Monthly Archives: January 2018

Tips for running a successful conference!

Are you involved in Marketing or the PA to Director; or perhaps you are an events planner, and now it’s your turn to plan and run a successful conference? Do not fear, here are some tips provided by the team at Royal Palm Hotel in Umhlanga, on the ways to ensure you meet the goals for a successful conference.

THE AIM:

The most important aspect of the conference is for attending guests to either leave feeling re-energized with new ideas; understand the objective to be met for 2018 or to understand a specific product, should you conference be training-orientated.

TECHNICALITIES:

Work out the budget. A tip to remember is to jot down or create a planner and share your ideas with others to ensure your ideas are achievable and within budget.

Secondly, arrange the budget so that it covers venue hire, technical, food and beverage, number of guests and miscellaneous. Then start sourcing venues. Those venues that offer packages, are sure to be the best value for money and then book in advance. You are likely to pay more for last minute bookings.

In most cases, good preparation and sound planning ensures a successfully run conference.

ADDITIONAL:

If the type of conference you choose requires a speaker, ensure that this is done as soon as you have the venue booked. You will have to take into consideration, costs of the speakers and their needs. Of course, the speaker would also depend on the type of conference.

CONSIDERATIONS:

For any conference, it is best to have a source of food and beverage – whether it is a breakfast meet, a half day conference or one that lasts a number of days, it is best to ensure that food is included in order to keep the guests fuelled.

Some of the other aspects to take into consideration is the printing of programmes, AV and technical. Most times, the venue will have a team member to assist, however ask this question when booking. Table seating arrangements and the guest list are also important – especially if it is a banquet style.

If you are looking for a venue sure to suit both your business and leisure needs, in an ideal location in the heart of Umhlanga, choose Royal Palm Hotel.

The choice of conferencing facilities for up to a maximum of 80 delegates are as follows:
  • Cinema
  • U-Shaped Boardroom
  • School Room
  • Banquet Dinner
  • Cocktails

For both half day and full day conferences, the following is included within the cost:

  • Bottled Water
  • Mints
  • Notepad
  • Pen
  • 1 Whiteboard/flipchart
  • Pa system with roving mic
  • Data projector
  • Complimentary Wi- Fi
  • Arrival tea/coffee/pastries
  • Complimentary Parking
  • Lunch – for the full day (upon request)

To find out more and to discuss the packages on offer contact 031 581 8000.

Giving your proposal the green light with the help of Granny Mouse

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Most women have extremely high expectations when it comes to what they expect for their proposal and some men know exactly how to be romantic, but for others, the perfect proposal might seem a lot different to what the love of their life might have in mind.

If you are going to go ahead with a magical proposal, then there is only one way to do it. Go all in or don’t do it at all.

A proposal can be simple or extravagant, with both being memorable.

Here are some ideas for your proposal, courtesy of Granny Mouse Country House & Spa:

  1. Simple and chic Picnic

You can set up a picnic yourself with a blanket, scatter cushions, champagne, snacks and of course the ring, or you may find it easier to purchase a picnic package and just arrive to have it all ready for you.

Granny Mouse offers a picnic menu for R300, which is perfect for an outdoor proposal.

The menu includes a picnic basket for 2 including fresh assorted breads, 4x bread spreads, Cold meat platter with condiments, Cheese platter with condiments, 2x cupcakes, Chef’s sweet choice, 2x waters, and 2x Ceres Fruit Juice, however the choice of adding a bottle of wine or champagne to your basket can be ordered as an extra. Wine list prices available on request from the award winning wine list.

Just order your basket, collect and bring a blanket along to set up your romantic picnic. Staff are on hand to assist where needed.

There are also 2 ways of performing the proposal – surprise or announcement on arrival.

The surprise aspect will have you bring your partner to the area and enjoy the food and drinks before you pop the question.

The announcement on arrival could be in the form of a chalkboard or signage set up at the picnic so that when your partner arrives, they see the board and know that the setup is in fact for their proposal.

  1. A tasty experience

Another idea is to take your partner for dinner and then book a special tasting experience as dessert – such as a Brandy and Chocolate tasting. You could arrange with the Chef or if selecting this option at Granny Mouse, the Culinary Artist, to incorporate the ring into a chocolate, so that you can break it open and present the ring whilst proposing, during the tasting experience.

The Granny Mouse Brandy and Chocolate tasting offers 3 brandy’s featuring KWV 3 year old, Klipdrift premium and Bertrams VO, and 3 chocolates at a cost of R150 per person.

  1. Treasure Hunt

If your partner is the adventurous type, then a great way to set up a proposal may be to lay clues around different areas and have her find each one. The final clue would then be the question with the ring next to it or perhaps, have a piñata hanging from a tree which is to be smashed, allowing the ring to fall out.

So if you’re clueless on how to propose, then allow a professional to help you out. Contact Granny Mouse on 033 234 4071.