people, you still need to delegate. Otherwise, you'll end up feeling overwhelmed and will have a hard time enjoying the fruits of your labors. There's also a greater chance that something (or many things) will fall through the cracks.

Appoint a committee to help you carry out the event and avoid forgetting anything important.

Follow Up with Attendees

The event might have ended, but that doesn't mean your job is over.

Once you've wrapped up the event, it's time to follow up with those who attended. Reach out them via email and ask them to fill out a brief survey reviewing the experience.

Did they enjoy the event? Did they find it entertaining/informational? What would they like to see changed in the future?

Take this feedback into account when you start planning your next big event.

Start Planning Your Corporate Event Today

There's a lot that goes into planning a successful corporate event.

It doesn't matter if it's an event for a few dozen people or a few hundred. Either way, the sooner you start the planning process, the better off you'll be and the more smoothly the event will go.

Keep these tips in mind as you begin planning so you don't forget anything important.

We have lots of other helpful event-planning blogs on our site, too. Be sure to check them out if you need more help making sure the big day goes off without a hitch.

Why wait until next summer to put off the adventure you could have today. Discover the top benefits of jet skiing you never knew.

Have you ever seen people jet skiing at the beach or on a lake and wished that was you? Have you thought about buying a jet ski, but you weren't sure if it was worth the money?

Jet skiing is not only an absolute blast, but it also has so many more benefits than you probably even realized. Did you know that jet skiing actually has health benefits?

If you wanted to find a reason to get yourself a jet ski, keep reading to find out all the benefits of owning a jet ski!

The Benefits of Jet Skiing

The amount of disposable income in the United States is on a steady increase and has been for years. That means people like you have more money to buy the things they've always wanted. If you needed any more convincing, here are some of the major benefits of buying a jet ski.

1. They Are Cheap!

The cost of jet skis can range anywhere from $5,000 up to $20,000+. But let's say you decided to go with a cheaper model. You'd only be out about $5,000 of upfront cost.

However, jet skis are also extremely affordable to operate. Depending on the size of your fuel tank, it would only cost $50-100 to fill it for an entire weekend. And the yearly maintenance on it is only a few hundred dollars if you find the right place.

That means you can have fun jet skiing for years to come for almost nothing! If you want to know how to purchase one, learn more here!

2. Easy to Tow

With larger watercrafts like boats, to tow them properly you need some kind of truck or large van that can handle the weight of a boat. But with a jet ski, that's not a problem!

You say you've only got a small Honda Civic? That'll work! You can get a towing hitch installed for a couple hundred bucks and easily take your new jet ski anywhere you want!

3. Solo or Group Fun!

Do you want something inexpensive you can do by yourself? Looking for a way to get out of the office and get some much needed fresh air? Well, jet skiing allows you to do both of those things!

Looking for a great way to get out on the water and spend time with friends or family? Jet skis are also a great way for you and your crew to have a blast, get some sun, and spend time together!

4. Simple to Learn

Most water activities require either some form of athleticism or a lot of practice. Unless you're a natural, learning how to water ski or wakeboard can be very challenging.

Jet skiing, on the other hand, is simple to learn and easy to control. That means you can spend more time having fun, and less time being frustrated.

5. Plenty of Safety Features

Jet skis are fairly small in comparison to even smaller motorboats. That means you have much more control over your speed, steering, and braking. While they can get up to higher speeds, they are still slower than most boats.

Unlike boats, jet skis do not have brakes. That may sound bad, but it's not! The reason there are no brakes is because all you have to do to slow down is take your hand off the throttle, simple as that!

6. Better For the Environment

Jet skis and personal watercrafts are constantly using new technology in their engines. These advancements help to reduce hydrocarbon and NOx emissions!

Jet skis are one of the most environmentally safe vehicles on the water these days. That means you can feel good about using them, knowing you're not contributing to the pollution in the air.

7. Your Heart Will Thank You

Riding a jet ski is actually a great way to get a solid cardiovascular workout. The circulation in your blood will increase and this helps create more oxygen for your body. It can also help your body get rid of waster quicker, which is a definite bonus.

On top of that, it can also help you burn extra calories. When given the option of going to the gym, or getting out on a jet ski, always choose the jet ski!

8. Helps Your Overall Health

Sometimes riding a jet ski can be a little harder if you don't have the best balance. However, the more you ride, the more you will actually increase both your balance and your coordination.

Along with that, regularly riding a jet ski can help increase your endurance. Riding for just 30 minutes a day doesn't just increase your endurance on the vessel, but also your endurance on land!

9. The Fun Is Worth the Price

Some of you may be wondering if the amount of fun you'll have is actually worth the thousands of dollars you'd be investing up front. Well, the answer to this is a resounding YES!

There are so many memories to be made and so many places to see. Getting a jet ski can help encourage you to get off the couch and out into nature. You and your family won't regret it.

10. They Are Easy to Sell

The great thing about jet skis is that there are always people looking for them. This means you can start with a basic model to see if you like it. If you do and decide you want to upgrade a couple of years down the road, you will have no problem finding an excited buyer.

Then you can take your adventures to the next level with a flashier, faster model. It's a win-win situation!

Ahh, Ski, Ski Water Lover!

As you can see, jet skiing has a plethora of different benefits. And not just for the crazy amounts of fun you'll have. Of course it's fun, but it's also healthy for you and the environment!

So what are you waiting for? It's time to turn off Netflix and get on the water! For more great international information and tips, check out the rest of our website!