Food and beverage is the largest portion of a meeting budget, but most meeting and event planners have no formal background in purchasing and managing this expense. This guide helps event, meeting, and convention planners save money, negotiate contracts, deal with catering managers, and successfully manage the food and beverage aspect of their event. Covering everything from styles of service to on-premise and off-premise considerations to food and beverage contract negotiation, this book is a comprehensive and accessible reference for event planners and students.

A revised handbook on how to plan a meeting or conference addresses site selection, contract negotiation, publicity, entertainment, scheduling, setting up and breaking down, event logistics, menus, A/V requirements, budgeting and expenses, and emergencies. Original.

You’re no idiot, of course. You know you can’t throw a corporate function together overnight—especially if you want to impress clients, shareholders, and upper management. Whether you’re prepared to tackle the task yourself or you’re considering hiring a professional, you want your event to be a stellar occasion to remember. The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Meeting and Event Planning, Second Edition, will show you how to organize any company gathering on time and on budget, whether you’re hosting 10 or 10,000. In this revised and updated Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get: • Up-to-date information on planning and budgeting software, phone and data lines, audio and video, and satellite bookings. • Expanded coverage on international conferences—via remote, abroad, or by international components. • Ideas for smoothly dealing with last-minute glitches and crises.

Event Planning is an exciting option for individuals looking for a new and different career. There is an increasing demand for trained Event Managers, to work in a wide variety of organizations, and as freelance entrepreneurs. Their task is to take on the responsibility for planning and organizing events. Yes it is hard work, but it can also be quite enjoyable, especially when you see the results of your efforts, cumulating in the successful staging of an event. Event Planning is a good option for an entrepreneur looking to earn extra money. The opportunities are there, for an Event Manager to undertake varying assignments, exposing themselves to different types of events that require a wide variety of skills. This text attempts to help readers to develop an understanding of how events should be researched, developed, planned and managed leading up to the day of the event. It also examines the process of evaluation that takes place after the event has occurred. Its aim is to help the reader build their practical skills in Event Management. Key areas that are addressed in this text include: Initial selection of an Event Feasibility Study and Business Planning for an event The key processes that are involved in the planning and staging of an event Promotional management for an event, and the production of promotional materials Methods of evaluation for an event After reading this text, readers should have a greater understanding of what it takes to successfully plan and manage an event and this should encourage them to put what they have learned into practice. Laurence Carter

Planning a meeting or event is no easy task. Just ask any of the administrative staffers who are increasingly being asked to do it. One minor mistake -- a plane ticket that doesn't arrive on time, not enough vegetarian meals at the luncheon, the wrong kind of audio/visual equipment -- can mean big trouble. Now this handy little how-to guide takes secretaries and assistants through the entire process step-by-step. From site selection and registration do's and don’ts to negotiating with vendors and food and beverage planning, this book gives them everything they need to get a meeting planned right. Packed with floor plans, checklists, glossaries of industry-specific terms, lists of resources, and more, Planning Successful Meetings and Events is sure to transform any take-charge assistant into the Martha Stewart of meeting and event planning. It's a good thing.