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Meeting/Event Design & Management
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Meeting/Event Design & Management
Design and implement meetings and events aligned with stakeholder wants and needs
Our team is on the frontline of the latest meeting trends, event formats, tools, templates, and technology to help clients produce truly inspiring events of all shapes, sizes, and scopes. Whether your event is in-person, virtual, or hybrid – for five, 50, 500, or 5,000 – Event Garde has the knowledge to help engineer and facilitate a successful experience for all stakeholders.
In fact, we regularly share our perspectives, takeaways, and lessons learned through blog posts, newsletter articles, webinars, and in-person presentations. Whether we take on a part of your event as an extension of your team or you completely outsource the design and management tasks for your next big conference, we’re ready to support you.
Following are just a handful of examples describing how the Event Garde team can utilize our knowledge and expertise to meet the needs of you and your audience through meeting and event design and management:
Explore and clearly define your event goals and objectives to align with organizational strategy.
Identify innovative tactics, formats, and scheduling intended to attract and engage not only attendees, but also speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors.
Construct an actionable event plan with milestone tasks and timelines to both meet and exceed stakeholder expectations.
Solicit, review, select, and oversee collaborative and consultative event partners, including audiovisual, exposition services, and venue sourcing.
Write, edit, and manage all banquet event orders (BEOs), including menu selection, dietary needs, room setups, and service instructions.
Coordinate housing and transportation for staff, volunteers, board members, and VIPs.
CMP International Standards
Over the years, the Event Garde team has not only developed a training course for meeting professionals interested in becoming certified by the Events Industry Council, but has coached and mentored event planners interested in growing and refining their skills. In each instance, a thorough understanding of the CMP International Standards noted below have served as the foundation for our work.
Events can be overwhelming; we can lessen the burden
Are your meetings and events a simple copy-and-paste from year to year? Are your evaluations pointing to the need for change? Are you unsure how to truly evolve your programs in this post-pandemic environment? Perhaps you’ve struggled to rehire or train skilled planners? Are the BEOs and countless other event management tasks drawing down on your valuable time?
If you’re like most organizations, your staff is already spread too thin to take on the burden of managing your meetings and events, let alone evolving them into something fresh and new. We can relieve that pressure by evaluating what’s working, what’s not working, and creating a customized action plan to help fill the gap.
Not only are we committed to the strategy and design of your event, but our tried-and-true project management and communication tools will help keep you and your team on track. And we’ll stick with you through the entire journey, even when the unexpected arises, to help ensure your attendees are none the wiser. (And trust us. We’ve seen just about everything!)
Why trust Event Garde with your meetings and events
We work with a range of industries, organizations, and their programs. From managing more than 30 regional events annually during the pre-planning and onsite phases for one client, to managing all aspects of a large international conference for another, we have unique experiences that set us apart. Moreover, we have high expectations and our attention to detail is second-to-none.
The Event Garde team doesn’t approach events like a transaction. We’re committed to learning what makes you and your events unique. Then we bring innovative ideas to the table not because they’re a passing fad, but because we truly believe they are aligned with your goals and objectives. If you’re looking for the status quo or a one-size-fits-all solution, we won’t be a good fit.
Finally, we know that change is hard. That’s why we’re prepared to facilitate the tough conversations about change, risk, and innovation. We roll up our sleeves and get in the trenches with you to do what’s best for the learning and networking needs of your attendees, as well as the financial and reputational needs of your organization.
"The Event Garde team helped the Small Business Association of Michigan reimagine our Annual Meeting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many others at the time, we needed help understanding the possibilities and Aaron kick-started our project. The engagement opened our eyes to new tools and provided actionable ideas that we used to create an engaging virtual experience. Event Garde’s client onboarding, billing and project evaluation process are also impressive. You walk away feeling like the whole team has you supported throughout the entire process."
Ann Parker
Small Business Association of Michigan
Case Study
International Hearing Society (IHS)
Event Garde focus on collaboration improves member experience at IHS Annual Convention & Expo
Challenge
Following extensive leadership and staff changes, IHS desired a strong and seasoned event management partner to ensure a successful return to its flagship event. Event Garde was integral in building and managing the IHS Annual Convention & Expo from 2012 to 2019, but had not been part of the team during the COVID-19 pandemic. When a new Executive Director was hired in 2022, she quickly contacted Event Garde for help – both to navigate short-term concerns with the existing hotel contract and loss of institutional knowledge, as well as a long-term desire to grow and elevate the program.
Solution
Event Garde jumped in quickly to oversee the planning and management of the 2022 Convention & Expo. In addition to technical aspects such as reviewing the hotel contract and identifying a lack of sleeping rooms and function space, the Event Garde team began developing relationships with the new staff. Drawing upon Event Garde’s history with IHS, as well as extensive experience designing and managing association meetings, the Event Garde team not only helped to deliver an enjoyable and memorable member experience but also helped lead the association’s response to a handful of staff and members testing positive for COVID-19.
Read full case study >
