You’ve survived another EOFY & now it’s time to finalise your team’s end of year events… How to recognise or reward staff & set the tone for the coming year, or perhaps arrange a celebration with your clients as a thankyou for their support. We appreciate it’s no easy task to create impact year-on-year & make the right impression on your guests.

With any luck, you may at least already have your dream venue secured? Even more fortunate if the space has particularly unusual or striking features providing atmosphere without the need for theming. Or maybe the venue even offered a fully inclusive themed packages allowing your guests to arrive, with most of the hard work already done for you.

For the majority though, left to either source a suitable space from limited options remaining on prime dates, within often challenging budgetary constraints, coupled with so many other demands on your already busy schedule – it can be quite a daunting task to know where to start. Simply from finding the right venue, to bringing it all together an appropriate theme - whether as simple as tying together dress code, colour scheme, entertainment… to the more elaborate fully styled events. Comparing suppliers through to invitations & any social media components of your event.

Our team of expert, industry experienced consultants welcome the opportunity to support you with our free consulting, venue-finding & booking services. We can even help bring together select reputable suppliers to bring your event to life. So… in providing a few tips we hope help you with the upcoming festive season, or with planning your next themed event in general, our first piece of advice:

1. Contact an Ultimate Consultant or SUBMIT your venue requirements via TheVenueShop.com

With so many tasks to juggle in a typical day, savvy EAs make the most of technology, tools & resources available to simplify their lives & increase their efficiency. Think of our service as part of that toolkit when it comes to any kind of external meeting or event planning. Use our expertise, knowledge & unrivalled connections to your best advantage & free up time by briefing one point of contact on your needs, including those “X factor” elements that could make or break your event. No more trawling the internet, or chasing individual contacts (& dealing with endless follow up calls & spam emails eating up your time thereafter), then back & forth making sense of unanswered questions or unclear information to establish genuine comparisons. We do all this for you, all the while doing what we do best in ensuring the very best value offering at the same time & presenting in a presentation ready format.

Need site inspections arranged? Menu tastings? Tailored floor plans or AV quotes before finalising your decision? All this is done for you – think of us as your own event PA! A good start to saving you time, hassle & getting the most from your budget by engaging independent professionals with your best interests at heart, while you focus on other priorities. Have the confidence deadlines will be met & no detail will be overlooked... (Plus quote EOYgift with your enquiry to claim bonus rewards with all bookings over $5K eligible* accommodation or event spend – on top of any incentives/discounts/vouchers offered by venues!)

2. Themed events are trending among our venue partners

A number of venues & catering companies in major cities around Australia are now taking bookings for unique pop-ups, many already fully themed. So if you have left your run a little late, these can be a great alternative as many still have prime dates available & here at TheVenueShop.com, we already have the details & contacts at our fingertips for you to ensure no stone is unturned.

Or, take a closer look at often more competitively priced hotel function rooms or out of the way “blank canvas” venues (plus our clients are often surprised to learn about some incredibly special & interesting spaces even within hotels they never knew existed, even if they’ve conferenced there before in a different space - it’s worth keeping an open mind!) Either way, you can still create events to entertain, integrate, inspire by introducing creativity, exciting event themes & concepts that are a little out of the box. Or, revisit a classic & add your own twist or tailor to your corporate brand.
Some ideas include:

• Hollywood/Red Carpet: paparazzi/fans, film premieres, social/photo booths, with black-tie or celebrity look-a-like dress code. Adapts brilliantly for award style events, or have a little fun with parody approach

• Northern Lights: minimalist styling, Scandivanian approach, natural tones, raw materials… understated, contemporary luxury

• Casino Nights/James Bond: casino tables, or add the thrill of a spy challenge, themed cocktails…

• 1970s Studio54 disco, or 1980’s: dress up & dance the night away

• Carnivale, Circus Big Top or Cirque Du Soleil inspired “Greatest Show on Earth”: roving performers & food stalls, interactive activities - break the ice & create a breathtaking experience for your guests

3. Check out these further articles to help with your corporate & themed event planning…

• 6 insider tips to ensure your Christmas party is on trend

• 5 essentials for delivering spectacular events / using technology

• How to engage all the senses for unforgettable events

Remember, stay calm this festive season as the Ultimate Conferences team @TheVenueShop.com are here to help & support you! We can take some pressure off & free up time simply by allowing us to undertake the groundwork whenever you have a meeting, conference or event to organise. Recommending & sourcing the best possible available venue options, using our negotiating skills & bargaining power, arranging inspections, contract advice, accommodation management – your secret weapon & personal event PA.

Compare apples with apples – accurate, like-for-like & presentation-ready proposals, tailored for you with no surprises, sent straight to your inbox. Best rates are guaranteed, PLUS with exclusive value-adds & rewards*, you reap ALL the benefits!



Contact our friendly team on 1300 843 836 or SUBMIT your requirements online, for a speedy turnaround & options to suit your personalised requirements. Here’s to your continued event success! Lisa & your “Ultimate” TheVenueShop.com team xo