• What is Event Planning?

Event planning is the process of managing a project such as a meeting, convention, trade show, ceremony, team building activity, party, or convention. It includes budgeting, establishing timelines, selecting and reserving the event sites, acquiring permits, planning food, coordinating transportation, developing a theme, arranging for activities, selecting speakers and keynotes, arranging for equipment and facilities, managing risk, and developing contingency plans.

• Why Should I Hire Sherri Cook & Associates (Professional Event Planners)?

Like other educated and trained professionals, credentialed planners with years of experience, have the industry knowledge, resources and strategic alliances along with credibility with hotels and other vendors to represent their clients in securing the best accommodations, services and costs. Today, hotels have revenue managers whose job is to maximize their profits. Thus, a company or organization must have a seasoned event management expert, to present their piece of business to venues to be accepted but not over-charged.  

The savvy business professional knows the “key to a successful event” is to have a professional meeting planner who will strategically consult planning and execution of the meeting or event.

SC&A has all top industry credentials and associates with 20 – 30+ yrs. of experience to maximize care-taking of our clients.

• Do Professional Event Planners Save me Dollars?

Yes, hotels pay commissions to planners from their marketing budget. Rates are not increased by commissions. A full-service event manager typically includes services (site selection, contracting, planning, etc.) to the extent of the commission. In addition to the complimentary commission, experienced planners negotiate cost-savings. Clients should be cautious in hiring Site Selection only companies who may receive large commissions only for the Site Selection piece vs. applying large commissions to full-service planning which includes the Site Selection portion plus additional planning service. SC&A is an expert in the areas of negotiation and cost-savings for their clients.

• How Important are Contracts?

Contracts are the most costly expense for a client. Hotel contracts include the room block, room rates, negotiated concessions, food and beverage minimums, attrition and cancellation amounts, program space detail, as well as other crucial clauses that can that can increase your budget if you don’t have an industry professional handling your contracts. Hotels advise SC&A clients that no one takes care of their clients more than SC&A. Working with the industry’s top planner lawyer for over 20 years, SC&A is a contract specialist negotiating the best rates, concessions and clauses for their clients creating the greatest cost-savings and maximum liability protection possible. In addition to hotel or other venue contracts, every program has many sub-contractors requiring contracts negotiation and execution which carry the same responsibility for rates, services and clauses expertise.

• What Else do Professional Planners Contribute?

A seasoned event manager will provide a plethora of other contributions: meeting trends, new ideas, accurate budgeting, best vendors search and selection, strategic vision establishing goals & objectives, creative thinking “outside-the-box”, professional representation, time-savings, organized plan-of-action with tasks, timelines and staffing during planning and on-site, problem-solving expertise, perseveres in adverse situation, embraces challenges, takes pride in their work, educates their clients on our industry, creates event memories, is a strong team captain and team player, and is committed to the success of their programs and events with a positive and enthusiastic attitude. This is what SC&A brings to its clients.