THINK Public Relations Wilcox/Cameron/Reber/Shin

Ch 13: Events and Promotions

Overview A world filled with meeting and events Group meetings Banquets Receptions and cocktail parties Open houses and plant tours Conventions Trade shows Promotional events

A World Filled with Meeting and Events Meetings and events Are vital public relations tools Provide an audience with face-to-face interaction Five senses: hearing, sight, touch, smell, and taste Detailed planning and logistics are essential for effective meetings and events.

Group Meetings Organizers must consider a number of factors. Meeting location Meeting invitations Getting the meeting started Speakers Meals

Meeting facilities Meeting identification Lighting Charts Screen or monitors Projectors and video equipment Seating and tables Speaker’s podium Audience and speaker aids

Banquets Banquets Elaborate affairs that require extensive advance planning Considerable logistics, timing, and teamwork required Cost of meals? Cost of presentation and service? Clean up?

Receptions and Cocktail Parties The focus should be interaction, not speeches. ‘special occasion speech?’ Advance planning and logistics are required.

What Do You Think? How can an open house serve as a public relations event? How can you make an open house most effective? Imagine our Journalism Building open house…

Open Houses and Plant Tours Require thorough planning and routing, careful handling of visitors, and training of all personnel who will come in contact with the visitors How do you plan the ‘program?’ How do you select and train the ‘tour guides?’

Conventions Convention planning Timing Location Facilities Exhibits Program Recreation Attendance Administration

Conventions Convention Programs A convention may include large meetings, cocktail parties, receptions, tours, and banquets. Require the skills of professional managers who can juggle multiple events and meetings over a period of several days

Trade Shows Exhibit booths Should be designed for maximum visibility Provide face-to-face social contact Attract journalists Allow organizations to demonstrate their products and sales representatives to directly talk with potential customers

Trade Shows Press rooms and media relations Prepare an organization’s media kit. Media relations work should start before the show.

Promotional Events Corporate sponsors: Another kind of event Can establish brand identity The Olympics is one of the world’s most prestigious corporate sponsorships.

Promotional Events Celebrity appearances Determine which “personality” fits the particular product or situation. “Prominence” is a news value.

Promotional Events Promotional event logistics Event organizers should brainstorm ideas and perform plans that are creative as well as realistic and practical.