There are many different kind of corporate events and it’s easy to get a bit confused.
Don’t you agree?
But understanding the basics will help to distinguish between all of them.
We explain all the types of corporate events you’ll find in the and how they are unique from each other.
If you’re planning a corporate event or need help planning an one, you may be wondering whether what you have in mind really constitutes an Event-with-a-capital-E, or whether hiring an event coordinator or manager is the right choice for you or your function.
Rest assured, if two or more people are going to be there, odds are it’s appropriate to hire an event management professional, or team of professionals, like Aleit Events!
Event Management professionals are qualified and keen to do it all!
From small executive retreats to large-scale conferences and even the fun of a golf day for corporates, hiring an event management team means your gathering will go off without a hitch!
For more information on the kinds of corporate events Aleit Events and other industry professionals undertake to coordinate and manage, just keep reading! We’ll help you narrow down the nature of your event first, so that we can help you plan accordingly!
What are the Most Common Types of Corporate Events?
- Conferences
- Seminars
- Team Building Events
- Trade Shows / Expos
- Executive Retreats
- Business / Corporate Dinners
- Corporate Golf Days
- Product Launches
- Shareholder / Corporate Board Meetings
- Year End Functions
1. Conferences
Conferences are primarily networking events where industry professionals operating within the same sector or industry can meet one another in order to learn from one another, discuss future business opportunities and collaborations, and the like.
Conferences are, however, not just about small-talk and shared drinks.
Conferences present an opportunity for professionals to learn from and connect with one another on a specific theme or topic on a more formal level. A conference usually features or starts with a keynote address by a guest speaker, followed by smaller breakout sessions during the course of the conference.
That is to say that not all conference attendees are kept in the same place at the same time, and that multiple different lectures etc. will be run in different venues simultaneously, giving attendees the opportunity to prioritize their interests and learn from a diverse group of industry professionals in a short period of time by bringing them all together at the conference.
An ideal conference is thus a highly concentrated learning experience that brings industry professionals from all over the world together at the same place for a limited period of time so that they may connect with, learn from, and inspire one another.
Conferences allow professionals who may not otherwise have had any direct contact with one another to collaborate, to learn from, and to teach one another in person.
Conferences are usually large-scale events held over a greater than 24-hour period and so require more complex coordination than certain other types of events.
Key considerations include catering, accommodation, arranging airport transfers and coordinating speakers and guests etc.
Conferences are usually held at hotels as the vast majority of attendees may be from out of town, and cutting down on travel time maximizes the networking and learning opportunities the conference presents to attendees.
2. Seminars
Seminars are similar in aim to conferences in that they also provide an opportunity for companies and individuals operating in the same industry or sector to get together in order to learn from one another or to share information and network.
However, seminars are usually more formal in their educative efforts in that, one speaker typically addresses the entire group, and the entire group are always in the same place at the same time.
In other words, seminars offer attendees less choice and variety than conferences and are more focused on a singular topic.
Information exchange is typically more one-directional, and seminars are typically day or half-day events as opposed to weekend (or longer) affairs.
3. Team Building Events
Team building events are in-house events aimed at boosting morale, improving on employee communication skills, and encouraging employees to work together efficiently.
Team building events should be fun, and should boost employee confidence and build on the company’s strengths.
Corporate team-building events can be anything from solving mental puzzles at an establishment like HintHunt, to completing complex outdoor obstacle courses as a team, or working together to solve riddles on a scavenger hunt.
There are a number of operations that specialize in corporate team-building, and the kind of activity you choose for your team building exercise will depend on the skills you are especially trying to foster among employees, and the age, physical fitness levels and general common interests of your specific group of employees.
Team-building events are typically half-day to full day events and usually take place during office hours in lieu of work as employees tend to resent using their weekends to work on team building, which would not be a good start to morale boosting!
4. Trade Shows/Expos
Trade shows and expos are large-scale events that include multiple vendors or exhibitors whose area of operations fall under the umbrella industry being represented by/at the trade show.
Companies may choose to attend trade shows as exhibitors in an effort to reach potential customers, other members of the industry, or to source and connect with suppliers.
Organizations who host trade shows typically do so in an effort to establish themselves as industry leaders among those who attend and/or choose to exhibit in their trade show.
Event management musts for a trade show include negotiating sponsorship rates for trade show booth space, organizing celebrity guests or keynote speakers, advertising, promotional material and marketing strategies, etc.
Staff and cocktail-style catering may also require coordinating.
5. Executive Retreats
Executive retreats and incentive programs usually go hand in hand in structures in which individual performance is rewarded by extending an invitation to an executive retreat.
Executive retreats are usually held in desirable locations and at luxury resorts, and while some time is usually devoted to developing the coming term’s organizational strategy, there is also ample time devoted to relaxation, exploration and excursions – this being the incentive bonus portion of the trip.
Executive retreats are some of the most expensive in-house corporate events on a cost per person basis, and incorporate all aspects of event management, and should be coordinated by a professional if you want all to go smoothly.
6. Business/Corporate Dinners
Business or Corporate dinners can be many things, and the aim will determine the location and duration of said dinner.
If the dinner is an in-house strategy session, for example, a catered dinner in the office boardroom might be most conducive to a working dinner.
However, if the corporate dinner is an attempt to woo a prospective client over dinner, the dinner might be held at a formal restaurant and may conclude at a reasonable hour.
Another different kind of corporate dinner may be the team-building dinner, or a celebratory dinner, where the only aim is to boost morale and let team members get to know one another better.
No matter what the aim of your corporate dinner, Aleit Events can help you plan and execute it flawlessly.
7. Golf Event
Ah, golf… the universal language of business people everywhere!
Many a deal has been brokered on the putting green, or over shrimp cocktail in the clubhouse dining room.
Golf and corporate culture go hand-in-hand, and the primary objective when planning to meet your staff, suppliers and/or clients on the golf course, or at the clubhouse for a spot of lunch, should remain to foster relationship growth, or do to a little relationship management or upkeep.
Ensure that you do not allow the leisure activities to lead you astray, and that, at the end of the day, the golf day serves your business strategy.
8. Product Launches
Product launch events can range from small in-house meetings to ensure all levels in the organizational hierarchy are kept up to date, to massive, glitzy parties geared toward building a hype surrounding an upcoming product.
Product launch events are most commonly held by businesses geared toward producing and selling products to consumers – these prospective consumers and the media being key invitees to the launch event.
Media coverage is one of the key aims of hosting a launch event, and launch events may include swag bags and other such giveaways, a guest speaker or celebrity guests, and dinner/canapes/champagne and even live entertainment depending on the industry.
9. Shareholder/Board Meeting
Shareholder and board meetings are an imperative part of any public or private company’s communications strategy and yearly plan.
These meetings serve as an opportunity for the board to reflect on the performance of the company based on their previous strategies to date, and allow them to make decisions about necessary adjustments to these strategies.
These are the meetings during which business executives tend to make the big decisions as they usually require board approval, which is easier to get when all board members are already in the same room.
Shareholder meetings similarly provide shareholders an opportunity to get feedback on the company’s recent performance, strategic goals and relevant future strategies.
These can be annual or biannual small, in-house meetings, or larger catered affairs depending on the nature (and budget) of the company, the number of board members or the number of shareholders in the company.
10. Year-end Functions
Annual holiday parties or year-end functions are a company’s opportunity to show their employees how much another year of hard work and loyal service has meant to them.
A very versatile event, year-end functions can be hosted on a shoestring budget, or can be lavish outings to luxurious restaurants, theaters or the like.
Whether your company is planning to host the event in the office and is just looking for a little help sourcing vendors like catering, staff, bar staff, bar set-up, clean-up crew etc, or whether your company has said “the sky’s the limit” and told you to plan a holiday party nobody will ever forget, we here at Aleit Events look forward to working with you on making your holiday party dreams come true!
Conclusion
Understanding the different corporate events can be a bit confusing at first, but it doesn’t have to be. As long as you know the basics and how each corporate event is unique and different, you have something to build from.
If you need to plan a corporate event and have no idea where to start, contact Aleit Events to help plan an unforgettable event!
What is your favourite corporate event and why?
