After the Event

After your meeting or convention is over, it’s time to review how things went. After the hard work of planning, promoting and executing a large event, you may not feel like delving back into things again. But a little work now, right after the event, can pay incredible dividends down the road.

Examine every aspect of the event. Give an honest assessment of quality, and be sure to include specific numbers and amounts when appropriate. Your post-event report should look at:

• how you promoted the event
• your original RFP and hotel contract to examine charges
• how many people attended and their profile (i.e. male vs. female, members vs. non-members, etc.)
• the quality of the site, facilities, food and beverages
• the quality of the programs and activities
• the amount of revenue generated (or lost)

This is only a few of the things you should look at. What you learn from this honest assessment will not only help you to gain a clear perspective on how you did as an event planner—it will help you make your next event even better. Often, when looking back over a past event, mistakes and their solutions often become very clear. A post-event assessment is your key to creating an event that keeps getting better with each passing year.