The event planner is also the hub of communication for the attendees, and this is undoubtedly a tireless task. Unfortunately, relying on feedback alone does not always work. Attendees are often unfamiliar with facility contract dates and other deadlines. The assumption is that they can wait until the last minute to decide whether or not to RSVP. The most efficient planners I work with counter this lasses-faire attitude by offering incentives to early registrants, or by simply requiring registration weeks in advance. This ensures accurate compliance with facility attendance projections.

Communication is the most important component of any meeting or event. Facility coordinators and attendees rely on the meeting planner to walk them through each step of the way. While it may seem unfair to inherit such responsibility, the professional event planner recognizes that this is the only way to truly leave their signature on an event. All events evolve over the planning process, and it is those who are aware of how change affects the intricacies of an event that find the most success. I recommend spending equal amounts of time on establishing both event directives and communication channels, because the first objective has no chance without the latter.